Simple Harissa Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

If you've been looking to literally spice up your cauliflower game, you've come to the right place. This harissa roasted cauliflower recipe is both tender and incredibly flavorful, utilizing harissa paste to convey heat, a complex blend of spices, and a beautiful garlicky flavor. Harissa, according to Bon Appétit, is a flavorful paste originating in Tunisia that is common in the cuisines of several countries across North Africa and the Middle East. Harissa just might be your new favorite condiment. (You're welcome!)

For this tasty dish, recipe developer Susan Olayinka of The Flexible Fridge uses harissa paste to transform plain old cauliflower into something truly magnificent and full of flavor. As for what inspired her to create this recipe, Olayinka says, "I love anything Harissa-flavored. I think the roasted pepper sauce is amazing." Read on to find out just how easy it is to take your classic cauliflower recipe to the next level.

Before you can begin making your cauliflower, you will need to gather the necessary ingredients. For this recipe, all you need is 1 medium cauliflower, ½ teaspoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, and 3 tablespoons of harissa paste. That's it!

While Olaynika says, "You can usually find [harissa paste] in the Mediterranean section," if you are having trouble tracking it down, "opt for harissa powder, which is more commonly found." If you end up using the powder, simply add olive oil to the powder to turn it into a paste.

Before you do anything else, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F — you don't want to forget and be stuck waiting around for it to preheat later!

Next, rinse your cauliflower, and chop it into bite-sized pieces. Make sure that there aren't chunks of stem that are larger than others coming out of the bottom of the florets. These can take longer to cook and can get in the way of that perfect, melt-in-your-mouth texture of properly roasted cauliflower.

Next, you'll want to prepare your spice mixture. To do this, add the salt, extra-virgin olive oil, and harissa paste to a mixing bowl. Stir until evenly combined. This sauce is the main source of flavor in this recipe, and what gives it its kick. Mixing the components together beforehand (rather than putting them separately on the cauliflower and then mixing) helps ensure an even distribution in flavor. So mix away!

Now it's time to coat the cauliflower in the harissa spice mixture. Add your cauliflower to the same bowl you mixed the harissa mixture in (No need to dirty another dish!) and mix, tossing the cauliflower until all the pieces look evenly coated. 

Finally, transfer your mixed cauliflower to a foil-lined baking tray. Roast the cauliflower for 23 minutes at 350 F, at which point they should be turning a nice golden brown.

Once your cauliflower has spent some time in the oven, all that's left to do is serve and enjoy! This cauliflower works perfectly as a side dish for vegetarian and meat dishes alike, but Olayinka especially loves pairing it with roasted meats like a whole roasted chicken, beef, or pork. However you choose to enjoy your harissa roasted cauliflower, you can rest easy knowing you've found a delicious and easy new addition to your veggie rotation.