I adore cauliflower and make it in various forms every week. It’s healthy and very versatile. Some versions have turned out better than others – don’t ask anyone about the “mac and cheese” version I made a while back. Mom! “Mac and cheese should be pasta!” But it is fun to make a delicious version of it for eating in a pita. I saw a version of this from one of my favorite London chefs Yotam Ottolenghi, although I think his recipe needed simplification. This is particularly great for people who you may be dining with who are vegetarians. It’s a great side dish for protein as well. We like to serve it with homemade oven fries on the side tossed in chopped garlic, oregano, and a little Old Bay to keep it Maryland style!
Ingredients
Cauliflower
4 tbsps. olive oil
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 large cauliflower, cut into bite sized florets
Tahini Sauce
½ cup tahini
½ cup chopped parsley
½ cup chopped cilantro
¼ cup mint
1 lemon zested and juiced
¼ tsp. cumin
2 garlic cloves chopped
½ cup water
Salt to taste
Shawarma Salad
½ head red cabbage thinly chopped (you can buy in a bag already done)
½ red onion thinly sliced
½ cup mint leaves, chopped
½ lemon juice
Salt to taste
For the Cauliflower
1. Preheat the oven to 500 F. Prepare the cabbage salad by combining the red cabbage, red onion, lemon juice and mint and mix well with hands. Set it aside.
2. Combine the 4 tablespoons of olive oil, all the spices, the vinegar, 1 teaspoon of salt and a grind of pepper in a large mixing bowl. Add the cauliflower florets and mix until well coated.
3. Put the cauliflower mixture onto a foil lined sheet pan. Roast for 12 minutes, then give everything a stir, and return to the oven for 15 minutes more, or until the cauliflower is well charred and cooked through.
4. Serve the cauliflower on a platter with the salad on the side and a small bowl of the tahini sauce.
Tahini Sauce
1. Put all the ingredients into the small bowl of a food processor and run it for a couple of minutes until it is smooth. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl and set aside. Add water if it gets too thick.
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