Cauliflower, onion and chickpeas make a tasty side dish

The produce aisle is a healthy budget cook’s best place to start a supermarket shopping trip.

By loading up the cart with bulky, nutrient-filled produce, you’ll visually make the cart smaller, and you’ll spend be less likely to fill up the cart with (less healthy) impulse buys from the more processed middle aisles. Plus, if you focus on in-season produce, you’ll be getting some of the lowest cost nutrients in the store.

The mild spiciness of red pepper-infused olive oil complements the sweetness of the roasted onions, and za’atar and lemon contribute to the overall freshness and tang of the dish.

The prep can be done in minutes, making this a great weeknight option. I like to serve it as a side with white fish and summer veggies, but it’s flavorful enough to be served alongside a cut of toothsome meat. Or, serve over quinoa or brown rice for a meatless main dish. Bonus: leftovers make a great salad topping.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH CHICKPEAS AND ONION

Start to finish: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more for more heat)

¾ teaspoon (or more) za’atar (herb blend)

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 small cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets, about

2 ½ cups

1 small yellow onion, chopped, about

¾ cup

1 ¼ cup cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans), about one

15-ounce can, drained, rinsed, and patted dry

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix together the olive oil, red pepper flakes, za’atar, salt and pepper. Place the vegetables and chickpeas in the bowl, and toss to coat. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread out the vegetables on the paper. Roast until cauliflower is tender and golden, about 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Squeeze lemon juice onto the mixture, stir, and serve.

Cook’s note: If you can’t find za’atar, substitute: ¼ teaspoon dried oregano or thyme, 1 teaspoon sesame seeds and ¼ teaspoon sumac (if available).

Nutrition information per serving: 204 calories; 58 calories from fat; 7 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 522 mg sodium; 30 g carbohydrate; 9 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 9 g protein.