Baked Cauliflower with Minced Beef

Chef

Soha Darwish

Cook & Prep Time

1 hour and 30 mins

Serves

6

This dish is comfort food at its finest — crispy roasted cauliflower layered with spiced minced beef and baked in a rich, savory sauce. It’s wholesome, filling, and full of warm, cozy flavors.

Ingredients

For the Cauliflower:

1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt & pepper, to taste
½ teaspoon cumin

For the Beef Mixture

300–400g ground beef
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon ground allspice
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Salt & pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon tomato paste

For the Sauce

1½ cups water or broth
400 ml passata
Salt & pepper, to taste
A pinch of ground coriander or nutmeg

Directions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Toss cauliflower florets with olive oil, salt, pepper, and cumin. Spread on a baking tray and roast for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and just tender.

Step 2

In a pan, sauté onion in a bit of oil until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned. Stir in tomato paste, allspice, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Cook for 3–5 more minutes.

Step 3

In a baking dish, layer roasted cauliflower and top with the beef mixture. Mix gently to combine or leave as layers.

Step 4

In a bowl, whisk tomato passata with water or broth. Season with salt, pepper, and spices if using. Pour over the cauliflower and beef in the baking dish.

Step 5

Cover with foil and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 30–35 minutes, until bubbly and well blended. Uncover for the last 10 minutes if you want a slightly caramelized top.