Cauliflower Popcorn - Scrumptious! and Kinda Sorta Tastes Like Popcorn!

I swear, it actually resembles popcorn!

Want your kids to eat more veggies? Want your partner to eat more veggies? Want to eat more veggies yourself? Sometimes it's just a matter of preparing a vegetable in a way that's totally yummy and irresistible. For instance, my son wants no part of mashed sweet potatoes, but if I bake up some sweet potato fries or chips, he's all over them.


That's what will happen with this Cauliflower Popcorn, adapted from Surreal Gourmet Bites: Showstoppers and Conversation Starters. I didn't get to try it out on my husband and son because i ate the WHOLE HEAD OF CAULIFLOWER ALL BY MYSELF. (Naturally, I did not have any room in my belly for dinner that evening.) Seriously, have you ever been tempted to eat that much cauliflower in one sitting? 


Yes, it's that good. And it's easy to make, too; takes a bit of tending, but no heavy lifting. Let's not forget to discuss cauliflower's many health benefits: the cruciferous vegetable is loaded with antioxidants and phytonutrients such as Vitamin C, manganese, beta-carotene; Vitamin K (normally found in green veggies many kids avoid); fiber; folate, so crucial during pregnancy; and even omega-3 fatty acids, which may boost mood and may even help prevent postpartum depression. In other words, your whole family should be eating cauliflower. Make them this "popcorn" and they will!


Ingredients
serves 4 (or, if I'm around, 1)
  • 1 head cauliflower
  • 3T extra virgin olive, grapeseed or coconut oil (warmed to liquid state)
  • 1/2-1t salt, or to taste
  • 3T grated parmesan (optional)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Trim the cauliflower head; reserve the core and stems for another use. Cut florets into the size of ping pong balls (they will shrink quite a bit as they roast).
Put salt and oil in large bowl and mix. Add cauliflower and toss well, ensuring that the pieces are evenly coated. Spread florets on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Roast for an hour, turning the pieces about every 15 minutes. All sides of each floret should be well caramelized. Don't be afraid of that browning, it actually makes the cauliflower taste sweet.
Place in serving bowl and serve warm. I tossed mine with some grated parmesan, which was just incredible. I'm thinking I'll try it with truffle salt next time. Nutritional yeast -- or any topping you would enjoy on regular popcorn -- should work well, too!




UPDATE: Our recipe is featured on the Food Day blog!


Comments

  1. Awesome, so glad you liked it!

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  2. Delicious! I used a pretty small head, so of course I ate it all.

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  3. So glad you tried it and loved it!

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  4. OMG I made this just the way you did. It was so good, you really had no idea you were eating a veggie. (not that I mind!) It really was like having a sinful salty snack! Great recipe. All should give it a try. Oh and yes it should read one head per person. I wasn't sharing mine!

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  5. Yippee! Yes, i've roasted cauliflower before, too, and i really like it. But roasting it for such a long time makes it ridiculously caramelized - glad you found it yummy and popcorn-like!

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  6. I have to say, I was skeptical...I have roasted so many different veggies including cauliflower.  This recipe is awesome.  It more than kinda sorta tasted like popcorn!!! My 4 year old LOVED it!!!

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  7. I only got into cauliflower in the past few years. I think the color of it was always a turn-off to me - i don't like white veggies! But now I love it pan-roasted, I love it "popcorn" style, and I love it mashed with some EVOO and truffle salt. Still have no interest in it raw so i avoid it on crudite platters...

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  8. This sounds really good. Cauliflower is one of those veggies I have never been wowed by. I tried it with tahini and that was interesting. Will try this, an hour, really? 

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  9. isn't is just so freakin' good?! glad you tried it and I appreciate that you took the time to post a review :-)

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  10. OMG this is so good, I can easily see how you ate a full head of it. It will be on our menu at least weekly. Started the day with the chocolate smoothie, slightly modified due to what I had on hand. No, not chocolate ice cream! All in all it was a very good eating day. 
    Thanks Justine!

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  11. it really does taste like it! it's crispy, but not super crunchy like popcorn. so...it's more of a flavor thing and less of a texture thing.

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  12. Ok if you swear it tastes like popcorn I will buy some this weekend to try on the family. Will report back

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  13. Love this recipe - looks super delicious! I will have to try it on my boyfriend who's a little skeptical of cauliflower. :)

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  14. I dislike most veggies, but tried this out and am super pleased with the tasty outcome. Thank-you for sharing such great instructions and beautiful step by step pics!

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  15. Wow, i'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to come back here to post such a lovely review :-)

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  16. I hope it will turn him around!

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  17. Also shared at the linky party at http://www.recipesformyboys.com/p/thursdays-treasures.html

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  18. I LOVE This and cannot wait to make it!  Thank you so much for sharing on Thursday's Treasures!  
    http://www.recipesformyboys.com/p/thursdays-treasures.html  

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  19. Thank YOU for letting me share! Hope you do try it and like it :-)

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  20. Shared at the Real Food linky party at http://www.realfoodfreaks.com/2012/01/19/freaky-friday-1-20-2012/#comment-1661

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  21. Leslie @ Real Food FreaksJanuary 21, 2012 at 9:55 AM

    Roasted cauliflower is one of my FAVORITES!  And, yes, I have eaten an entire head myself too!  Yum.

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  22. Yeah, i can eat a whole head if it's mashed, too. Why is cauliflower so yummy?!?

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  23. Tried this last night...It was Fabulous!!! Husband says make MORE :)

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  24. Awesome, thanks so much for posting a review!

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  25. Just shared this at Amee's Savory Dish: http://www.ameessavorydish.com/2012/02/fit-and-fabulous-fridays-19.html

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  26. this sounds super yummy! pinning it and cant wait to try it :)

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  27. Great! Please come back and let us know if you liked it!

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  28. Ok so I made these tonight and I felt I was eating a bowl of french fries.  I really felt guilty because they were soooooo freaking good.  Thank you for introducing me to this I might just eat this for the rest of my life lol.  Really really good :)

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  29. Thanks you so much for taking the time to come here and post your review AND pic - you rock!

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  30. LOVE this recipe!!! Perfect for Fit and Fabulous Fridays!  Thanks so much for sharing. :)

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  31. Thank YOU for hosting!

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  32. I love veggies, so this was a no-brainer!  Even though I added a little too much EVOO (whoops!), the cauliflower was delicious!  I agree, the serving size is "1 head per person".  Now on our weekly menu.  
    Thank you!

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  33. So glad you liked it! Thanks for your review :-)

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  34. This sounds fabulous Justine!  I love your idea of truffle salt.  My son loves just about anything with truffle salt or oil and so he'd be all over this!!

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  35. That's so cool that he likes truffles! If i'm making this for my son, I have to use regular salt - for me, i LOOOOVE the truffle salt!

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  36. It's funny how sometimes I run across recipes that make me sit straight up in my chair and say, "NO WAY". This is one of them. I have got to try this! It's already pinned.

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  37. Yay, so glad to hear it spoke to ya! Please come back and let us know how you liked it :-)

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  38. and thank you so much for posting your review :-)

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  39. thank you so much for sharing this! I have many diet restrictions due to health reasons and am not allowed to eat popcorn (which is super heartbreaking) so I can't wait to try this! thank you so much!

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  40. ooh, i do hope you enjoy it so you can give in to your "popcorn" cravings :-)

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  41. Had this for the first time today and it is UNBELIEVABLY delicious. i cut them too small so took out a bit early and STILL amazing.

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