Moroccan Cauliflower with Tahini Honey is a 5 ingredient side dish with bold flavor and a sweet sesame finish. Serve this roasted cauliflower recipe with your protein of choice for easy weeknight dinners.
Today's recipe combines two of my favorite flavor agents: harissa and tahini!
Together, these two create a superior side with a beautiful balance of sweetness and spice.
Since the flavors are a fun departure from the norm, it would be a vibrant addition to any holiday spread, too. And don't worry, the spice of the harissa is tempered by the tahini-honey, so both adults and kids can enjoy it.
In the sauce, tahini teams up with honey and lemon to create a bright, toasty, and seductively sweet sauce.
The creaminess of tahini makes for the dreamiest drizzles, and this sauce is incredibly versatile.
For garnish, scatter some fresh parsley leaves overtop for a pop of color and freshness.
How to Make Moroccan Cauliflower:
Here are a few reasons I love making this roasted cauliflower recipe:
- All you need is a couple mixing bowls and a sheet pan for roasting.
- It's versatile enough to pair with any protein or entree.
- It uses few ingredients that deliver BIG on flavor.
The Ingredients:
- Cauliflower: You need one medium head of cauliflower, which should amount to 7 or 8 cups of florets.
- Harissa: Harissa is a North African spice paste that looks like a mix between tomato paste and tomato sauce. It has a slightly smoky spiciness with bright acidity and earthy undertones, and is a great shortcut ingredient to achieving big flavor.
- Tahini: Tahini is my favorite powerhouse seed butter capable of adding nutty depth to both sweet and savory recipes. The creaminess of tahini makes for the dreamiest drizzles!
- Honey: The sweetness of honey helps balance the bitterness of tahini.
- Alternatively, you can use maple syrup or date syrup.
- Lemon: For brightness and acidity.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Step 1: Season and Roast Cauliflower
Start by preheating the oven to 425ºF.
Toss cauliflower florets in olive oil, harissa, salt, and pepper, and spread on a large baking sheet.
Roast for 35 minutes, tossing once halfway through, until tender. Remove from oven and toss with additional harissa; bake for another 5 to 10 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare Tahini Honey
Combine olive oil, tahini, honey, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper; stir with a whisk. Add a little water to thin out to a creamier consistency.
Step 3: Drizzle Cauliflower with Tahini Honey
Transfer cauliflower to a bowl or serving platter. Drizzle cauliflower with tahini honey, and garnish with fresh parsley.
How to Make Crispy Roasted Cauliflower:
For cauliflower that's buttery and tender on the inside with quintessential crispy bits, roasting is the way to go.
Not only does roasting create perfectly caramelized florets, it also brings out cauliflower's inherent nutty flavor. However, they are a couple tricks to maximize this veggie's goodness and versatility.
- First, avoid overcrowding the pan, which will encourage steaming over browning.
- Second, crank the oven up to 425°F, which will tenderize the veggies while also creating those yummy crispy bits.
- Avoid pulling it out too early! Roasting cauliflower should take about 40 minutes total, so patience is key!
What to Serve with Moroccan Cauliflower:
The beauty of this roasted cauliflower with tahini is that it can serve as an entree or side dish.
If serving as a side, here are some of my favorite pairings:
- White fish, such as halibut, grouper, or cod.
- Roasted chicken or seared chicken thighs.
- Crispy cubes of tofu or tempeh.
- Black lentils with a dollop of hummus.
Recipe Variations:
- Make it Vegan: Swap the honey for maple syrup or date syrup.
- Add Protein: Add chickpeas or sautéed tofu to turn it into a full meal.
- Use Frozen Cauliflower: Frozen cauliflower will take around the same time to roast as fresh.
How to Store and Reheat:
- Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Reheat: To re-establish the cauliflower's crisp, reheat in the air-fryer or a 350ºF oven until warm. Alternatively, you can heat in the microwave.
If you give this recipe a try, snap a pic and tag #dishingouthealth on Instagram so I can see your creations. Also, follow along on Facebook and Pinterest for the latest recipe updates!
More Roasted Cauliflower Recipes to Try:
Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
Cauliflower with Maple-Mustard Tahini
Roasted Cauliflower and Potato Salad with Tarragon Tahini
Moroccan Cauliflower and Couscous Salad
Moroccan Cauliflower with Tahini-Honey
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Mixing bowls
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- ¾ tsp. kosher salt, divided
- 4 Tbsp. mild harissa, divided (such as Mina brand)
- 1 large head cauliflower, trimmed and sliced into florets (about 7 to 8 cups)
- 2 Tbsp. tahini
- 1 Tbsp. honey
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice, divided
- ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- In a large bowl, combine 2 Tbsp. of the oil, ½ tsp. salt, and 2 Tbsp. harissa; mix well. Add cauliflower and toss to evenly coat. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 35 minutes, tossing once halfway through, until tender.Remove from oven and toss with remaining 2 Tbsp. harissa; bake for another 5 to 7 minutes, until caramelized and charred in some spots.
- Meanwhile, prepare Tahini-Honey by combining remaining 2 Tbsp. olive oil, tahini, honey, 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, remaining ¼ tsp. salt, and black pepper; stir with a whisk. Whisk in 1 Tbsp. water to thin out to desired consistency.
- Transfer roasted cauliflower to a bowl or serving platter. Drizzle with tahini-honey, and squeeze remaining 1 Tbsp. lemon juice overtop. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Lara
Could you make this with a whole head of cauliflower? (Rather than chopping up )?
Jen
Can’t wait to try this!!! Do you use the bake or roast function in the oven?
Jamie Vespa
Bake function!
Kirsty
Hi, this sounds delicious but I'm just wondering if it's possible to serve cold/ room temperature, or better hot??
Jamie Vespa
Hi Kirsty - room temperature would be fine! I don't think i'd serve it cold, though. Enjoy!
Karissa
Amazing! I left out the oil, the tahini was oily enough. I’ll be making this often! Thanks!
Jamie Vespa
Hi Karissa - I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for coming back and leaving a review!
Amy
Is it a bad thing that I just ate an entire head of cauliflower? (In my defense it was the whole meal.). This recipe is AMAZING.the slickness of the harissa and the sweetness of the tahini honey complement each other and balance the dish. I love this and I love that your recipes are prompting me to experiment with new flavors - miso, tahini, harissa. Thank you!
Jamie Vespa
Hahah never! I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Amy! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Pig
hot damn this was so good
Jamie Vespa
I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Sarah
New favorite! This dish is so easy and packed full of flavor!! Definitely making this for Christmas Eve
Jamie Vespa
Hi Sarah - I'm so glad the recipe was a hit! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Sue
2 parts harissa powder to 1 part olive oil and 1 part water. Mix 30 minutes before you want to use it.
Carol Morehart
A delicious dish! I consider it a keeper! Distinctive flavors.
Janet T
SO GOOD!! My fav way to make cauliflower.
Jamie Vespa
Hi Janet--I'm so glad the recipe was a hit! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Jaime
This looks amazing! I'm wondering about the level of heat - I've got kids who are pretty averse to spicy foods. How does this rate on the mild-to-spicy spectrum? Thanks 🙂
Jamie Vespa
Hi Jaime--As long as you use a mild harissa (such as Mina brand), the heat level definitely tinkers more mild. The honey does a good job of tempering the spice. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Kelli
This was soooooo good! I’m vegan so used maple syrup instead of honey! Definitely a keeper:)
Jamie Vespa
I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Kelli! Thank you for taking the time to leave a rating and review!
Sara
Thank you for this recipe! We make it weekly now and it’s one of my favorite dishes EVER
Jamie Vespa
Hi Sara- I'm so glad you enjoyed this one!! It's a favorite over here, too. Thank you for taking the time to leave the recipe a rating and review!
Julie
SOOOOOOOOOOO Good! I was skeptical at first, but even the hubs said he loved it! I am definitely making this again!!! I put it together with salmon,
Julie
This recipe turned me from a “I’ll only eat cauliflower fried” individual to a cauliflower addict. Now I make 1-2 heads of cauliflower this way each week and have been doing so for the past month and a half. Lol. It’s so good! I generally snack on it while preparing dinner.
Jamie Vespa
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Julie! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Nathalie
Another amazing gem! LOVED it!!
Jamie Vespa
Ah I’m so glad, Nathalie! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Lotte
Hii this recipe sounds very nice, considering to make it tonight. What would you suggest serving along with it?
Jamie Vespa
Hi Lotte! You can serve it with any protein you like! Chicken, white fish, scallops, or any red meat. If youre vegetarian, any of my tofu dishes would be lovely with it!
Melodie
I have harissa in dry form. How do I adapt the dry to the recipe? Thanks!
Mariana
Few ingredients and big flavor is my kind of recipe! I could just eat the whole bowl!
Sam
We loved the sweet and spicy combo of this dish! Thanks for a great recipe Jamie!!
Bailey
Crazy delicious!! The tahini honey is such a great, easy sauce for elevating this dish!
Carolyn
This is a weekly staple in my house!
Shelly L
This was easy and delicious! Very creative flavors. Will be making this again! Thank you.
Nancy
I rarely write comments, but I feel I needed to thank you for this recipe! Truly one of my favorites! I didn’t have honey so I used monk fruit sweeter in place of. Delicious and without the honey it is a great Keto and. Vegan option! I am an omnivore but often have friends over with those restrictions and this is a wonderful dish that everyone can eat. We once make it with the addition of chickpeas as a main course.
dishingouthealth
Hi Nancy, I'm SO glad you love the recipe!! Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review.