Whole Roasted Cauliflower

A vegan alternative to the classic roast! Cooks in about an hour and 15 minutes. 

Source: JamieOliver.com

Ingredients

1
Large Cauliflower (with outer leaves)
1 teaspoon
smoked paprika
4 cloves
garlic
1⁄2 bunch
fresh thyme
 
olive oil (Regular and Extra Virgin)
1
lemon
4 tablespoons
Dry Sherry
14 ounces
Can of Plum Tomatoes (the best you can afford and find)
1⁄4 cup
almonds (or a handful - almonds are optional)
1⁄2 bunch
fresh parsley
Yields:
Servings

Instructions

 
 
  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF
  2. Peel the garlic, then add to a pestle and mortar with the paprika and half the thyme leaves. Bash well to a rough paste, then muddle in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season.
  3. Zest the lemon into a separate bowl and set aside.
  4. Trim the outer cauliflower leaves. Trim away and discard the stalk so the cauliflower can sit flat, then cut a cross into the base.
  5. Rub the paprika paste all over the cauliflower, then place in a medium casserole pan. Drizzle over the sherry and squeeze the lemon juice on top.
  6. Cover and pop in the hot oven for around 1 hour 20 minutes, or until tender, removing the lid for the final 20 minutes.
  7. Remove the pan from the oven, then pour in the tomatoes, tearing or slicing them up into chunks. Sprinkle over the lemon zest and pick over the remaining thyme leaves.
  8. Return the pan to the oven for a further 10 minutes, or until the cauliflower is golden.
  9. Meanwhile, toast the almonds in a dry frying pan over a medium-low heat until golden, then leave to cool.
  10. Once ready, take the pan out of the oven. Scrunch over the toasted almonds, then pick, roughly chop and scatter the parsley leaves on top.
  11. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, then carve up and serve with pilaf rice and steamed greens, or as part of a bigger spread.
Dietary Preferences: