5-Min Instant Pot Cauliflower (Whole Head)

Who is ready to make a whole head of cauliflower in your instant pot in only five minutes?! MEEE!!

Have you seen those beautiful platters with a full head of roasted cauliflower sitting in the middle? I think it’s such a fun moment that you can serve an entire cooked head of cauliflower and slice off wedges for your guests.

I’ve seen a lot of ways to cook a whole head of cauliflower but they always seem to take hours. And then my eye caught a peek at my Instant Pot and I had a lightbulb moment. Today I’m sharing the easiest way to cook a whole head of cauliflower. And! I’m sharing a tasty marinade and sauce to put on top. Ready for it?

I wrote an entire cookbook dedicated to cauliflower. The cauli love is real! I’m always amazed at how versatile and fun cauliflower can be, transforming from florets to dips to desserts. If you love it too, you have to check out my book Cauliflower Power!

HOW TO COOK A WHOLE HEAD OF CAULIFLOWER IN THE INSTANT POT:

It’s so simple and can be broken down in just a few short steps!

Prep the cauliflower:

Break off any leaves around the cauliflower head and cut the stem of the cauliflower so it sits on the counter flat.

I’ve seen some fun recipes to use the discarded cauliflower leaves in salads or sautéing them down to include in omelettes and casseroles. Keep them around if you want to get creative!

Make the Marinade:

Then we’re going to whisk together the marinade and drizzle it over the cauliflower head. Use your hands to massage it into the crevices of the cauli and coat the entire head. 

If you want to make this without the marinate, just drizzle the cauliflower head with some olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. I think the marinade adds a really gorgeous color and flavor to the outer florets.

Cook your cauliflower in the instant pot:

Place the trivet in the Instant Pot and pour ⅓ cup water into the bottom of the instant pot. You don’t want the cauliflower sitting directly in the water, otherwise it could get soggy. Place the cauliflower head on top of the trivet. 

Place the lid on and make sure the valve is on sealing. Press the pressure cook button and set the Instant Pot to high pressure for five minutes. Please note if you have a smaller cauliflower head, you should adjust the cook time to 2 – 3 minutes.

After the five minutes is up, release the steam from the instant pot by turning the sealing valve to venting. Allow all the steam to release before opening up the lid.

That’s it! Five minutes in your pressure cooker is all you need to cook an entire head of cauliflower!

Broil the cauliflower to crisp the outside.

Optional but recommended** after the cauli head is done cooking in the Instant Pot, you can place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and broil it for 2 – 5 minutes to crisp the outside. This is not necessary but adds a darker color and better crisp texture to the outside florets. 

Make a sauce to drizzle on top of your instant pot cauliflower:

While the cauliflower is cooking, whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. If the ingredients need help incorporating, heat in the microwave for 20 seconds and continue to whisk until thickened and smooth. 

Serve as cauliflower wedges or florets:

Plate the cauliflower head and drizzle with the tahini soy sauce. Sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves and sesame seeds for garnish. Cut into wedges and serve.

Alternatively, after the cauliflower head is done broiling, you can turn it upside down and cut it into florets. Drizzle the sauce on top of the florets.

More cauliflower recipes to try:

• Low Carb Cauliflower Flatbread
• Low Carb Cauliflower Falafel
• Slow Cooker Cheddar Cauliflower Soup
• Spiced Cauliflower + Green Romesco
• cauliflower asparagus tabbouleh
• Vegetable Cashew Curry + Cauliflower Rice

Enjoy!! xo