ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH LEMON BROWN BUTTER

Roasted Cauliflower With Lemon Brown Butter image

Roasting vegetables is easy, but this technique elevates the everyday dinner staple. A pan of water in the oven with the cauliflower helps maintain its succulence, while an even temperature browns it and brings out its natural sugars. Brown butter and sage take it over the top.

Provided by Julia Moskin

Time 1h

Yield 10 to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup sage leaves, loosely packed
1 tablespoon sea salt, more for tossing
3 medium-large heads cauliflower (about 3 pounds)
About 1 teaspoon table salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 lemon, zest finely grated

Steps:

Heat oil in a small pan until rippling. Add sage and cook, stirring, just until crisped, about 2 minutes. Lift out sage and drain on paper towels; transfer oil to a large bowl. Let sage cool and crumble with fingers into a small bowl. Stir in coarse salt and set aside.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place roasting pan with an inch of water in oven bottom. Add cauliflower to bowl with oil, add about 1 teaspoon table salt, and toss gently until coated. Spread out on two large baking sheets. Bake until browned, 20 to 30 minutes.
Melt butter in a small pan over medium heat. When foam subsides, watch closely and stir often. When white solids are brown and butter smells toasty, turn off heat, squeeze in juice of lemon and stir well.
Transfer cauliflower to a bowl, pour butter over, and add lemon zest. Add half the sage salt and toss. Taste and season with remaining salt as needed.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 129, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 8 grams, Fat 11 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 308 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams