Tandoori Whole Roasted Cauliflower

This Tandoori Whole Roasted Cauliflower is an Indian-inspired, Whole30-friendly riff on my popular Whole Roasted Cauliflower recipe! It’s a showstopper vegetable dish that will delight your vegan and omnivore friends alike!

An overhead shot of Tandoori Whole Roasted Cauliflower on a brown plate with a wedge sliced out of it.

What is tandoori?

Tandoori actually refers to a type of Indian cooking that utilizes a tandoor, a super hot round clay oven. Proteins are traditionally marinated in yogurt or coconut milk whisked with an aromatic spice blend before they’re roasted in the clay oven. Like most of you, I don’t own a traditional tandoor, so I simply cook my tandoori-marinated meat and veggies in the oven or out on the backyard grill.

What’s in tandoori spice blend?

Tandoori spice blends (a.k.a. tandoori masala) can vary, but it usually contains garam masala (which typically consists of coriander, cumin, cardamom, cloves, black pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg), garlic, ginger, onion, and cayenne pepper. I buy a tandoori spice blend at the store or online, but you can mix some yourself by following this recipe. Tandoori’s not normally spicy hot, but it is very flavorful like an aromatic curry.

How do I use bottled Nom Nom Paleo Tandoori in this recipe?

Yahoo! Thanks for buying our sauce at a select Whole Foods Market store near you! For this recipe, shake up the bottle and simply measure out ½ cup of Nom Nom Paleo Tandoori in place of making the marinade in the recipe instructions below.

A collage of the cooking steps to make Whole30 and vegan Tandoori Whole Roasted Cauliflower.

Got extra Tandoori marinade?

Make these simple recipes pronto:

How do I cook this recipe faster?

Although the final dish is worth the wait, you can streamline this recipe into a quick weeknight vegetable side dish. Simply cut the cauliflower into florets and toss with the tandoori marinade. Lay them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and roast in a 400°F oven for about 30 minutes, tossing the florets every 10 minutes, or until browned and tender. Yep, broccoli florets also work!

What do I serve with whole roasted cauliflower?

You can serve Tandoori Whole Roasted Cauliflower as a main dish for your vegetarian pals or you can serve it as a side dish to your favorite grilled meat or seafood.

If you want to make an Indian-themed dinner, you can serve it with these dishes:

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Store the cooked tandoori whole roasted cauliflower in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 4 months. Reheat the cauliflower (thawed if previously frozen) in a covered dish at 325°F until warmed through. Remove the cover and broil for 2-3 minutes to brown the top.

Ready to make this Indian-spiced cauliflower showstopper?

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 whole cauliflower head, about 2 pounds
½ cup full-fat coconut milk or plain coconut yogurt
1 tablespoon tandoori spice mix or masala (no salt added)
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt
Flake finishing sea salt (optional)

Equipment:

Paring knife
Cutting board
Medium bowl
Measuring cup
Measuring spoons
Whisk
8-inch cast iron skillet or oven-safe baking dish
Aluminum foil
Parchment paper (optional)
Tongs

Method:

Heat the oven to 375°F and place a rack in the middle position. Grab the cauliflower head and…

Someone holding a head of cauliflower that is about to be made into Tandoori Whole Roasted Cauliflower.

…trim away the leaves at the bottom of the cauliflower head. Carefully cut off and remove the stem and tough core, but be careful to keep the head intact.

Someone preparing a whole cauliflower head to roast it in the oven.

In a large bowl, whisk coconut milk, tandoori spice, lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt. Got a bottle of Tandoori marinade? Simply measure out ½ a cup of it!

A shot of Nom Nom Paleo Tandoori Marinade available at select Whole Foods Market stores and 1/2 cup of marinade in a measuring cup.

Place the cauliflower head bottom side up in the dish or pan you are going to roast it in. Pour some of the tandoori marinade all over the bottom of the cauliflower and brush it evenly on the bottom.

Someone pouring and brushing Whole30 Nom Nom Paleo Tandoori marinade on a whole cauliflower head.

Flip the cauliflower over and pour the rest of the tandoori marinade over the top and paint the top until it is completely covered.

Someone pouring Nom Nom Paleo Tandoori marinade to make whole roasted cauliflower.

Cover tightly with aluminum foil. (You can also put a layer of parchment between the foil and cauliflower if you prefer.)

Someone covering Tandoori Whole Roasted Cauliflower with aluminum foil.

Put the skillet on the middle rack in the oven. Cook for 30 minutes, covered.

Tandoori Whole Roasted Cauliflower covered with foil in the oven.

Remove the foil from the skillet, and roast for an additional hour in the oven.

Tandoori Whole Roasted Cauliflower baking uncovered in the oven.

Once the cauliflower is golden brown on the outside and tender on the inside, take it out of the oven.

An overhead shot of Tandoori Whole Roasted Cauliflower golden brown and ready to serve.

Transfer the cauliflower head to a cutting board or platter and sprinkle with your favorite flake finishing salt for crunch and salinity!

An overhead shot of someone sprinkling salt on top of Tandoori Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Carve and serve!

Someone slicing into Tandoori Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013) and Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017)!

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