• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Our Salty Kitchen
  • Browse All Recipes
  • Season
    • Fall Recipes
    • Spring Recipes
    • Summer Recipes
    • Winter Recipes
    • Holiday Recipes
  • Diet
    • Gluten Free
    • Grain Free
    • Keto
    • Paleo
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Whole30 Recipes
  • Course
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments and Sauces
    • Desserts
    • Cocktails
    • Main Dishes
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups and Stews
  • Method
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Slow Cooker
    • Grilling Recipes
    • Stir Fry
  • About
    • Let’s Collaborate!
    • Recipe Photography for Food Bloggers
    • Photography Portfolio
    • License Images
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • All Recipes
  • Main Dishes
  • Side Dishes
  • Salads
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    You are here: Home » Meal Type » Side Dishes » Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower

    Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower

    October 27, 2020 By Danielle Esposti 4 Comments

    May contain affiliate links.See our Privacy Policy and disclosure.

    Go to Recipe
    Pinterest image for mediterranean roasted cauliflower with olives, raisins, and pine nuts.
    Pinterest image for a vegan mediterranean style roasted cauliflower recipe.
    Pinterest collage for a vegan mediterranean style roasted cauliflower recipe.
    Pinterest collage for mediterranean roasted cauliflower with olives, raisins, and pine nuts.

    Take a your taste buds on a little overseas flavor adventure. Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower is a unique sweet and salty twist on one of your favorite versatile veggies. Crunchy, caramelized florets get a big, bold boost from toasted pine nuts, sweet raisins, and briny olives. Great for paleo, Whole30, low carb, and vegan diets.

    Mediterranean style roasted cauliflower with olives, raisins, and pine nuts on a blue serving platter with a silver spoon.
    Jump to:
    • How to Make Mediterranean Style Roasted Cauliflower
    • Tips for Making Perfect Roasted Cauliflower
    • What to Serve with Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower
    • More Easy, Flavor-Packed Side Dishes
    • Recipe


    Look, before anyone pooh-poohs raisins and olives, let’s be clear – there is absolutely nothing fundamentally wrong with being a picky eater. Some people may dismiss you as boring or unadventurous, but taste is a very personal thing. Eating shouldn’t make you uncomfortable. It should be a joyful experience. So, if you don’t like the taste of something, you shouldn’t put it in your mouth.

    That being said, I firmly believe you shouldn’t not put something in your mouth because you’re not already 100% certain of how it will taste or make you feel. (Tide Pods and dog biscuits notwithstanding.) Sometimes people avoid culinary discomfort (especially when cooking at home) because if they don’t like it, they feel they’ve wasted the meal (or the time or the money). Not sure about a flavor combination? Stick to what you know.

    But isn’t this what foodie friends are for? To tell you that while yes, roasted cauliflower is great, it becomes a downright delicacy when you add toasted pine nuts, piquant kalamata olives, and plump raisins. And no matter how hard that combination might make you cock your head and wrinkle your nose, you try it anyway and realize that the combination of sweet and salty and earthy and nutty and charred is so much more than the sum of its parts. Trust me. You’ve never had cauliflower like this before, and you won’t want it any other way after.

    Look, one of the most adventurous eaters I know had a long-standing issue with tamarind stemming from an unfortunate incident in her youth with a Tamarind Spoon candy. For years, the presence of tamarind in the recipe kept her from trying the absolutely legendary Palak Chaat at a very well-known Indian restaurant in DC. She finally did and, despite having a messy split with an ex flame who worked there, regularly went back just to eat it. How’s that for stepping outside your comfort zone?

    How to Make Mediterranean Style Roasted Cauliflower

    Toss caramelized roasted cauliflower with a sweet and salty combination of olives, raisins, and pine nuts for an incredibly flavorful side dish. Be sure to check the recipe card for complete step-by-step instructions and how-to photos. 

    1. Roast cauliflower with shallots in a 425°F oven until caramelized and tender.
    2. Toast pine nuts in a skillet until golden brown and fragrant.
    3. Sauté raisins and olives, then season with a splash of vinegar.
    4. Add the cauliflower and shallots to the skillet and toss.
    5. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley for a bright finish.
    Roasted cauliflower in a skillet tossed with olives, raisins, and pine nuts.

    Tips for Making Perfect Roasted Cauliflower

    A big chunk of the flavor in this recipe comes from properly roasted cauliflower, so get the job done perfectly with these easy tips:

    • Small bites. Cut the cauliflower florets into manageable, bite-sized pieces.
    • Don’t overcrowd. Give ’em plenty of room. Spread the florets evenly over the baking sheet and shake to evenly distribute.
    • Oil properly. Toss the cauliflower with olive oil in a mixing bowl until evenly coated – make sure it gets into the nooks and crannies!
    • High heat, enough time. Roast cauliflower at high heat, and give it enough time to become both tender and caramelized.
    • Toss once. Toss the cauliflower halfway through roasting and spread the florets back out on the pan to ensure even caramelization on all sides.
    Side view, a platter of mediterranean style roasted cauliflower with olives, raisins, and pine nuts.

    What to Serve with Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower

    This is a very flavorful side, best served with dishes that won’t compete for flavor. I won’t lie – I’ve eat most of a pan in one sitting and called it lunch more than once. For a more robust meal, serve it with Turkey Meatballs, simple grilled Rosemary Steak, or Crispy Chicken Thighs.

    More Easy, Flavor-Packed Side Dishes

    • Honey Roasted Carrots
    • Mexican Cauliflower Rice
    • Ranch Potatoes
    • Lemon Garlic Asparagus
    A blue serving platter of mediterranean roasted cauliflower with a silver serving spoon.

    Did you make this Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower? I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.

    While you’re at it, let’s be friends – follow me on Pinterest and Instagram for the latest and greatest.

    Recipe

    Mediterranean style roasted cauliflower with olives, raisins, and pine nuts on a blue serving platter with a silver spoon.

    Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower

    No ratings yet
    Author: Danielle Esposti
    Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin Recipe
    Incredibly bold and flavorful, Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower is a stand-out side dish. Toss oven-roasted cauliflower and shallots with toasted pine nuts and lightly sautéed kalamata olives and raisins. This super simple side is ready in under 30 minutes!
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 35 mins
    Total Time: 40 mins
    Servings : 6 as a side
    Calories: 239

    Recommended Equipment

    • Baking Sheet
    • Skillet

    Ingredients

    • 1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets
    • 1 medium shallot, thinly sliced
    • 4 tbsp olive oil, divided
    • ¼ cup pine nuts
    • ⅓ cup raisins
    • ⅓ cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
    • 1 tbsp champagne vinegar, or rice vinegar
    • 1 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
    • ½ tsp fresh cracked pepper, or to taste
    • 2 tbsp chopped parsley

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 425°F. Toss the cauliflower and shallots with 3 tbsp oil in a large mixing bowl until well coated. Spread onto a baking pan and transfer to the oven. Roast 25-30 minutes, tossing once halfway through, until the cauliflower is tender and caramelized.
      Roasted cauliflower florets on a baking sheet.
    • Heat a skillet over medium heat. Once it's hot, add the pine nuts and dry toast, shaking occasionally, until the nuts are browned and fragrant, about 8 minutes. Remove and set aside
      Toasted pine nuts in a skillet.
    • Heat the remaining 1 tbsp oil in the skillet. Add the raisins and olives and cook 2-3 minutes, until the raisins are plump. Add the vinegar and cook until the liquid stops bubbling.
      Sautéed lives and raisins in a skillet.
    • Add the roasted cauliflower into the skillet, then season with salt and pepper. Toss until well combined, then sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and chopped parsley; serve immediately.
      Roasted cauliflower in a skillet tossed with olives, raisins, and pine nuts.

    Notes

    Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Best reheated in a skillet over medium high heat until warmed through.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 239kcal (12%), Carbohydrates: 16g (5%), Protein: 3g (6%), Fat: 18g (28%), Saturated Fat: 2g (10%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 570mg (24%), Potassium: 347mg (10%), Fiber: 4g (16%), Sugar: 6g (7%), Vitamin A: 0%, Vitamin C: 52% (52%), Calcium: 3% (3%), Iron: 5% (5%)
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @oursaltykitchen or tag #oursaltykitchen!
    « Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
    Healthy Honey Cornbread »

    Disclaimer: This post and the recipe card may contain affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission (at no cost to you!) if you make a purchase using these links. Rest assured, we only endorse products we own and truly love!

    4 Comments
    Filed Under: Paleo, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole30 Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Trackbacks

    1. Loaded Cauliflower Soup (Whole30, Keto) | Our Salty Kitchen says:
      January 2, 2021 at 9:55 am

      […] Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower […]

      Reply
    2. How to Cook Cauliflower (6 Ways!) | Our Salty Kitchen says:
      February 12, 2021 at 1:31 pm

      […] it up with romesco sauce or pesto, or toss in a skillet with Mediterranean garnishes like olives, pine nuts, and […]

      Reply
    3. How to Cut Cauliflower (Easy, No Mess!) | Our Salty Kitchen says:
      March 8, 2021 at 11:14 am

      […] Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower […]

      Reply
    4. Air Fryer Cauliflower (with VIDEO and 5 variations!) | Our Salty Kitchen says:
      September 14, 2021 at 10:55 am

      […] Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Our Salty Kitchen! We create real food for real people. Our whole foods recipes are seasonal, locally sourced, and simply prepared. Learn More! 

    Footer

    ABOUT US      CONTACT US      PRIVACY POLICY 

    A collage of publication logos that have featured recipes and photography from Our Salty Kitchen.

    Footer

    Privacy

    Privacy Policy

    Let's ConnecT

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    About Us

    Contact

    Copyright © 2023 Our Salty Kitchen

    274 shares