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Cheesy Paleo Cauliflower and Bacon Recipe [Dairy-Free]

Good food doesn’t have to be complicated. This cheesy paleo cauliflower and bacon recipe is the perfect example of that. It works equally well as a main course or as a side dish.

Cauliflower Cooking Options

Cauliflower is a great vegetable to turn to if you’re paleo – and even if you’re not! Its mild flavor seems to win over a lot of people who turn up their noses at anything green.

You also don’t have to cook it at all! It’s a great snack, and you can pair it with paleo ranch dressing for dipping.

My lazy day favorite is to use the steamable bags of frozen cauliflower. It’s cheap and readily available whether cauliflower is in season or not.

They even make riced cauliflower that is sold in the frozen section. I love that convenience!

You can also boil or steam fresh cauliflower. This method is not foolproof. If you overdo it, you’ve lost vital vitamins and nutrients. And you’re eating soggy cauliflower, which is never a good time.

But perhaps the most delicious option is to roast cauliflower with some olive oil.

Tips for Roasting Cauliflower

Thoroughly dry water off of the vegetable before putting it on the baking sheet. Pieces that are wet going in won’t get that rich nutty flavor that comes with roasting them.

Do your best to break the cauliflower into florets that are about the same size. I know it’s impossible to get them exactly right, but if they’re in the ballpark you won’t end up overcooking the tiny pieces when you make sure the bulk of the batch is done to perfection.

Try to cut the florets so that each has a flat side. Those flat edges caramelize well.

When you’re roasting vegetables, make sure they have enough room. If you have overlap, it robs the cauliflower that’s bunched up of its opportunity to get a nice tan.

Much Ado About Bacon

As tasty as it can be, cauliflower isn’t exactly a great headliner. Much of the appeal of this recipe probably comes from the fact that it has bacon in the title.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Oftentimes bacon gets a bad rap, but it’s a great way to add flavor and interest to dishes, and bacon has a respectable amount of vitamins.

I know you probably don’t need any convincing on this one, but you can read more about the benefits of bacon in this article.

Cheesy Paleo Cauliflower and Bacon Recipe [Dairy-Free]

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• Author: Louise Hendon
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Side Dish, Vegetable
• Cuisine: American

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Description

Dairy-free roasted cauliflower with a nutty, cheesy flavor…and bacon.

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Ingredients

• 3 Tablespoons (45 ml) of olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon (8 g) of nutritional yeast
• 1 head of cauliflower (600 g), cut into florets
• 4 slices (112 g) of bacon, diced
• Freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Place the cauliflower in a large bowl.  In a separate, small bowl whisk the nutritional yeast and oil.
3. Pour the oil over the cauliflower and toss to coat. Then transfer the cauliflower to a baking tray, spreading out florets evenly. Sprinkle the raw bacon over top.
4. Cook for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
5. Season with freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately.

Notes

All nutritional data are estimated and based on per serving amounts.

Nutrition

• Calories: 259
• Sugar: 4 g
• Fat: 24 g
• Carbohydrates: 8 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 7 g