Christmas Cauliflower

Christmas Cauliflower

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This elegant Christmas table centrepiece will wow your guests and provide an unusual alternative to the predictable side dishes in your festive feast.

What is Romanesco Cauliflower?

It’s a brassica with one of nature’s most amazing designs, giving it the appearance of a mini forest full of Christmas trees.

It tastes like a cross between cauliflower and broccoli, but with a nutty edge to it.

It’s attractive on the outside, but there’s goodness within too.

What Goes Well With This?

It goes well with cheese, as in this recipe, or you could replace white cauliflower with it in Pumpkin Macaroni Cheese

Romanesco Cauliflower

Recipe Tips

Do a test run before the big day.

Keep an eye on the cauliflower in the oven to make sure the tips don’t burn. They will char a little, but this is expected with its irregular shape.

Different ovens will heat up at different rates. Feel free to lower the oven temperature or lower the oven shelf. Go with your instincts.

Romanesco Cauliflower can be blanched, roasted, stir-fired and eaten raw.

Romanesco Cauliflower Closeup
Baked Romanesco Cauliflower With Cheese

Christmas Cauliflower

A great centrepiece for your Christmas Day table.
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Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 53kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 Romanesco Cauliflower
  • ½ Lemon
  • 1 Garlic clove
  • 1 tsp Dried Thyme
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • Parmesan for sprinkling on the top

Instructions

  • Squeeze the juice of half the Lemon and add it to a bowl.
  • Grate 1 Garlic clove and add it to the bowl with the Lemon juice.
  • Add 1 tsp Thyme and 2 tbsp Olive Oil and whisk the mixture until it is evenly combined.
    Whisking Lemon Dressing
  • Trim the leaves from the Romanesco Cauliflower and place on baking parchment on a baking tray.
  • Pour the Lemon/Oil mixture over the Cauliflower and roast in the oven at 220C Gas 7 425F for 15-20 minutes, or until you can easily run a sharp knife through the Cauliflower.
    Romanesco Cauliflower with Lemon Dressing
  • Place the roasted Cauliflower on a plate and grate the Parmesan over it, so it looks like snow on a Christmas tree.
Nutrition Facts
Christmas Cauliflower
Amount Per Serving
Calories 53 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 1mg0%
Sodium 16mg1%
Potassium 7mg0%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 1g2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.