It has been a busy summer, and I wish I had more time to blog, or truthfully, to actually finish one of the 10 half-posts that have been hanging around. This is my attempt at getting back on the blogging wagon. Recently, I had a request for some gluten-free, meat-free recipes. I immediately thought of this post, patiently waiting in my drafts section. Three (or has it been four?) weeks later, here it is. Spiced up roasted cauliflower and zucchini with tahini dressing. And it’s vegan!

Plant-based foods have a lot going for them. You’re unlikely to have to worry about them poisoning you if they’re undercooked. They’re easy for weeknight meals and generally forgiving of your cooking skills. On top of that, they don’t normally include parts that make you think “ew, I’m not going to eat that” (Here’s looking at you, brains.)

Instead you can eat veggies that look like brains without all the weird thoughts about neurological diseases (yum).

Cauliflower is pretty low on my list of choice vegetables. But sometimes life gives you cauliflower, and you have to accept the challenge. The best way to handle the hardship of cauliflower is to roast and top it with lots of other nice things.

Like almost any veggie, some time in the oven with fat and spices makes everything better.

Add some sweet slow cooked onions and nutty, savory tahini dressing for a winner. I also like to add extra color in the form of courgettes (zucchini, whatever), because it’s (technically still) summer and there are too many of them anyway.

This recipe is adapted from This is a Cookbook: Recipes for Real Life, by Max and Eli Sussman, given to me by a very good friend back in the States.

Serves: 4

Roasted cauliflower and courgettes with tahini drizzle

15 minPrep Time

30 minCook Time

45 minTotal Time

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On the Counter

The vegetables
• 4 tbsp (90mL) olive oil (extra virgin if you have it) plus 1 tsp
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 1 cauliflower head (300g/10.5 oz), cut into 1 in (2.5 cm) pieces, including the stems
• 2 small, or supermarket sized in the UK, courgettes (zucchini)
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp paprika (sweet, hot, smoked - your choice)
• small handful of fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped (optional)
The dressing
• 100 g (1/3 cup) tahini
• juice from 1/4 lemon
• 1 tsp cider vinegar
• 1 garlic clove, finely minced
• table salt to taste

What to Do

The vegetables
• Preheat the oven to 230C (450F).
• In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower pieces, courgette/zucchini, 1 tsp drizzle of oil, dash of salt, cumin and paprika together, until the vegetables are evenly coated.
• Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat, until it's just shimmering.
• Add in the onions.
• Lower the heat, stir in 1 tsp salt, and stir frequently.
• Keep the onions going over low heat until they're soft and sweet, at least 20 minutes. If you want to fully caramelize them, it will be around 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, on a baking sheet, drizzle the remaining olive oil and spread it along the tray.
• Put the cauliflower and zucchini/courgette pieces in one layer on the tray. Try to ensure they're not piled on top of each other. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
• Roast the veggies for 10 minutes to start, and check on them. They'll likely need another 5 minutes before they're lightly toasty brown. Once they are, toss them around and roast for another 10 minutes.
• To serve, combine the roasted vegetables and soft onions. Toss them gently to spread the seasoning around. Drizzle the tahini dressing (below) on top, and then sprinkle on the fresh parsley.
The dressing
• In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, 100mL (1/3 cup) water, 1 tsp salt, lemon juice, vinegar and garlic.

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https://www.onmykitchencounter.com/2016/09/20/roasted-cauliflower-zucchini-tahini-dressing-vegan/

Between this and cauliflower cheese, maybe there’s hope for cauliflower yet.

I cannot tell you that this is the recipe that convinced me cauliflower is the best vegetable out there. Unfortunately I don’t think there’s a recipe out there that can really make me love cauliflower. I can, however, tell you that this is miles ahead of boiled cauliflower, is quick and easy and can do a pretty reasonable job replacing couscous for a wheat-free and nutrient-rich alternative.

And listen, I’m not going to pretend that you won’t notice the difference between regular couscous and the cauliflower version, so don’t come in expecting it to taste like a wheat product. But, it does taste nutty, have just a little bit of crunch and give you a good feeling about your dinner choice.

Cauliflower is a great source of vitamins, way more than pasta and rice could even dream of. It’s a great source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, dietary fiber and omega-3 fatty acids (for all you non-fish eaters).

Try it for a boost of extra vitamins and a low-calorie, gluten-free and low-carb substitute for white rice with a stir fry, or loaded with harissa and lamb for a Moroccan-style couscous.

All you need to do to make cauliflower rice, and couscous, is chop your cauliflower head into florets. (You can use the stems in soup or a veggie stock.) Put them all into a food processor and blitz!

Serves: 4

On the Counter

1 large head of cauliflower (about 850 g or 2 lbs)
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt

Equipment

food processor
skillet or frying pan

What to Do

Chop cauliflower into florets, setting the stems aside for stock or soup.

Add them into a food processor and blitz for a few seconds for “rice”. For “couscous”, scrape down the sides and blitz for a few more seconds/pulses.

To cook, heat olive oil over medium heat in a skillet or frying pan until shimmering. Season the cauliflower with salt and sauté it, stirring frequently, until it just starts to toast, about 2 to 3 minutes. If you would prefer it crunchier but less nutty tasting, cook it for less time.

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You can do a lot with cauliflower rice/couscous. Stir fry some veg and make a peanut sauce, or turn it into a couscous salad. You could even add some spices in while you’re cooking to amp up the flavor. Maybe some Chinese 5-spice for a cauliflower rice stir-fry or cumin to make your cauliflower the accompaniment to a curry.

Do you have any favorite uses for cauliflower rice or couscous?