Whole Roast Tandoori Cauliflower (Tandoori Gobi Musallam)
A whole cauliflower roasted under a thick, spicy tandoori crust until golden outside and tender within.
Made with Tandoori marinade. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr 15
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.72 a head
- Oven220°C (200°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Trim the leaves and cut the stalk flat so the cauliflower sits upright. Bring a deep pan of salted water to the boil and simmer the whole cauliflower for 6 minutes. Lift out and drain well, then leave to steam dry for 10 minutes.
6 min - 2
Heat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan). Rub the oil over a roasting tin.
- 3
Smear your ready made tandoori marinade (see the base recipe) all over the cauliflower and into the gaps between florets with your hands.
- 4
Roast for 40 to 45 minutes until deep golden with charred edges and a knife slides into the stalk with no resistance.
42 min 30 s - 5
Rest for 5 minutes, then scatter with coriander and pomegranate seeds.
- 6
Serve at the table in wedges with the yoghurt and lemon.
Tips
- Parboiling the cauliflower first cooks the centre without burning the crust.
- Dry the cauliflower well before smearing. Wet florets make the marinade slide off.
- If the top browns too fast, cover loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
Storing and freezing
Leftovers keep for 3 days in the fridge. Reheat in a hot oven until steaming hot all the way through, or chop up cold into salads and wraps.
Questions
Can I make this vegan?
Not with this marinade, which uses yoghurt. Make it with the dairy free version, using unsweetened coconut yoghurt in the base, and serve with coconut yoghurt.
Do I have to parboil it?
It is much better if you do. Without it the outside burns long before the middle is tender.
What do I serve with it?
Rice, flatbreads or a lentil dal turn it into a full meal. A simple cucumber and tomato salad adds freshness.
More made with tandoori marinade
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.