Gone are the days when cauliflower was merely an over-cooked, watery afterthought to accompany a roast. Its status was elevated thanks to the cheese sauce variations popular in the ‘80s, but in recent times, the humble cauliflower has taken on a much more adventurous role, often as the star dish of a meal, rather than just a mere accompaniment. This dish is delicious on its own for a light meal and goes down a treat when accompanied with other fresh salads also. The cauliflower is cooked to crunchy perfection, and the Tahini and Maple is a healthy accompaniment, while vegan-friendly, is absolutely not lacking in the flavour department. Who needs cheese sauce when you have this to delight your taste buds?
Cauliflower Ingredients:
1 large cauliflower, chopped into florets
⅛ teaspoon of cinnamon
¼ teaspoon of turmeric
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon of cumin seeds
¼ teaspoon of Sumac
½ teaspoon of salt
4 tablespoons of olive oil
1/3 cup of sliced almonds, lightly toasted
⅓ cup of chopped flat-leaf parsley
Tahini Maple Dressing Ingredients:
½ teaspoon of minced garlic
¼ cup of tahini
¼ cup of lemon juice
1.5 tablespoons of maple syrup
2 tablespoons of olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Water, as needed
Directions:
- Pre-heat the oven to 200°C.
- Place the cauliflower on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
- Sprinkle over all of the spices + salt, and then drizzle the olive oil over
- Toss together, and then place in the oven to roast for 30 minutes, or until the cauliflower gets crispy on the edges. Turn halfway through.
- Meanwhile, place all of the ingredients for the dressing into a bowl, and whisk together with a fork. Add more lemon juice or maple to suit your taste, and water can also be used to thin it out if it is a bit thick.
- Once the cauliflower is cooked, place it on a serving tray and drizzle it with the dressing.
- Top with fresh parsley and slivered almonds and crack some pepper on top.
- You will likely have leftover sauce, it works well on other roast vegetables also and will keep in the fridge well. Enjoy!
Nutrition Bite: Cauliflower has had its recent time in the limelight due to the rise in popularity of low-carbohydrate, Keto, and Paleo diets. It is a great low-starch alternative to potatoes or rice, but equally is due credit for just being a delicious vegetable in its own right! Cauliflower is a great source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and magnesium. It is a low-fat and cholesterol-free and versatile addition to any healthy diet!