Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Hummus

4.9 ✓ Thanks!
Serves2
Prep Time

25 mins

Total Time

2 hrs

DifficultyMedium
Recipe by Aishwarya Subramanian Pastry Chef, Product Head

Aishwarya Subramanian is a designer and pastry chef bringing her creations to life at The Recipe Lab.

Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Hummus

About This Dish

Whole roasted cauliflower with hummus is built on layers of flavor, texture, and warmth - spiced, creamy, and deeply satisfying. It begins with the cauliflower, gently parboiled to soften its core, then coated in a yogurt-based marinade infused with Lakadong Turmeric, chilli, za’atar, and herbs. As it roasts, the exterior transforms to golden, slightly charred, and packed with spice, while the inside stays tender and almost buttery.

 

The hummus forms the foundation of the dish, blended until smooth and rich with tahini, olive oil, and garlic. A squeeze of lemon lifts it, adding brightness that balances the warmth of the spices. Spread across the plate, it becomes more than just a side - it anchors the dish, catching all the flavors from the cauliflower above.

 

Roasting in stages builds depth. The initial bake cooks the cauliflower through, while the final high-heat roast creates those crisp, caramelized edges that give the dish its character. The result is a contrast between soft and crisp, creamy and spiced, subtle and bold.

 

The assembly brings everything together. The cauliflower is set over a generous bed of hummus, then finished with a tahini drizzle, bursts of sweet pomegranate, and the crunch of pistachios. Fresh mint adds a final layer of brightness, lifting the dish and tying all the elements together.

 

Each bite moves through textures and flavors - creamy hummus, spiced cauliflower, sweet pops of pomegranate, and nutty crunch - making it feel both hearty and refined. It’s a dish that’s simple in concept but layered in execution, perfect as a centerpiece for a shared meal or a thoughtful, plant-forward main that feels anything but ordinary.

Ingredients

Whole Roasted Cauliflower:

  1. 1 medium-sized cauliflower
  2. ¼ cup plain yoghurt
  3. 1 tsp Lakadong Turmeric powder
  4. 1 tsp chilli powder
  5. 1 tsp  za'atar powder
  6. 2 tsp dried parsley
  7. 1 tsp powdered sugar
  8. 1 tsp sumac powder
  9. Salt to taste
  10. 2 tbsp olive oil

Hummus:

  1. 1 1/2 cup cooked chickpeas
  2. ¼ cup tahini paste
  3. ¼ cup olive oil
  4. 3 pods of fresh garlic (peeled)
  5. 2 tbsp cold water
  6. ½ tsp za'atar powder (You can also use cumin powder instead)
  7. Juice from 1 lemon
  8. Salt to taste

Garnishes:

  1. ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
  2. 3 tbsp sliced pistachios
  3. Sprigs of mint leaves
  4. Tahini drizzle (2 tbsp tahini paste + 2 tbsp water + ¼ tsp chilli powder)

Instructions

Hummus:


  1. Add cooked chickpeas, tahini, peeled garlic pods, olive oil and cold water to a blender. Blend until smooth. 

  2. Check the consistency and add more olive oil/cold water if required. It should resemble a thick, smooth paste.

  3. Season with salt, za'atar powder and a squeeze of lemon juice. 

  4. Set aside to be used later. 


Whole Roasted Cauliflower:

  1. Cut the stalks from the cauliflower and place it in a pot of boiling salted water for 5-6 mins. 

  2. Remove from the water, rinse and pat dry.

  3. Using the yoghurt and spices, create a paste and apply it to the cauliflower. Make sure to generously coat the cauliflower, even inside all the nooks and crannies, not forgetting the bottom. Let this marinate for 1 hour at room temp. 

  4. Preheat the oven to 180°C. 

  5. Place the marinated cauliflower on a silicon mat/parchment paper-lined baking tray and brush some olive oil on the top before it goes into the oven. 

  6. Roast for 30 mins, remove, brush again with oil, rotate the tray and roast for another 15 mins.

  7. Increase the temperature to 200°C and roast for 15 mins with only the top convection oven setting. This is to start charring the top of the cauliflower. You can roast it for longer if required. 

  8. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 10 mins before plating. 


Assembly:


  1. Spoon a generous amount of hummus onto the centre of the plate, then place the cauliflower on top, creating a bed for it to sit on. 

  2. Garnish with a drizzle of the tahini sauce, fresh pomegranates for sweetness, sliced roasted pistachios for colour and crunch and a few sprigs of mint leaves. 

  3. Lastly, drizzle some olive oil over the dish and enjoy!

This Recipe Features

Why Our Spices Make a Difference

Every spice in this recipe comes from a farmer we know by name. Lab-tested for purity, harvested at peak season, and shipped within weeks, unlike the years it takes for grocery stores to stock their spices. Meet our farmers

Lab Tested Direct Trade Single Origin
Published August 03, 2026 Updated August 03, 2026
Lakadong Turmeric