Roasted Whole Cauliflower Tikka

4.86 from 14 votes

Roasted Cauliflower Tikka served with a creamy tomato sauce will make a great vegetarian centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table!

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Are you not sure what to serve your vegetarian guests in place of turkey on the Thanksgiving table? Try this Roasted Cauliflower Tikka. Whole cauliflower marinated with aromatic spices then baked in the oven and served with a tomato based creamy sauce! This will surely impress your vegetarian guests!

cauliflower tikka

I love adding Indian inspired dishes to out Thanksgiving table like the masala smashed potatoes, tandoori mushrooms, apple chutney and more. However these are all sides and vegetarians usually stick to side dishes during Thanksgiving.

But I firmly believe that even vegetarians should have a centerpiece for Thanksgiving and too a flavorful one. And that’s why you need to make this Roasted Whole Cauliflower Tikka. Doesn’t it look like the perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table?

It has this whole head of cauliflower which is marinated with yogurt and spices then baked in the oven. It’s served with a creamy tomato sauce and sliced onions.

While testing this recipe, I actually made the whole thing twice with different flavors. I first made a tandoori masala at home, marinated the cauliflower with it and served it as such. I thought it was nice but a sauce would make it more complete. So then I changed the flavors and made this cauliflower tikka with a tomato sauce or you may call it Cauliflower Tikka Masala. Sarvesh thought both were good but I am sharing the one that I felt was more appropriate for Thanksgiving.

You can serve this one too without the sauce, just the cauliflower head with cilantro chutney. It would make a great appetizer/meal but to make it more complete for the dinner, I suggest you serve with the sauce.

This Roasted Cauliflower Tikka

  • is really flavorful with all the aromatic spices.
  • tastes better the next day so you can make this in advance.
  • will appeal even to the meat-lovers!
  • is perfect to share with a crowd/

This dish actually tasted so much better the next day. The flavors really come together as time goes by so you can make this in advance. Also, in the recipe I mention to marinate the cauliflower for 1 hour but if you have the time, marinate for a longer period of time. You can even marinate overnight and then bake it first thing in the morning. Either way, it would be just fine.

Step by Step Instructions

1- To a bowl or pan add all the ingredients listed under “to marinate”. Make sure the yogurt that you use here is thick.

2- Whisk to combine everything together. 

3- Trim the outer leaves and stalks of the cauliflower but make sure the head remains intact. Coat the entire cauliflower with the marinade. Use you hands to spread the marinade all over, going to sides and also to the back of the cauliflower.

4- Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour. If you have time, you can even marinate 4 to 6 hours or even overnight. Once you have marinated the cauliflower with the masala for a desired amount of time, roast it in the oven at 400 F degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until tender.

step by step picture collage of making whole cauliflower tikka

5- Meanwhile make the sauce. Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Then add the onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes till soft and translucent. Add ginger garlic paste and cook for another minute or two till the raw smell goes away.

6- Add the chopped tomatoes along with store bought tomato puree, salt and 1/4 cup of water. Let the tomatoes cook for 3 minutes.

7 & 8- Add red chili powder, curry powder, sugar and let the masala cook for 2 more minutes.

step by step picture collage of making whole cauliflower tikka

9- Once the masala is nicely cooked, add the remaining 3/4 cup water to the pan. Mix everything well and then blend the mixture to a smooth paste.

10- Transfer the puree back to the pan and add butter and chopped cilantro.

11- Let the sauce simmer for 2 minutes.

12-Place the roasted cauliflower in the center of the serving plate and pour the prepared sauce all around the cauliflower. Serve roasted cauliflower tikka with onion rings and cilantro-mint chutney on the side!

step by step picture collage of making whole cauliflower tikka

Vegan Variation

I have not tried making this recipe vegan but it’s totally doable. Use plain almond milk yogurt in place of regular yogurt to marinate and add vegan butter in place of regular butter in the end. Follow the rest of the recipe as it is.

Tips & Notes

  • You may serve this cauliflower tikka without the sauce. Serve it with cilantro chutney and it would make a great appetizer. With the sauce, it’s more of a complete meal.
  • I strongly recommend using store bought puree here. But if you can’t get it, make a puree of 2 tomatoes and use in the recipe.
  • A smaller cauliflower head might get done in less time and a bigger one will take more time so adjust the timing accordingly.
  • Prep time includes the resting time of 1 hour.

This post has been updated from the recipe archives, first published in November 2017.

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Roasted Whole Cauliflower Tikka

4.86 from 14 votes
Prep: 1 hour 20 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 6
Roasted Cauliflower Tikka served with a creamy tomato sauce will make a great vegetarian centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table!

Ingredients 

  • 1 cauliflower 962 grams with stems and leaves

to marinate

  • 1/2 cup thick yogurt
  • 2 teaspoons ginger garlic paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon chaat masala
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1-2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

sauce

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 medium red onion chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 medium tomato chopped
  • 1/4 cup tomato puree store bought
  • 1 cup water divided
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
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Instructions 

  • To a bowl add all the ingredients listed under “to marinate”. Make sure the yogurt that you use here is thick. Whisk to combine everything together.
  • Trim the outer leaves and stalks of the cauliflower but make sure the head remains intact. Coat the entire cauliflower with the marinade. Use you hands to spread the marinade all over, going to sides and also to the back of the cauliflower.
  • Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour. If you have time, you can even marinate 4-6 hours or even overnight.
  • Once you have marinated the cauliflower with the masala for a desired amount of time, roast it in the oven at 400 F degrees for 45 to 50 minutes on until tender (a smaller head might get done in less time and a bigger one will take more time so adjust accordingly).
  • Meanwhile make the sauce. Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Then add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes till soft and translucent.
  • Add ginger garlic paste and cook for another minute or two till the raw smell goes away. Add the chopped tomatoes along with store bought tomato puree, salt and 1/4 cup of water. Let the tomatoes cook for 3 minutes.
  • Add red chili powder, curry powder, sugar and let the masala cook for 2 more minutes.
  • Once the masala is nicely cooked, add the remaining 3/4 cup water to the pan. Mix everything well and then blend the mixture to a smooth paste.
  • Transfer the pureed mixture back to the pan and add butter and chopped cilantro. Let it all simmer for 2 minutes.
  • Place the roasted cauliflower in the center of the serving plate and pour the prepared sauce all around the cauliflower.
  • Serve roasted cauliflower tikka with onion rings and cilantro-mint chutney on the side!

Video

Notes

  • You may serve this cauliflower tikka without the sauce. Serve it with cilantro chutney and it would make a great appetizer. With the sauce, it’s more of a complete meal.
  • I strongly recommend using store bought puree here. But if you can’t get it, make a puree of 2 tomatoes and use in the recipe.
  • A smaller cauliflower head might get done in less time and a bigger one will take more time so adjust the timing accordingly.
  • Prep time includes the resting time of 1 hour.

Nutrition

Calories: 100kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 8mg, Sodium: 535mg, Potassium: 457mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 395IU, Vitamin C: 52mg, Calcium: 60mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
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Hi, I’m Manali!

Bringing you easy, delicious vegetarian & vegan recipes! Eating veggies can be fun, you just need to get creative in the kitchen with the right set of ingredients!


4.86 from 14 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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51 Comments

  1. Hi! I’m wondering about the garlic ginger paste. Is it available at a store, or do you make it from scratch? If you make it yourself, please share the recipe. Thanks! Am looking forward to making the Roasted Cauliflower Tikka.

  2. 5 stars
    I made this for thanksgiving and it came out delicious!! Easy recipe to follow too. Thank you so much.

  3. Will be trying this for thanksgiving. One of the previous times we saw inside of the cauliflower was not completely cooked . I am hoping increasing baking time makes a difference . Also it tastes so much better when the sauce can go into the crevices of the cauliflower. 🙂

  4. This is a great recipe and I am going to try this tonight. Quick question what is curry powder and is there a brand? Any alternative?

    1. curry powder is a mix of spices like coriander, cumin, mustard (made popular in UK), almost every brand has their own version. I have used simply organic brand

  5. Hey Manali I am fan of your cooking. I am going to try this today. Will send photo of end result. Thank you for posting this recipe. Found a dish to bring it to office potluck.

  6. 5 stars
    When I saw the photo, I am fascinated and decided to make it. It was not hard work as I thought. This is so gorgeous dish. With sauce, it gets awesome vegan main dish! I am glad that I made this. It really catch eyes and then, taste:)

  7. Tried this today. It took me almost 1.5 hours at temperature 425F to roast the cauliflower completely. However, the end result was delicious ? Thank you 🙂

    1. it totally depends on the size of cauliflower. Also even oven is different, a 10 degree temperature difference here and there makes a difference. glad you liked it

  8. Helo, Manali. If I use tikka masala powder for the sauce too it will change the taste, right? I am looking for a tikka masala sauce recipe.

    1. since I have not tested or tried tikka masala powder, I don’t know what the outcome will be but you can give it a shot!

    1. you can marinade the cauliflower overnight, also make the saute beforehand. Bake the cauliflower on the day you want to serve it and serve with the already prepared sauce

  9. 3 stars
    Hello Manali
    I tried your recipe,but it didn’t workout properly.
    Only the upper part got cooked properly but inside where we can’t eat as it was not cooked.
    Is there any other way we can cooked it completely from inside also.(as suggestions)
    Taste was good but felt sad as it didn’t worked properly.

    Thanks
    Geeta

    1. Hi Geeta, sorry you had issue with the cauliflower not getting cooked. I don’t see any other reason for that except that your oven settings might be off by few degrees. Get and oven thermometer and check you oven settings, maybe it didn’t reach the temperature it was supposed to and that’s why the cauliflower didn’t get cooked completely from inside for the time mentioned. I would just put it back for more time if its not cooked. It’s a vegetable and I see no reason why it shouldn’t get cooked inside the oven 🙂

    1. Hi Meera, I am not sure, I have never tried it. It would be okay to marinate 24-48 hours in advance but 1-2 weeks,not sure if that would work.

  10. 5 stars
    We loved it! I think that sauce would be great on a number of things but this dish was presentation worthy. Looking forward to many more of your recipes. THANKS!

  11. Hi

    Not satisfy with this recipe.
    When practically we try to make its really hard.
    I put this veg head about one and a half hour in the oven, but it did not get soft.
    Very disappointed ?!

    1. Asma, there is no way a cauliflower won’t soften after 1.5 hours in the oven at 400 F (205 C). Please check your oven temperature, looks like its giving wrong numbers or its not working…