Crispy Black Pepper Turmeric Cauliflower and Garlic Noodles.
Quick and healthy Crispy Black Pepper Turmeric Cauliflower and Garlic Noodles. Cauliflower tossed with turmeric and black pepper, roasted until crispy, then served over saucy garlic butter rice noodles and topped with a spritz of lime and fresh Thai basil. So delicious! Every bite has hints of crispy, creamy, spicy-sweet flavor. Major bonus? This comes together in no time at all.
Happy St. Patrick’s day everyone!! How are you guys celebrating? I didn’t roll out any new Irish-inspired recipes this year (sorry). But I sure hope you guys are celebrating in some way today. My brother Creighton would be SO excited if you ate a corned beef sandwich for him. I’m 120% positive he’d just about die and go to heaven if I made him one. Sadly for him, it’s just not in the cards today. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have a delicious recipe to share.
Because I do! And it’s personally one of my favorites.
With my older brother around so much over the past few months, recipes have been swaying heavier on the meat and chicken than I’d like. He’s one of those “guys-guys” that believes no meal is complete without some kind of meat. Since I love to cook for others, I’ve tried my best to cater a bit more to him. Remember those cheesy gordita crunch tacos? Yep, all his doing.
But today, it’s all about the cauliflower and the noodles. So, my kind of food.
The Inspiration
I’m such a big fan of cauliflower these days, but especially roasted cauliflower that gets a little crispy and crunchy. It all started when I made this Crispy Roasted Cauliflower with Creamy Pesto Pasta back in January. And then followed it up with Cauliflower Tinga Tacos. Ever since I’ve been loving any form of roasted cauliflower.
And that kind of brings me to this recipe. It’s a mash-up of a couple of recipes that I make on repeat and has a bit of a Thai inspiration to it. Sounds a little different, but trust me, this is different in a good way.
Here are the details…start with the cauliflower
The cauliflower is the shining star of this recipe. It’s oven-roasted with lots of turmeric, ginger, and black pepper. Throw it in the oven, then about halfway through cooking, add some cashews to the mix. Then toss on a little honey and soy sauce. The honey helps the cauliflower caramelize and become sweet and spicy. By the time it comes out of the oven, it’s extra crispy with just the right amount of char and so much flavor. It is delicious! Especially atop a big bowl of creamy garlic butter rice noodles.
Fun fact, before we move onto those noddles? Using the two spices together packs anti-inflammatory powder and plenty of antioxidant properties. But even cooler? Pairing black pepper with turmeric is said to help your body better absorb the curcumin that’s found in turmeric.
Soo, you see? Very healthy. I love when delicious food is also nutritious.
Onto those noodles…
While the cauliflower is roasting, make those noodles. Boil rice noodles and toss them in a hot pan full of butter and garlic. Yes, noodles, butter, and garlic…but then add a touch of coconut milk for a little more sauce and additional creaminess.
It is SO GOOD.
I like to use vermicelli rice noodles, but you could use any variety of rice noodles, or even angel hair pasta. The noodles are meant to be saucy, so once you toss them with the garlic butter sauce, be sure to serve them right away.
By the time the noodles have cooked, the cauliflower should be done as well. And then, all that’s left to do is put it all together.
Spoon the noodles plus the creamy coconut sauce into bowls, then add the roasted cauliflower. Finish each bowl off with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and fresh basil or cilantro.
Enjoy immediately – while those noodles are piping hot and the cauliflower is extra crisp.
Takes less than an hour to create. Not only delicious but fun too!
Looking for other easy dinner recipes with a Thai flare? Here are a few to try:
30 Minute Creamy Turmeric Chicken and Noodles
Oven Fried Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple Chili Sauce
Weeknight Chicken Meatball Khao Soi.
Lastly, if you make this Crispy Black Pepper Turmeric Cauliflower and Garlic Noodles be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Crispy Black Pepper Turmeric Cauliflower and Garlic Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into florets
- 3 tablespoons sesame oil or extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1-2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 medium shallots, sliced or chopped
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 8 ounces rice noodles
- 3 tablespoons salted butter or ghee
- 3-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
- 1 cup canned coconut milk
- zest and juice of 1 lime
- 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil or cilantro, roughly chopped
Instructions
-
1. Preheat oven to 425° F. On a baking sheet, combine the cauliflower, the olive oil, turmeric, ginger, black pepper, paprika, and a pinch of chili flakes and salt. Toss well to evenly coat. Transfer to the oven and roast for 20 minutes, or until tender.
2. Remove the cauliflower from oven, add the shallots and cashews. Drizzle over the soy sauce and honey, toss to combine and evenly coat everything. Roast another 10 minutes, until charred.
3. Meanwhile, cook rice noodles according to packaged directions.
4. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the butter, garlic, and a pinch of red pepper flakes, if desired. Cook until the garlic begins to caramelize and turn light golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk, cooking 3-5 minutes, until warmed through. Remove from the heat and toss the noodles with the sauce.
5. To serve, divide the noodles among bowls and top with roasted cauliflower. Finish with a squeeze of lime juice and top with basil or cilantro. Enjoy!
Our Favorite Recipes
30 Minute Caramelized Shallot Beef Ramen Noodles.
The cashews, are those added at Step #1 or Step #2 ?? I want to be certain. Thank you so much 🙂
Hey Judi,
Sorry for any confusion, the cashews are added in step 2. I hope you enjoy the recipe, let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
will be making this soon with few subs i love cauliflower sooooooooooooo much will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya
I hope you love the recipe Ramya! xTieghan
How does this recipe already have 8 total ratings giving it a 4/5 when it was just posted this morning??? Do any of you actually make the recipe before you rate it?? WTH.
Hey Joe,
I read through the comments, only two people have commented before you, neither of them left a rating, so I am unsure where you are getting this info. Also, I encourage my readers to comment on recipes regardless of whether or not they have made it. I hope this clears things up for you. Have the best day!! xTieghan
This looks amazing and will make it this week. Question – assume you’re using unsweetened coconut milk, right? Also are you using fresh ginger or dried? Thank you! I love all your recipes!
Hey Dina,
Yes, I used unsweetened coconut milk and the recipe calls for ground ginger (so yes dried). I hope you love this recipe, let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
Question…How much olive oil to use? The recipe calls for 3T olive oil, but step 1 of the instructions says 1/4 cup of olive oil.
Hey Barbara,
Sorry for the confusion, the recipe has been adjusted, you are going to use 3 tablespoons of olive oil in step 1. I hope you love the recipe! Thanks! xTieghan
That sounds delicious, I did your corn beef recipe in the slow cooker but used it in traditional sandwiches instead of the french toast. It was the best corn beef I’ve ever made.
Thanks for trying the recipe Suzanne! xTieghan
Do you add the shallots at step 1 or 2? Can’t wait to try this!
Hey Kara,
Sorry for the confusion, the shallots are going to be added in step 2. I hope you love the recipe, let me know if you make it! xTieghan
Ok, I actually DID make this last night and it is awesome! I made it as written My cauliflower was pretty large so I doubled the spice, shallot mix and also the soy honey. It is very simple to put together and absolutely delicious as well as quite appealing to look at. I would highly recommend anyone try this recipe! Pretty sure you’re going to be happy!
Hey Nancy,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
I never cook for myself when I’m home alone, and yesterday I saw this recipe in my email and realized I had all of the ingredients for it already and needed to make it. It was SO easy and delicious!! One of my favorite ways I’ve ever prepared cauliflower. Will definitely be making it for friends in the future!
Hey Meg,
I am so glad that you liked this recipe, thanks for giving it a go! Happy Friday🌷 xTieghan
Looks so YUM!
Do you think adding some dark leafy greens to the party would work? I have some Swiss Chard begging to be eaten!
Hey Manasa,
I think that would be a fantastic idea! I would just add it to the sauce so the greens can wilt down. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Any suggestions for a substitute for the cashews? This looks amazing but I have a tree nut allergy! Still want to have that crunch factor!
Hey Katie,
Is there any other nut you can use? I also think crispy onions would be delicious! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan!
Looks delish, I plan on making tonight! Is it possible to sub fres ginger in for the ground dried ginger?
Thanks,
Annie
Hey Annie,
Yes, that would work well, I would use about 1 tablespoon. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I was so excited to find this recipe! It was actually in my news feed, and I was needing a recipe using cauliflower besides my go-to “cauli buffalo wings”. I had all the ingredients on hand, so I ran to the kitchen to prepare (my husband had to leave in an hour)!
This was quite easy to put together. It was light and flavorful. I loved the creaminess of the rice noodles with the punch of spices that covers the cauliflower. I also enjoyed the sweetness of the honey with a hint of heat. It was delicious! My husband said he’d eat it again.👍 Next time, I won’t be in such a hurry and remember to add the lime juice, oops! But, even though I forgot, our dinner was still great! TY!
Hey Carrie,
I am so glad that you liked this recipe, thanks for giving it a go! Happy Friday🌷 xTieghan
I made this tonight and loved the flavours of the spices together and the textures with the crunchy cashews and creamy slightly sweet rice noodles. My husband enjoyed it topped with feta:) I will definitely be making sure this for my vegetarian friends! Thanks Tieghan for another great recipe. 😋
Hey Kara,
I am so glad that you liked this recipe, thanks for giving it a go! Happy Friday🌷 xTieghan
I made this specifically for my husband, a guy who really likes cauliflower. He liked it so much that he said I could make it for his birthday (in January!) along with his favorite corn soufflé. I might skip the corn side dish!
Hey Linda,
I am so glad that you liked this recipe, thanks for giving it a go! Happy Friday🌷 xTieghan
Thank you for this recipe. I did the cauliflower portion only and it was amazing. Next time I will add the noodles too. But this will be my go to cauliflower recipe!
Hey Jenna,
I am so glad that you liked this recipe, thanks for giving it a go! Happy Friday🌷 xTieghan
Made this tonight and it was amazing! Omitted the cashews because my boyfriend is allergic, but added bok choy sautéed in sesame oil. Super tasty, will make again.
Hey Rebecca,
I am so glad that you liked this recipe, thanks for giving it a go! Happy Friday🌷 xTieghan
The making video helps me a lot. my husband and kids like it very much
I hope you love the recipe Rose!
Every component in this recipe sounds DIVINE. I have a head of cauliflower in the fridge that I haven’t yet planned a use for, and this sounds perfect! One criticism… in your intro, at one point you refer to this dish as having, “a bit of a Thai inspiration to it. Sounds a little different, but trust me, this is different in a good way.” I noted the pho controversy from a few weeks back and it still seems like your POV can be a bit tone-deaf. Please, continue to create your delicious food (your creativity has really amped-up my at home cooking this past year) but also PLEASE continue to open your mind and educate yourself. I can’t help but cringe seeing you speak like this. I know you can do better.
YUM! Sooo DELICIOUS! Will definitely make again. Thank you!
Hey Molly,
Thanks a lot for making this recipe, it makes me so glad that it was enjoyed. Have the best weekend!! xTieghan
Hi! My friend and I are making this recipe tomorrow, and we’re so excited! Only thing is I’m not a big turmeric fan. Any suggestions for substitutions? Thank you, love all your stuff!
Jasmine 💛
Hey Jasmine,
I think curry powder would be a great substitute. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Fabulous recipe, I will make it for tonight. As soon as I saw this dish, I knew it would be a hit with our vegetarian family. Congratulations
Hey Bozu,
Thanks a lot for making this recipe, it makes me so glad that it was enjoyed. Have the best weekend!! xTieghan
Delicious!
Thanks so much!
So good! I ended up adding Brussels sprouts to the cauliflower mix too since I had them, and the crispy petals of those were so good. Highly recommend.
Hey Kirsten,
Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Thank you so much for this recipe!
I loved it! So much goodness and fantastic flavor. It was one of the best meals I have ever had, and I will definitely make it again.
I have been thinking about experimenting with different vegetables; i.e. broccoli or green beans.
Food for the gods (and goddesses).
Cathy
Hey Cathy,
Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Delicious!
Thanks Donna!
So glad I tried this recipe- cauliflower was SO good!
Hey Nicole,
I really appreciate you giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed.🌷 xTieghan
6 servings doesn’t sound right? I followed the recipe and it barely is getting 4 servings.
Hey Julia,
So sorry about this, I was able to get 6 servings from this, but I will take a look at the recipe again! Thanks for giving it a try! xTieghan
This was delicious! I scarfed it down and forgot to take a pic. I used a different type of noodle but it was great. I used Mike’s Hot Honey for a little more heat. Loved it! Thank you!!
Hey Allison,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am delighted that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Another great recipe! I will say I’m worried that I messed up the sauce for the noodles because it was super flavorful. But the combo of cauliflower + cashews + shallots was incredible! Will definitely be making the cauliflower part again and putting it over rice! So good! So easy!
Hey Lex,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am delighted that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Sooooo good! My boyfriend is still talking about it.
Hey Christina,
I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thank you so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
This was so good. And came together quickly. Definitely don’t make if you plan on kissing anyone afterward though. So much garlic! 🙂
I am thinking about going meat-free for a while and this will be HEAVY in the rotation. Thanks again HBH
Hey Karima,
I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thank you so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
This might be the best recipe I’ve ever made. It is SO GOOD! When I’ve made it, the shallots come out so jammy and delicious and the flavor of the cauliflower is amazing! The noodles are so indulgent I’m… in awe! I’ve already made it twice this week and can’t wait to make it for friends and family! I used fresh ginger and skipped the cashews because I didn’t have any on hand, still amazing! Super easy to make as a single portion as well!
Hey April,
That is so awesome this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Happy Friday! xTieghan
I am so excited to try this recipe tonight! I was diagnosed with lupus about 2 years ago and had to drastically change my diet. You constantly surprise me with your incredibly healthy meals that still taste delicious. I really appreciate how you try to cater to all diets because I didn’t think I would be able to survive without dairy, gluten, or sugar. This site really has saved my life. Also, thanks for the tid bit on black pepper and turmeric, I had no idea!
Hey Krista,
Let me know how it turns out, I hope you love the dish! xTieghan
I loved the idea of this recipe, but in practice the sesame oil overpowers all of the other flavors significantly. So if you’re making this I’d sugggest going with the olive oil or another light oil. Other than that, fun recipe to make, just make sure to cook your rice noodles thoroughly!
Hey there,
So sorry you did not enjoy the recipe, please let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan
Love this recipe. Was really fun to make. I had to substitute raw peanuts in place of cashews as was out of cashews but it was still delicious. Will make this again for sure. My family loved it too ☺️
Hey Justine,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Where does the lime and zest come in? I’ve read the directions multiple times and don’t see it… am I crazy??
Hey Claire,
You will use the lime in step 5:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This looks delicious! I plan on making for dinner tomorrow. If I didn’t want to use butter for the sauce, any other suggestions? Could I just leave it out?
Can’t wait to try it!
Hey Jenna,
You could skip the butter or use some olive oil. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hello! I am 11 years old and had this for dinner tonight. It was truly amazing, I did not miss the meat at all. Excellent job on this recipe, it was fantastic! Kid approved.
Hello! This is the mom, I won’t tell you my age hahaha….wherever you go to get inspired to create recipes…go there again. This was phenomenal….and because of health issues, lightened it up with lite coconut milk, 1 T ghee, and 1 T EVOO for sauce. So I can’t imagine the flavor in the unadulterated recipe. Thank you so much.
Hey Annette,
Thank you so much for making the recipe, I am so glad you and your family enjoyed this recipe!! xTieghan
Fantastic dish! I made this tonight, and we loved it! Simple to prepare but so much great flavor!
I cook a lot so my husband appreciates how much effort goes into cooking and he actually said while we were eating “I really have to give her a lot of credit that she has the instinct to put all these ingredients together and make such a great dish”…enough said!
Thanks for another great recipe!
Hey Lori,
I am thrilled this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! 🌷xTieghan
Made this last night – came together easily and the flavors were excellent! What a great way to use cauliflower. I had never cooked ultra thin rice noodles and they turned out perfectly. This is another KEEPER recipe of HBH! Can’t wait to make this with Thai basil but the cilantro was just fine. Thanks as always Tieghan 🙂
Hey Lee,
Awesome! So glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
I’ve made this twice in one week. So good! I love that the creaminess comes from coconut milk. This recipe is easy and fabulous, thank you!!
Hey Lori,
Awesome! So glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
When does the lime zest come in?
Hey Stephanie,
You are going to use that in step 5. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hello!
When do you add the zest and juice of 1 lime? Thank you.
Hey Maggie,
You can add that in step 5 as the garnish. I hope you enjoy this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
this was the best meal I had this week! Will definitely make again. Thank you!
Hey there,
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try, I am delighted that it was enjoyed!! Have a great weekend! xTieghan
Made this recipe this week, and it was delicious and so easy! Definitely going to make it again when I have cauliflower.
Hey Jenna,
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try, I am delighted that it was enjoyed!! Have a great weekend! xTieghan
Thank you for sharing this. A question if we may….we do not use oil. Can we omit it or perhaps substitute a smoked balsamic vinegar? We appreciate your thoughts.
Hey Mary,
I would use butter in place of the oil:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I love this plant-based dish! I’ve been trying more meatless dishes and this one is so flavorful and delicious, you don’t even miss the meat! Thanks for another great recipe 🙂
Hey Alexis,
So great to hear! Love that this recipe was enjoyed and thanks so much for making it! Have a great week🌟 xTieghan
Hi,
I accidentally bought fresh ginger instead of dried for this recipe. How much fresh ginger would you recommend for this recipe?
Thanks in advance!
-Karen
Hey Karen,
I would use about 2 teaspoons of the fresh ginger. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi! Do you think I could freeze this after I make it! I love your recipes!!!
Hey Diane,
Sure, I would not recommend freezing the noodles though. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Where was the lime zest supposed to be added?
Overall I loved the flavors in this recipe, specifically in the cauliflower. Personally, next time I would sub the butter in the sauce for olive oil and add more garlic (I used 5 cloves and still wanted more, but I am obsessed with garlic!). Also the ratio of cauliflower to noodles is slightly heavy on the noodle side, next time I would use 6oz of noodles or less. I also broiled the cauliflower for 2 mins after cooking for a little more crispness. The lime juice at the end makes a huge difference, don’t forget it! Thanks, Tieghan!
Hey Avery,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a go! The lime is added as a garnish:) xxTieghan
Delicious! Thanks!
Thanks so much Rebecca! xTieghan
Made this for dinner last night and my family LOVED it … adults and kids were all thrilled!
Hey Helena,
Happy Friday!! I am so excited that this recipe was enjoyed, I appreciate you giving it a try!! xTieghan