30 Insanely Delicious Ways to Eat Cauliflower

Cauliflower has graduated beyond a standalone side dish. Many people, especially those trying their hardest to create new and exciting vegetarian meals, prepare this cruciferous veg as a flavorful main. It's a wonderful low-carb swap in many traditional recipes where you would rely on potatoes, rice, and noodles, but it also can be manipulated into replacing entire entrées, from steak to pizza. Cauliflower can help supplement a vegetarian or vegan meal as it's one of the best vegetables to satisfy hearty appetites — plus, it can stand up to many indulgent ingredients, from cheese to rich sauces to fragrant spices.

More often than not, however, cauliflower shines when it's prepared as part of a hearty, wholesome dinner. It can be simply sautéed in a drizzle of olive oil, alongside fresh garlic, a splash of lemon juice, and a pinch of salt, a great accompaniment to any lean protein you may be serving. A whole roasted head of cauliflower can be stretched into many different meals: Scattered into a hearty stew, added to your most bountiful salad recipes, or thrown into a creamy pan sauce for a quick pasta dinner.

Whichever way you choose to serve it, adding these cauliflower recipes into your weeknight routine is a no brainer. A strong source of bone-strengthening vitamin K, cauliflower is also chock full of natural fiber and a suite of essential nutrients, not to mention its rather low calorie count (more room for cheese!!). These 30 recipes are full of healthy ideas you'll actually enjoy eating — plus a few better-for-you indulgent treats you can feel great about.