Whole roasted romanesco with za’atar

A glorious vegan/vegetarian dinner centrepiece. A whole romanesco is seasoned with fragrant za’atar and roasted till tender and delicious.

Sometimes the simplest things are the most effective. That’s certainly the case with this extremely simple but utterly delicious whole roasted romanesco with za’atar. Four ingredients and minimal effort yield mega results.

Fractal vegetables

I bought this beautiful fractal vegetable on the market. I’d only stopped to get some oranges but couldn’t resist its gorgeous green allure. Romanesco is such a fantastic vegetable because not only does it look amazing, it also has a delicious flavour.

What is a romanesco?

The romanesco is often referred to as a cauliflower but is actually a different vegetable altogether. It belongs to the brassica family of vegetables, which includes cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts etc. They are all cultivars of the same species – Brassica oleracea – which have been differentiated by centuries of selective breeding. Romanesco is unique in its bright green colour and funky fractal shape. 

Romanesco has a wonderful nutty flavour that’s reminiscent of both cauliflower and broccoli while still maintaining its own unique identity. You can cook it just as you would either cauliflower or broccoli. I decided to roast it whole for maximum wow factor.

How to wash a romanesco cauliflower

I find the best way to wash romanesco, cauliflower, broccoli, and other similar vegetables, is to soak them in slightly acidified water. Here’s what I do:

• Fill a large bowl with cold water and add a good splash of white vinegar.
• Immerse a colander in the water.
• Remove any leaves from the romanesco/cauliflower/broccoli and then place it in the colander in the water – press down until bubbles have stopped rising and the vegetable is submerged. You can also put a plate on top to hold the vegetable pieces in the water if required.
• Leave the romanesco or other vegetable to soak for 5-10 minutes.
• Pick up the colander and your romanesco will be lifted out of the water – hold it over the bowl to catch the drips as it drains.
• Set the veg aside and inspect the water – is anything with legs floating on the surface? If so, pour the water away and repeat!
• When the water is free of bugs, rinse off the vinegary residue and your veg is ready to cook.

You can also use this method for leafy vegetables like spinach, kale and cabbage, too. 

I have a fabulous salad spinner that includes a colander basket inside a large bowl, that does the job perfectly. If you’re using a lot of leafy veg then it’s well worth investing in one.

What a whopper!

Anyway, back to my glorious romanesco. I hadn’t appreciated when I bought it just what a whopper it was, and the dish I was planning to put it in was way to small! I ended up using a kadai (like a small wok) instead.

The whole romanesco roasted for about an hour and a half before it was fully cooked. But it was IMMENSE. A more normal sized whole romanesco or cauliflower should cook through in 60-80 minutes. Keep checking with a sharp knife if in doubt.

Ingredients for roasted romanesco with za’atar

I really love recipes that deliver fantastic results from just a handful of ingredients, and this roasted romanesco is just such a recipe! To make it, all you will need is:

• Romanesco (of course!) – or use a whole cauliflower
• Olive oil
• Za’atar – see below for more details
• Garlic powder – optional, but I love garlic with everything!

Four ingredients, and you are rewarded with a beautiful and delicious dish.

Holiday spices

The za’atar that I used to season this whole romanesco came back from the Levinsky market on our most recent trip to Israel. Popular across the Middle East, za’atar is both the name of this delicious herb/spice blend, and also, confusingly, the name of its main component, known in English as hyssop. If you can’t find a za’atar blend locally, you can make something similar yourself. Simply mix oregano and thyme (which are both related to hyssop) and add a little salt, sumac and a sprinkling of sesame seeds. Or just use oregano and thyme. It will still be delicious!

Roasted romanesco – main dish or side

We ate this as our main dish, with couscous and some grated cheese on top. It was a delicious and satisfying vegetarian dinner. However it would also make a tasty and impressive side dish alongside all sorts of other things.

Recycled roasted romanesco

If further proof of our romanesco’s huge size was needed, we only managed to eat about ⅔ of it between us – we would normally polish off a whole cauliflower with no problem. On the plus side, this meant that the remainder could be recycled into a pasta bake the following night with the addition of some tuna, sliced olives, and tomato sauce. Yum again.

Serves 4-6. 

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📖 Recipe

Whole Roasted Romanesco with Za’atar

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Whole romanesco, roasted with olive oil and deliciously fragrant za'atar.

4 from 7 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine European

Servings 4 people

Calories 242 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 large romanesco (or cauliflower)
• 6 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 teaspoon za’atar (see note)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
• Remove the outer leaves from the romanesco and wash thoroughly. Place the whole romanesco stem down in a large oven-proof dish.
• Whisk together the olive oil, za’atar and garlic powder (if using). Pour and brush this mixture over the romanesco, making sure to get it into all the nooks and crannies.
• Cover loosely with foil, then roast at 180°C (350°F) for 50-60 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to cook for a further 20-30 minutes until the romanesco is tender when tested with the point of a knife.
• Serve hot.

Notes

Cauliflower can be substituted for the romanesco and will also be delicious!

To make your own za’atar, combine dried oregano and thyme with a little sumac and some sesame seeds. Alternatively simply use a mixture of oregano & thyme.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Whole Roasted Romanesco with Za'atar

Amount per Serving

Calories

242

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

22

g

34

%

Saturated Fat

 

3

g

19

%

Sodium

 

40

mg

2

%

Potassium

 

523

mg

15

%

Carbohydrates

 

11

g

4

%

Fiber

 

6

g

25

%

Sugar

 

5

g

6

%

Protein

 

5

g

10

%

Vitamin A

 

42

IU

1

%

Vitamin C

 

247

mg

299

%

Calcium

 

24

mg

2

%

Iron

 

8

mg

44

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keyword olive oil, romanesco, zaatar

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More romanesco recipes

If you’re after more inspiration for cooking romanesco, how about

• Romanesco with rosemary-garlic crumbs from Family Friends Food
• Roasted mini romanesque cauliflower with dukkah yogurt dip from Travels for Taste
• Easy romanesco pasta with lemon & garlic from Tin and Thyme
• Romanesco, lemon and cardamom cookies from Veggie Desserts

I’m linking up with Cook Once Eat Twice hosted by Searching for Spice, since this roasted romanesco was recycled into a pasta bake; and the No Waste Food Challenge hosted by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary for the same reason.