Almond Roasted Purple Cauliflower

Im sure you’ve heard the phrase “eat the rainbow,” — no I’m not talking about skittles here, I’m talking about loading your plate with the most beautiful colors you can find! Different colored fruits and vegetables signify different vitamins and minerals with each color! An added bonus is that your plate with be so enticingly gorgeous that you will want to eat every last fruit or veggie on it!

Spring time is the best time to find a variety of colors at your grocery store! Today when I went, I walked past a traditionally white favorite: cauliflower! Except to my delight the cauliflower was now purple and orange! Oh my! Excited by this special unexpected splash of color, I of course grabbed one and ran home to cook with an extra pep in my step!

Roasted cauliflower is one of my favorite sides or main dishes, and is so easy to make with minimal ingredients! Who doesn’t like to cook something so delicious with minimal effort? I do!

Ingredients: 

1 head of cauliflower

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/2 tbsp garlic powder

1 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)

1/4 cup shaved almonds

1-2 tbsp fresh basil

Directions:

First and foremost, clean your veggies! Pre heat the oven to 325 degrees F. Remove the green stem from the base of the cauliflower.

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the cauliflower in the center, and brush on a layer of coconut oil and almond extract. I like to mix the almond extract with the coconut oil before I brush it on.

Then season with pepper and garlic, and top with fresh basil and almonds. You can add any seasoning your little heart desires!

When ready pop it in the oven for at least an hour, re-oiling every half hour.

When the cauliflower is tender, remove it from the oven. Serve it as a side or main dish!

I chose to start with a bed of baby kale and some olive oil.

I added some lentils that I had in the refrigerator, and some organic cucumbers that I dressed with some lemon, lime, and fresh mint.

I placed the cauliflower in the middle, and threw in some grape tomatoes for added color! It was so yummy, healthy, and light!

How beautiful does that look! YUM!