My slow cooker whole spiced cauliflower is a delicious way to add more vegetables to your diet and still enjoy loads of flavour.
It is also perfect for Meat Free Mondays as well as being a great frugal option for a main meal.
Hello February, the month when Spring is on its way perhaps but not quite there, and a cold nip is still in the air.
After the healthier food choices I found myself making in January, we have Pancake Day and Valentine’s’ Day on the way and the indulgences they bring.
So, in order to combat the effects of those, for me, February is still a time I like to enjoy lighter recipes and cram in the vegetables.
Jump to:
Roasting a cauliflower in a slow cooker
Why use a slow cooker you might ask, why not roast or bake your whole cauliflower in the oven?
Of course you could do that too but I like to use the slow cooker when I can due to the convenience of not having to watch over it.
It saves on electricity costs too!
If you have jobs to do and need to pop out, you can be smug in the knowledge that your food is already cooking when you make a slow cooker whole spiced cauliflower.
No more last minute panics at the end of the day over what to cook after a busy shift.
You’ll find a whole cauliflower cooks gently and stands up well to a long slow cook.
Sides
I served this whole spiced cauliflower on a bed of kale, well cavolo nero to be more precise.
I like to serve it with cucumber raita on the side, which I make simply by combining natural low-fat yoghurt, cucumber and fresh mint leaves in a bowl. It would also be delicious with rice.
If you want to keep it vegan, use a plant-based alternative instead of standard yoghurt in your raita.
Spice rub
To make the spice rub I just combined a few teaspoons of curry powder with some oil.
I then mixed and drizzled it over the cauliflower.
Then, through the long cooking in the slow cooker, the spices infuse into the whole cauliflower leaving it aromatic and flavourful.
You can of course also roast a whole cauliflower in the oven as I’ve said, but I prefer to use my slow cooker here as the edges don’t catch and burn if it is in for too long.
Ingredients
Here’s what you will need for this recipe, get the quantities further down in the recipe card:
- a whole cauliflower
- olive oil
- curry powder – I like to use a medium tikka curry powder, but if you like something milder or hotter you can vary the type of curry powder.
- red chilli
- fresh coriander
Method
- Put the cauliflower in the slow cooker pot.
- Combine the oil and curry powder in a bowl, then pour it over the cauliflower.
- Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for approx 3 hours, or on low for 5-6 hours.
- Garnish with red chilli and chopped coriander leaves, and serve.
I really enjoyed having the spiced cauliflower as a light main meal, and you can also use the leftovers the next day as the veggie side to a curry dish, to replace rice.
Worth a try if you want to introduce more plant-based meals!
The slow cooker needn’t always be for meat-based dishes and stews.
Check out my Vegetarian recipes in the my slow cooker archives.
More slow cooker veggie dishes
For more whole veggies cooked in the slow cooker, how about these tasty ideas:
- simple slow cooked beetroot from Fab Food 4 All
- how to cook a whole butternut squash in the slow cooker from My Fussy Eater
- slow cooker baked or jacket potatoes
Recipe
Slow Cooker Whole Spiced Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 extra large cauliflower approx 1 kg or 2 lb
- 2 tbsp oil I used olive
- 3 tsp medium tikka curry powder
- red chilli, sliced to garnish
- fresh coriander chopped, to garnish
Equipment
Instructions
- Put the cauliflower in the slow cooker pot.1 extra large cauliflower
- Combine the oil and curry powder in a bowl, then pour it over the cauliflower.2 tbsp oil, 3 tsp medium tikka curry powder
- Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for approx 3 hours, or on low for 5-6 hours.
- Garnish with red chilli and chopped coriander leaves, and serve.red chilli, sliced, fresh coriander
Linking up with Tinned Tomatoes for Meat Free Mondays and with Farmersgirl Kitchen for the Slow Cooked Challenge
Janice (@FarmersgirlCook) says
What a great recipe, I love how the cauliflower takes centre stage! As usual you make the most of your slow cooker for the Slow Cooked Challenge.
bakingqueen74 says
Thank you Janice I’m really enjoying vegetable dishes at the moment.
All That I'm Eating says
I love roasting cauliflower but I’ve not thought of trying it in a slow cooker. Looks great.
Ali says
That looks so good – and such an unusual way to cook cauliflower. I’m always looking for new approaches, since it’s really not my favorite vegetable. I love this idea, though – definitely need to try it!
Jan Bennett says
What a great idea! Love the colour.
Claire Jessiman (@foodiequine) says
I’m impressed that it has browned so nicely, I thought you’d perhaps blowtorched it at the end. Definitely going to give this a try.
myfussyeaterblog says
I would never have thought to try this. Brilliant idea! Have yummed and pinned the recipe!
bakingqueen74 says
Thank Ciara!
Elizabeth says
What a super idea! I don’t use my slow cooker nearly enough, but every time I visit your blog I’m encouraged to take it out and get creative with it.
Camilla Hawkins says
Love simple and quick to prepare dishes like this, bet the cauliflower tastes amazing:-) Thanks for linking to my beetroot;-)
Kavey says
I have to say I really really love this idea and would just never have thought of it! Must try this one!
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks that’s brilliant! 🙂
Corina says
It looks wonderful Lucy! And it”s so easy too – I definitely plan to try and make it soon.
bakingqueen74 says
Brilliant, let me know how you get on
Corina says
Really enjoyed it Lucy and I’ll definitely make it again. I’ll also be trying other whole slow cooker roasted vegetables too now I know how well it works.