Side Dishes Vegetable Side Dishes Healthy Cauliflower Side Dish Recipes Healthy Roasted Cauliflower Recipes Parmesan-Crusted Cauliflower 5.0 (2) 2 Reviews This Parmesan-crusted cauliflower is a delicious dish that features tender cauliflower florets with a crispy, golden Parmesan cheese crust. Finishing the dish with lemon zest and parsley adds a nice brightness. Serve this dish alongside roast chicken, pork and more. By Liv Dansky Liv Dansky Liv Dansky has worked with Dotdash Meredith since 2019 as a recipe tester and developer and, more recently, as a writer for the commerce team. Her work can be found across brands like Food & Wine, Southern Living, Real Simple, Eating Well, and Serious Eats. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on September 20, 2024 Tested by Amanda Stanfield Tested by Amanda Stanfield Amanda Stanfield is a Test Kitchen assistant in the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios. She completed her undergraduate degree in journalism and strategic communications at Hampton University. After graduation, Amanda worked in the nonprofit sector as a marketing associate for a global nonprofit organization. In 2018, she pivoted into the food industry and began training in fine-dining restaurants around Atlanta. Later she gained her culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University and went on to work in a variety of kitchens from boutique restaurants to conference hotels. As a true foodie, Amanda seeks out nutritious and unique flavors to inspire others to eat happily and healthfully. When she's not cooking up delicious recipes, you can find her lap swimming in the pool or watching a good sci-fi movie. Meet the EatingWell Test Kitchen Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel Active Time: 15 mins Total Time: 35 mins Servings: 8 Nutrition Profile: No Added Sugar Gut Healthy Sesame-Free Weight Loss Nut-Free Soy-Free High-Fiber Vegetarian Egg-Free Gluten-Free Jump to Nutrition Facts Jump to recipe Crispy, cheesy and with just the right amount of spicy kick from cayenne, this Parmesan Crusted Cauliflower comes together quickly. Cauliflower is a versatile vegetable because it can take on so many different flavors and be so incredibly craveable—especially when coated in Parmesan and finished with fresh lemon zest and parsley. It’s also incredibly nutritious: rich in fiber as well as vitamin C, which is great for maintaining healthy skin. Check out our expert tips on how to prevent a soggy texture. Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! Use a smaller sheet pan; the smaller surface area will yield a thicker Parmesan cheese crust. While it’s best to cut florets from a head of cauliflower, you can purchase pre-cut florets at the grocery store—just make sure to cut any larger florets in half. For a smoky variation, you can replace the paprika with smoked paprika, or you can add a little onion flavor by topping the cauliflower with chives instead of parsley.Wait until the cheese cools down and hardens before breaking it apart and serving. Nutrition Notes Cauliflower is packed with nutrition, and it’s particularly rich in potassium. Adding more potassium to your diet helps to pull excess sodium out of your body, which can lower blood pressure. Parmesan cheese is an excellent option when looking to maximize nutritional benefit in your meals. One ounce of Parmesan cheese has as much calcium as 1 cup of milk—that’s good news for your bones and your taste buds. Some Parmesan cheese is made with animal rennet, making it not vegetarian. If you're following a vegetarian diet, be sure to purchase Parmesan labeled as vegetarian. Extra-virgin olive oil is brimming with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. Using extra-virgin olive oil in place of foods high in saturated fat can help lower your LDL cholesterol and reduce chronic inflammation. Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1¼ cups grated Parmesan cheese 2 teaspoons paprika 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning ½ teaspoon ground pepper, divided ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into bite-size florets (6 cups) 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons lemon juice ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest Directions Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine 1¼ cups Parmesan, 2 teaspoons each paprika and Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon pepper and ⅛ teaspoon cayenne in a large bowl. Spread in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel Place cauliflower in the same large bowl. Add 2 tablespoons each oil and lemon juice and the remaining ¼ teaspoon pepper; toss until well coated. Arrange the cauliflower florets, cut-sides down, in a single layer directly on top of the Parmesan mixture. Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel Roast until the cauliflower is tender-crisp and the Parmesan is golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Let stand until the cauliflower cools and the Parmesan is set, 6 to 8 minutes. Top with ¼ cup parsley and 2 teaspoons lemon zest before serving. Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel Frequently Asked Questions Can I prepare Parmesan-Crusted Cauliflower ahead of time? This dish doesn’t store well, but you can make the Parmesan cheese mixture (Step 2) up to one day in advance and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It will save a little time when you make the recipe the next day. How do I prevent this dish from becoming soggy? There are a few things that you can do to prevent soggy cauliflower. Be sure you’ve dried the cauliflower well after you’ve washed it. Even though you will be adding oil and lemon juice, you don’t want any extra liquid. Don’t overcrowd the sheet pan—provide space around each floret so they roast and don’t steam. Also, roasting the cauliflower at a high temperature for a short time, like you do in this recipe, will help. What should I serve with Parmesan-Crusted Cauliflower? This side dish is perfect alongside any protein, whether you’re planning to serve chicken thighs, Easy Baked Fish Fillets, Healthy Oven-Fried Pork Chops or our Rosemary & Garlic-Basted Sirloin Steak. EatingWell.com, September 2024 Rate It Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 140 Calories 8g Fat 11g Carbs 8g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 8 Serving Size about ½ cup Calories 140 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 11g 4% Dietary Fiber 4g 13% Total Sugars 3g Protein 8g 15% Total Fat 8g 11% Saturated Fat 3g 16% Cholesterol 13mg 4% Vitamin A 65µg Vitamin C 81mg 90% Vitamin D 0µg Vitamin E 1mg 6% Folate 97µg Vitamin K 60µg Sodium 333mg 14% Calcium 178mg 14% Iron 1mg 6% Magnesium 33mg 8% Potassium 543mg 12% Zinc 1mg 11% Vitamin B12 0µg Omega 3 0g Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs. Additional reporting by Sarah Pflugradt, Ph.D., RDN, CSCS Sarah Pflugradt, Ph.D., RDN, CSCS Sarah Pflugradt is a registered dietitian who holds a Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Her extensive background in dietetics has made her a sought-after expert in family and youth sports nutrition. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines and Linda Frahm Linda Frahm Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications, such as Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines, and has edited cookbooks for Dovetail Press and The Taste Curators. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Sources EatingWell is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Cheese, parmesan, hard.