Cauliflower Piccata Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Kristin D.

I think roasting the chickpeas along with the cauliflower would be better. Aren’t chickpeas always better roasted and a bit crunchy?

Lesley W.

We really enjoyed this. Made the sauce as in the recipe but the cauliflower I had was smaller than I had thought so I also roasted a courgette to add. The sauce was easy to make and full of flavour. We had it with some quinoa and stir-fried chard with a bit of chilli. Will definitely use this sauce again

Donna B

Anne

Delicious, versatile sauce. Not changing the recipe here, just adding an option because I didn't have a cauliflower and the recipe was crying out to be made. Made sauce as directed with half white wine/half veg stock, and used a pinch or two of cayenne, otherwise as directed. Served over 1/2 lb cooked, drained cascatelli (new pasta shape and a gift that had to be tried) mixed with 14 oz can quartered artichokes (in water). Parmesan on top. Fabulous.

Tom Salamone

I made this over Christmas and it was a very real hit with my family, in particular my daughter and grandson who are both committed vegetarians. Watching my two vegetarians so thoroughly enjoy this was a very personal delight. And what little was left over was reheated and served to my grandson the following day. Why this note? To thank Hetty and the NYT for providing a recipe that helped a retired guy trying to become a cook hit a jackpot that still makes him/me smile. Thank you very much.

chris b

Likely you're buying the wrong capers. Look for Sicilian capers packed in wine vinegar (one brand I like is Caravaglio). Brined, rinsed, packed in salt, rinsed, then packed in wine vinegar for packaging. Far less "saltiness" and you'll note different herb notes like mustard and oregano. As a fallback I'll buy salt-preserved capers in the caputo size. I have jars of 8 different capers in my kitchen, they all taste different.

sharon

Substitute vegan “butter” for the butter to make this a good vegan recipe. Definitely needs some green veggies to go with it.

Grandie

I made this with cauliflower AND broccoli florets and Farro on the side. It was delicious, a 'hit', and I will make it again and often. Next time, though, I will only use slices from 1/2 of a lemon. IMHO, a whole sliced lemon was excessive, wasteful, and didn't add to the dish. We had some leftovers & the next day, I warmed the Piccata & sprinkled some crumbled Feta on top. We actually thought that the Feta added to the recipe, which was truthfully one of the best veggie recipes in a long while.

Isabel

I prefer to toss the cauliflower florets with a bit of olive oil in a bowl, rather than drizzle the oil over the florets in the sheet pan. One uses less oil, and it doesn't burn onto the bottom of the pan. I usually drain and rinse the chickpeas, and toss them in the same bowl. I also add salt right there on the bowl.

Marcia

Sauce is tasty. Maybe too much butter. Would be good on chicken. Not crazy about it on cauliflower. I added currents. Don’t.

brookebatt

I feel a bit rude leaving this comment on a vegetarian dish so let’s just say this is hypothetical. You COULD add pan fried chicken, use that pan to cook the shallots, garlic etc., add yellow squash in with the cauliflower, ommit chickpeas, double the sauce (but keep the butter at 4tbs) and have a tasty, more veggie filled chicken piccata. Hypothetically!

Kelly H

As another reviewer suggested, I roasted the chickpeas with the cauliflower. Otherwise, made as directed, and served over brown rice. Delicious!

Michael M

Not bad, but not great. One of the things i love about chicken piccata is the flour-dredged & pan-fried meat that gives flavor and richness to the sauce. This recipe really misses that. I might try this again with cauliflower "steaks" that are pan fried instead of oven-roasted florets.

Corinne

Loved this! Made it almost as directed; added the chickpeas to the already roasted cauliflower for about 15 minutes before serving atop baby arugula and alongside pan-seared cod. The rich sauce wilted the arugula and that was awesome.

Elena W.

I suggest sauteing capers before adding them to the sauce (like in NYT's "Spicy and Saucy Cherry Tomato Pasta") and agree with reviewers who roasted chickpeas. I roasted them separately since they don't take as long as the cauliflower. I also agree the amount of sauce needs to be increased. I upped by 50% but reduced butter by half - don't care much for the buttery flavor of the original one. No need for the sliced lemon - it's lemony enough. Really like the result, will make it again!

hoppervision

I like the idea of roasting the chickpeas… maybe adding them after 10 minutes. I added arugula along with the parsley, which gave it a nice peppery herbal kick. This is money. I might even try crosscutting the entire cauliflower into thin steaks, after a blanching, then lightly breading them? Is that crazy talk?

Karin

I made this with a large cauliflower and about 1/4 of another (leftover) cauliflowr. Added the chickpeas to the roasting cauliflower about 1/2 way through, to make them a bit crispy. I think that was a good choice. I used the zest of 1 lemon and the juice from 2 lemons since I had more cauliflower than the original recipe.Served as a vegetarian main with polenta (and focaccia). Maybe next time I'll add some kale or other green to it for a more complete meal. Delicious!

iterology

Made this mostly as written, although I used orange cauliflower since that was what I happened to have on hand and it was amazing. Added half a cup of white wine and 1/2 tablespoon of flour based on some of the other comments (and just made more of the sauce), I think those were good calls.

Barb

My husband said we had capers in the pantry (we usually do), but when I went to make this recipe, there were no capers; I chopped up Kalamata olives instead, and that did just as well. I included the chick peas and served this on pasta—delicious.

carameLIZation

This is wonderful - goes perfectly with salmon!

Karen

I do occasionally expire from exasperation about this false standard of following the recipe. Who says? Recipes are for riffing. Cooking is for fun. Hie thee off to a boy’s academy or take the hangar out of the shirt and you’ll feel better.

Lauren Merry Vale

This was incredible. I served with a wild rice mix prepared in the instant pot for texture, color, flavor and nutrition. I didn't have capers, but I did have sliced wild ramp bulbs that I fermented in a salt brine last spring, so I used those -- the perfect salty note.We're vegetarian and this dish plus the rice was our whole meal, so yeah, I added the chickpeas. No, they don't need to be roasted or crispy. Recipe is perfect as written.

Carolyn M

Delicious. Served over a bed of arugula.

Tom Salamone

My vegetarian daughter and grandson love this meal. I use more lemon in the sauce and add a healthy amount of sliced kale tossed in olive oil piled atop the combined cauliflower/broccoli/chickpeas for the last 7 or so minutes of their 25+ minute time in the oven. The kale was added to fortify the nutritional value of this meal. Have made this for friends and given the recipe. People just flat out like it. Thank you Hetty!!!!!!!

Melissa

I prefer this without the chickpeas, feels more traditional over pasta. Delicious recipe, quick and easy.

Randy

The whole family liked it, although I did not add the chickpeas. I've never been a huge cauliflower fan but this recipe has changed my mind.

mert

I use dry white wine instead of broth, omit the chickpeas & serve with chickpea spaghetti. My favorite pasta dish!

Audrey

I blitzed the chickpeas in the food processor and roasted with the cauliflower (kinda like breadcrumbs).

erg

Made just as the recipe said, and it was delicious and needed no tweaking. Everyone snarfed it up.

Megg

Really enjoyed this!! Roasted cauliflower and chickpeas in oven together. I didn't have any veggie stock, so I subbed a half cup of white wine and a half cup of water. I also cut the butter by half.

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Cauliflower Piccata Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What brings out the flavour of cauliflower? ›

There are two really simple techniques that bring out the best in cauliflower: grilling and pickling. Dumping cauliflower florets in a mixture of salt and lemon juice for 45 minutes to an hour turns them into spiky little flavor bombs, delivering high-pitched squeaks in salads, sandwiches or the stew recipe here.

How to cook cauliflower Gordon Ramsay? ›

Cooking instructions

Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, add the cauliflower florets and cook for 4-5 minutes until just tender. Drain and refresh in iced water, drain again and transfer to a large ovenproof dish.

What makes something a piccata? ›

Piccata, though, is an Italian word meaning larded. It seems to be a translation of the French word pique (sharp, as in piquant). When used in a reference to a way of preparing food (particularly meat or fish) it means sliced and sauteed in a sauce containing lemon, butter, and spices.

What does adding lemon juice to cauliflower do? ›

Food Science

Cauliflower contains some phytonutrients, these nutrients may react with iron cookware and gives the cauliflower a brownish color. To prevent this add some lemon juice to the cauliflower or to the water in which it is blanched.

What happens when you add lemon juice to water when cooking cauliflower? ›

Helps retain color: Cauliflower can sometimes turn brown or lose its vibrant white color when cooked. However, the acid in lemon juice can help prevent discoloration and maintain the cauliflower's white appearance.

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

Why do you boil cauliflower before cooking? ›

Why do you boil cauliflower before cooking? Boiling the cauliflower before roasting it whole ensures that the final dish is tender all the way through. Since a whole cauliflower has less surface area than cut florets, adding sel gris to the water means that the cauliflower gets seasoned from the inside out.

What does baking soda do to cauliflower? ›

Baking soda is often used as a natural cleaning agent, and it can be used to brighten up your veggies too. Sprinkle a little in the water before boiling to prevent cauliflower from yellowing and make corn look more vibrant.

How to thicken piccata sauce? ›

How to thicken piccata sauce without flour
  1. Make a slurry with 1 1/2 tablespoons corn starch and 1/2 cup COLD chicken stock.
  2. Add this after adding the 2 cups chicken stock.
  3. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then reduce to a simmer.
  4. Add chicken, lemon juice, and capers to sauce.
Nov 15, 2021

What is piccata sauce made of? ›

This preparation couldn't be simpler: We combine wine and capers in a pan, reduce the liquid, then add olive oil, butter, and lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Piccata dishes are traditionally topped with parsley; we like to quickly wilt fresh parsley leaves right in the pan.

What does piccata mean in Italy? ›

Italian, slice of sautéed veal flavored with lemon and parsley, from piccata, feminine of piccato, past participle of piccare to lard (meat), probably from French piquer, literally, to prick.

What can I replace capers with in piccata? ›

What's the Best Substitute for Capers? Try These 9 Ideas
  • Green olives. They're salty, they're acidic, they're savory, they're buried somewhere in your fridge—what more can you ask for? ...
  • Lemon. What a difference a squeeze of fresh lemon makes. ...
  • Pickles. ...
  • Green peppercorns. ...
  • Thyme. ...
  • Caper berries. ...
  • Artichoke hearts. ...
  • Anchovies.
Apr 15, 2020

What do you eat with piccata? ›

18 Sides To Serve With Chicken Piccata
  1. 01 of 18. Garlic Bread. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox. ...
  2. 02 of 18. Roasted Broccolini. ...
  3. 03 of 18. Asparagus Gratin. ...
  4. 04 of 18. Creamed Spinach. ...
  5. 05 of 18. Brown Rice. ...
  6. 06 of 18. Super Crispy Smashed Potatoes. ...
  7. 07 of 18. Garlic Parmesan Green Beans. ...
  8. 08 of 18. Glazed Carrots.
Feb 25, 2024

Why is my chicken piccata bitter? ›

I also found the whole lemon slices included in many traditional recipes left my sauce with a bitter aftertaste from the lemon's pith. To avoid this, but maintain the acidic brightness this dish depends on, I added a bit of white wine to the sauce instead of lemon slices.

How to get the cauliflower taste out of cauliflower? ›

To mellow the flavor, soak the entire head (leaves removed) in cold, salted water for 30 minutes before steaming. Some of the bitter components will leach out. Soaking cauliflower will also give your cauliflower a snow-white appearance. Be sure not to steam for no longer than five minutes.

What makes cauliflower a super food? ›

It's high in vitamins C and K, and is also a good source of folate, which supports cell growth and is essential during pregnancy. Cauliflower is fat-free and cholesterol-free. And it's low in sodium. A one-cup serving contains only 25 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrates and 2 grams of dietary fiber.

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