San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Roasted cauliflower adds warmth, spices up table
TANDOORI SPICED WHOLE CAULIFLOWER ROAST
1 medium cauliflower (approximately 2 pounds)
1 whole medium red onion, cut into thick slices
2 teaspoons sea salt
1⁄3 cup melted ghee, plus more for drizzling at the end
TANDOORI MASALA
1 cup plain whole milk yogurt 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 teaspoons red chile powder 1 tablespoon crushed coriander seeds
1 teaspoon garam masala 1 tablespoon amchur
Scant 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
Cilantro sprigs as garnish Instructions: Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Trim the bottom of the cauliflower and snip away any leaves that may end up overcooking. Using your hands, rub the cauliflower and onion slices with salt and half the ghee. Set the cauliflower on a baking pan, place the onion slices around it and place in the oven.
After 10 to 15 minutes, turn the heat down to 300 degrees and cook the cauliflower for another 30 to 45 minutes or until it is golden brown and almost cooked through. Set the cauliflower aside until it cools down.
The onions should have softened and turned golden brown.
In the meanwhile, prepare the masala by whisking yogurt, remaining ghee, garlic, red chile, coriander, garam masala, amchur and scant salt.
When the cauliflower is cool to the touch, using your hand, spread the masala over, in and around it, getting to the stalks and the bottom parts. Place the cauliflower back in the oven for 20 minutes. Serve warm with fresh herbs.
NOTES AND VARIATIONS
A tandoor is a clay or cement barrel-shaped oven where the heat source comes from the bottom (gas, wood or coal). The walls of the oven are what breads such as naans and rotis are directly cooked on. Meats or vegetables can be cooked on skewers lowered into the oven.
To crush the coriander seeds, lay seeds on a counter and crush gently with a rolling pin until almost all are cracked. Or use a mortar and pestle.
f you have any jackets or leaves of the cauliflower to use, add them to the baking pan when you add the masala. This way they will cook through but remain bright green. Serves 6 to 8