Spiced Roasted Cauliflower with Maple Tahini Sauce & Almonds

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:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 200°C. 
2. Place the cauliflower on a baking tray lined with baking paper. 
3. Sprinkle over all of the spices + salt, and then drizzle the olive oil over
4. 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. 
5. 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. 
6. Once the cauliflower is cooked, place it on a serving tray and drizzle it with the dressing. 
7. Top with fresh parsley and slivered almonds and crack some pepper on top.
8. 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!