One item that I forgot to make the other night for The Oscars are these roasted cauliflower poppers that I have nicknamed Cauliflower Popcorn. These little crunchy bites of cauliflower are a great replacement for a popcorn craving. Simply pop these in a super hot oven seasoned with your favorite spices and you have a perfect appetizer for a movie night at home. It is my go-to crunch in my low carb snacks guide.
Roast it crisp, not limp
The difference between cauliflower popcorn and a sad pan of steamed cauliflower comes down to how you roast it. Break the head into small, popcorn-sized pieces, dry them off, and spread them out on the sheet with space between each one, because crowding traps steam and leaves them soft. A hot oven and a stir every five minutes is what crisps the edges to golden. Eat it warm, straight from the oven, since roasted cauliflower goes soggy as it cools and loses the crunch that makes it taste like popcorn. It earns a place in my low carb side dishes guide as much as on the snack table.
Sources:
USDA FoodData Central, nutrient reference for cauliflower and olive oil
Sugarfreechic test kitchen, roasted cauliflower popcorn notes
