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Roasted Cauliflower and Beef

GF
Roasted cauliflower bake with bolognaise is an easy, wholesome dish. Serve it straight from the oven and enjoy the flavours!
PREP TIME
15 minutes
COOK TIME
45 minutes
SERVES
Serves 4-6 people

About this recipe

I didn’t grow up with this dish, but as a recipe creator, I take inspiration from all around—whether it’s cookbooks, social media, or even a restaurant meal. I once saw someone serving bolognaise inside fancy red onion flowers. It looked so unachievable for a home cook, but the idea of pairing onion with bolognaise stuck with me. That’s how this Cauliflower and beef Bake came to life. It’s simple, packed with flavour, and perfect for family dinners.

This cauliflower and beef bake is a wonderful, lighter alternative to more traditional bakes. The roasted cauliflower and onion bring warmth and sweetness, while the bolognaise adds richness. It’s also a great way to sneak more veggies into your meals. If you like this, you should also try my Eggplant Bolognaise Bake, another sensational bake with bolognaise, or my simplest lasagna recipe, which can be prepped ahead of time.

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Ingredients

Main Ingredients

  • ½ cauliflower, cut into medium-sized florets
  • 1 red onion, sliced into wedges
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Bolognaise Sauce

  • 500 grams minced beef (ground)
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 fresh chili, chopped (optional)
  • 700 ml passata (tomato purée)
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ½ cup natural yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons spring onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons fried pine nuts

Notes from Rouba

  • Swap the beef for lentils to make a vegetarian version.
  • You can prepare the bolognaise ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to two days, or even freeze it for later. Check out my guide to freezing food for more tips here
  • Don’t overcook the cauliflower and onion; you want them to keep a bit of texture.
  • Be careful not to reduce the sauce too much—you want it to stay rich and saucy.

 

For this recipe, I used my go-to ceramic oven dish, perfect for going straight from the oven to the table. You can find the link to that dish here, as well as a link to my favourite pots and pans, which I use for everything from bolognaise to stews.

Method

Step 1. Roast the cauliflower

Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).

Place the cauliflower florets and red onion wedges in a ready-to-go ceramic roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat evenly and roast for about 25 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender and slightly golden.

Step 2. Prepare the bolognaise

While the cauliflower is roasting, heat a large pan over medium heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil, and sauté the chopped onion, garlic, and chili until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced beef, breaking it up as it cooks, until browned. Stir in the passata and tomato paste, and let the sauce simmer for about 15-20 minutes, until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 3. Assemble the bake

Once the cauliflower and onion are roasted, spoon the bolognaise sauce all over the cauliflower in the ceramic roasting dish, ensuring the florets are still visible for a rustic look.

Step 4. Add the toppings

Dollop the Greek yogurt over the top as much as you want, then sprinkle with spring onion, parsley, and sesame seeds. Finish with a generous scattering of fried pine nuts for extra crunch.  Serve straight from the ceramic dish.

Enjoy it as a complete meal with steamed rice or with a side of crusty bread.

Sahtan - Enjoy in Good Health

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Creating magic and happy memories with food are my gift for you!
xx Rouba

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That’s me at the age of 32 with Merlin, who worked closely with Palestinian families. Together, we were so excited about the project. After that unforgettable visit with Auntie Suad, I was filled with excitement about the project. The women I met were inspiring, and together we had even come up with a name for the cookbook: Taste of Palestine. 🥰🇵🇸 It was a name that captured the heart of what we wanted to share—stories, recipes, and traditions tied to the land and its people.

But for many reasons, the project didn’t go ahead. At the time, I wasn’t prepared for the reality that not everyone would understand or support what I was doing. There were people who gossiped, joked, and made me question myself. Looking back now, I see that they were the minority, but their words had a way of making me doubt myself 🥺

if this happened now—I would not have let anything stop me. This was for a good cause, but I also believe that everything happens for a reason. The project was meant to be set aside, and I needed to focus on my boys, who were still young.
A couple of years later, we received the heartbreaking news of Auntie Suad’s passing 🥲🙏🏽It felt as though a part of the story had been left unfinished. A few weeks later, something arrived in the mail that would bring me to tears 😭 There’s more 🤗

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