5-Ingredient Cauliflower Cashew Bake

This simple vegan cauliflower cashew bake proves you don’t need a lot of ingredients to make a delectable casserole. The mellow flavors of cauliflower and raw cashews shine through in this 5-ingredient recipe.

Needing little prep other than chopping the cauliflower and soaking the cashews, you’ll have it in the oven — and then on the table — faster than more elaborate casseroles. And it needs just 5 ingredients, not counting salt and pepper.

Ingredients for this recipe

• Cauliflower, 1 medium-large head
• Garlic, 2 to 3 cloves
• Paprika (sweet or smoked, or a combination)
• Raw cashews (1 cup)
• Cilantro, parsley, or scallions
• Salt and freshly ground pepper

What to serve with cauliflower cashew bake

This casserole is kind of halfway between a main dish and a side, so pair it with another dish of equally substance. Since you’ll have the oven going at 400ºF, consider other roasted dishes:

• Roasted Vegan Sausage with Fennel and Polenta
• Balsamic and Maple Roasted Vegetables
• Roasted Seitan with Peppers and Portobello Mushrooms

Or, pair the cauliflower casserole with a substantial salad:

• Vegan Cobb Salad
• Vegan Buffalo “Chicken” Salad
• Cool Cucumber and Kale Salad with Hot and Spicy Tofu

Explore more …

• 75+ Vegan Cauliflower Recipes
• Roasted Cauliflower Pomegranate Salad
• Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini, Lime & Cilantro

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Yield: 4 to 6

5-Ingredient Cauliflower Cashew Bake

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Cauliflower cashew bake proves you don’t need a lot of ingredients to make a delectable casserole. The mellow flavors of cauliflower and raw cashews shine through in this 5-ingredient recipe. 

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw cashews
• 1 medium-large head cauliflower
• 2 to 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 teaspoons sweet or smoked paprika, or a combination
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• Chopped cilantro or parsley, or thinly sliced scallions for garnish, as desired

Instructions

1. About 30 minutes before you want to start the casserole, combine the cashews with enough boiling hot water to cover in a heatproof bowl. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 400º F.
3. Chop the cauliflower into bite-sized pieces and florets. Combine with the chopped garlic in a mixing bowl.
4. Combine the soaked cashews along with the water with the paprika and salt in a food processor. Process until smooth. If the mixture needs a bit more liquid to get moving, drizzle in a little more water, but let it remain nice and thick.
5. Add the pureed cashew mixture to the cauliflower in the mixing bowl. Grind in some pepper and stir together until the cauliflower is evenly coated.
6. Transfer the mixture to shallow, lightly oiled 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the cauliflower can be easily pierced with a fork and the edges of the casserole are starting to turn golden.
7. Remove from the oven, garnish with the herb of choice, and serve.

Here are more tasty vegan casseroles and skillets.