Whenever I don’t know what side to make I look to cauliflower. This vegetable takes on the flavor of whatever you put it with and in large pieces has a satisfying bite. It’s the perfect veggie if you ask me! In this Pesto Cauliflower we combine classic pesto with some fresh cauliflower for a simple, yet delicious, side dish.

The ingredients here are few since we’re using pre-made pesto. But, if you want to make your own pesto from scratch you can find that recipe here.

We’re not stopping at pesto, we’re also adding some lemon zest and parmesan cheese to really push this into the best supporting role at the dinner table. This citrus here elevates the dish and adds a level freshness. It’s a dynamic combination of ingredients.

I like to add a generous pinch of red pepper flakes to heighten the flavors even more. It’s got fresh, umami, nutty flavors that are amplified by adding just a little heat. A less spicy alternative would be some freshly-cracked black pepper, which can also add that extra element of heat.

With the salt I like to be sparing at first. There’s a lot of salt in the pesto and in the cheese so I wait until the cauliflower has been cooked in the sauce to taste it before adding more salt.

This is a dish that’s so full of flavor. It goes perfectly with chicken, but it’s also great with pork chops, steak, and even seafood. It might be easy to make, but this Pesto Cauliflower also happens to be a real show-stealer!