When my partner recently ducked over to LA for a few days for work I thought, you beauty, I can buy a cauliflower and whip it up for dinner. Yes it’s the small things that get me excited, people. Things like cauliflower, cadbury creme eggs and the crust on sourdough bread. Maybe even a bottle of wine with a pretty label on it. You see, the other half loathes a few certain foods and this particular vegetable is one of them so I don’t even bother cooking it at home.
While cooking up the cauliflower in the way that I have here, it wasn’t the only thing I had for dinner that evening. I got a little inspired and vamped it up with other dishes that you’ll be seeing over the next few days. So rather than load up this post with recipes as long as your arm, I’ll be shooting out daily installments until I end with my plated meal. Pity it was just dinner for one!
I could have easily called this recipe “Indian spiced cauliflower” but seeing I threw together a bunch of fragrant and very Indian herbs and spices I thought going with gobi masala was more apt. This is seriously easy to make and the wafts of exotic spices will have your neighbours sniffing over the side fence.
Keep posted for the next recipe tomorrow …
gobi masala
Serves 2-4
- 1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets (keep the stem pieces for a soup)
- ¼ cup mustard oil
- 2 tbsp good quality Indian curry powder
- 1 tsp chilli flakes, or 1 small red chilli, finely chopped
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- ¼ tsp asafoetida*
- 1 tbsp curry leaves
- 1 tsp kalonji (nigella) seeds
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- Sea salt, to taste
- 1 tbsp chickpea flour
- Fresh coriander leaves, to garnish
- Preheat oven 220°C and line a baking tray with greased paper.
- Rinse the cauliflower florets under running water and drain well. Set aside.
- In a separate mixing bowl combine the remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour this over the cauliflower and toss well to coat. Tumble the cauliflower onto the lined baking tray and spread out evenly. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, toss them around a little and bake for a further 5 minutes.
- Serve hot.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Have you ever tried roasted cauliflower on Mr K? I’d say I don’t like cauli either (I’m not a fan of how it gets so wet when boiled or the taste particularly), but roasting it with Indian spices just transforms it for me.
I sometimes do a much simpler version of this where I roast the cauli with some garam masala, perhaps tumeric and some seasoning to serve as a side dish with a curry.
Richard Elliot recently posted..Restaurant Review: The Duck Inn, Chippendale
Looks delish!
When my other half is away, I find myself curled up on the couch with something simple and plain, like tomato spaghetti. Although he has come around to that recently…
lau@corridorkitchen recently posted..PR emails – what’s your take?
I love to make something like fresh pappardelle with really good extra virgin olive oil, pepper and loads of grated parmesan. The other half would find this boring and wouldnt understand…
SO glad you posted this, I am looking forward to all the other dishes
Anna@ The Littlest Anchovy recently posted..Pork Ribs With Sticky, Sweet and Spicy Plum Sauce
Nice way to elevate the humble cauliflower to another dimension.
Gaby recently posted..Review: La Parrillada
Haha, I only get excited about solace and silence when the Husband isn’t at home – not cauliflower. But you know, whatever rocks your kitchen!
Now, the Cadbury Creme Eggs I really don’t understand…
Rita (mademoiselle délicieuse) recently posted..Chinese New Year 2012
Never has cauliflower looked so beautiful. Just stunning!
Yasmeen @ Wandering Spice recently posted..Wholemeal Orange and Hazelnut Biscotti
Just delicious.
Lizzy (Good Things) recently posted..Grilled Chicken with Basil Butter
I love cauilflower. I can’t understand how people could hate it so much. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall once said he didn’t like it either, huh??? This certainly looks delicious, I bet it would win over your partner.
Vintage Macaroon recently posted..Homemade Preserved Lemons
Yum yum this looks amazing! I love roasted cauliflower although deep-fried cauliflower will always have my heart. lol. Love the sound of your spice mix too.
Helen (grabyourfork) recently posted..The Eight, Haymarket
Nom nom nom nom.
So jealous of your food photography skills.
Lolly recently posted..Soju Girl, Canberra
My husband dislikes cauliflower also so this post was really relevant to me as I don’t cook much of it either for the same reason.
It’s so nice that you took the time to make it special and cooked something that you don’t often cook.
P.S. the cauli sounds beautiful!
Anna @ the shady pine recently posted..Roasted Pumpkin and Goat Cheese Rotolo
Looks scrumptious, John. I love cauliflower in my curry (or the other way aroud), and I am lucky that Mr likes it too. However, while he is in the US in February, I will be cooking quail, fruitty muffins and “funny” grains – a feast list for one has been prepared!
Martyna (Wholesome Cook) recently posted..Twice cooked potato gnocchi with chorizo Bolognese
Oh man, I would love a great big plate of that right now! Looks delectable. My husband eats pretty much everything so I don’t have to wait for him to be away to eat my favouirte dishes.
Miss Piggy recently posted..The Devonshire, Surry Hills
What a fantastic dish. I need to experiment more with Indian spices John. Love the whole presentation…especially the dish you served it in!
Peter G | Souvlaki For thee Soul recently posted..Photo Friday-A little bit of Sydney
Stunning recipes, stunning pictures. Never has the cauliflower looked so beautiful.
Ooooohhhh! Nice looking ‘spoon’ there.
Maameemoomoo recently posted..Purple Sweet Potato Cookies with Sesame Seeds
I love the first photo. Amazing presentation. It must have taken you a while to cook your entire meal this way.
Detective Chow recently posted..Kafenes, Enmore/Newtown — or — The Greek Question
The “popcorn gobi” looks like an awesome side dish, let alone snack
It’s a shame the partner isn’t into cauliflower. Are there a backlog of cauliflower recipes you pull out once the cat is away, so to speak?
Hey Simon, sadly not but it wouldn’t take long to think of something!
I’m exactly the same!!! When my fiance goes away with work I eat asparagus by the bucket load as he simply hates the stuff, and like you I don’t see much point cooking something I know we both can’t enjoy.
I’m not the biggest cauliflower fan, but this looks divine!!! Love all of those spices!
Jennifer (Delicieux) recently posted..Blood Plum Cordial
It kinda looks like the cauliflower fritters at Orto Trading Co. mmmm can’t wait to try your receipe!
Kiki recently posted..Jimmy’s Recipe – Sydney CBD
My hubby’s fave veg is the simple cauli. I can take it or leave it. I am forever trying to find interesting recipes that take me out of the boiled, pureed scope of cooking. I have baked it before, but really like the sounds of your recipe, just a little different.
Sara (Belly Rumbles) recently posted..Josh Vs Food – Moo Gourmet Burgers – Deluxe Moo Challenge