Lemon Herb Basmati with Roasted Cauliflower (Printable)

Fragrant lemon herb basmati paired with spiced roasted cauliflower for a vibrant, vegetarian Mediterranean-inspired dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ For the Roasted Cauliflower

01 - 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
04 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - ½ teaspoon salt
06 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ For the Lemon Herb Basmati Rice

07 - 1 cup basmati rice
08 - 2 cups water
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil or unsalted butter
10 - ½ teaspoon salt
11 - Zest of 1 lemon
12 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
13 - ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
16 - 1 garlic clove, minced

→ To Serve

17 - Lemon wedges
18 - Extra chopped herbs (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, toss cauliflower florets with olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
03 - Spread cauliflower in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 25-30 minutes, turning once halfway, until golden and tender.
04 - Meanwhile, rinse basmati rice under cold water until water runs clear.
05 - In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
06 - Add rinsed rice and salt; stir for 1 minute. Pour in water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until rice is cooked and water is absorbed.
07 - Remove saucepan from heat. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork.
08 - Gently stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, dill, and chives.
09 - Serve the lemon herb rice topped with roasted cauliflower. Garnish with extra herbs and lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasted cauliflower gets these gorgeous crispy edges while staying tender inside
  • Fresh herbs and lemon make the rice taste restaurant-fancy without any complicated techniques
  • Everything cooks in about 35 minutes with mostly hands-off time
02 -
  • Do not skip rinsing the rice or it will turn gummy and sticky
  • Let the rice rest covered for 5 minutes after cooking to finish steaming
  • Spread cauliflower in one layer without overcrowding for proper caramelization
03 -
  • Use room temperature water for rinsing rice to remove starch more effectively
  • Let cauliflower sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes after roasting to develop even more flavor

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