Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Another Way With Cauliflower.

   For some reason I can't quite fathom, I always think of cauliflower as broccoli's ugly stepsister. Plain, pale, kind of stinky, cauliflower is definitely not going to the ball. However, it is cheap. And as my mom always says, "What's not to like about cheap?" When a fresh, locally grown vegetable has a 99 cent sticker on it, it is not only calling my name, it's practically jumping outta the bin and into my cart, as Billy Ocean would say. Okay, so Billy Ocean wouldn't exactly say that, but I did have that song stuck in my head the minute I saw the price tag. I had to buy one.
   Now if I was a cauliflower and I wanted a make-over, I'd definitely head for the Indian kitchen. Almost no cuisine I've heard of has done as much to put cauliflower in the spotlight. Spiced up, dolled up and with bell peppers as their wingman, you can't beat it.


Cauliflower With Peppers and Peas




   Here's what to do:
   In a large skillet or kadhai, heat up 2 Tbs of vegetable oil.
 When the oil is hot toss in:
 1 fresh serrano chili finely chopped
 1/8 tsp of turmeric
 1/4 tsp of cumin seeds
 Stir them around for one minute
Then add in one head of cauliflower broken into small florets
 1/2 cup of red bell peppers thinly sliced
 1/2 cup of yellow bell pepper thinly sliced.
Stir it all around and saute it until the cauliflower has browned all around the edge.
Turn down the heat a bit and add in:
 1 cup of defrosted frozen peas
 1/2 tsp of salt
 1 Tbs of lemon juice
1/2 tsp of sambar powder.
Stir everything together, so it's well mixed, sprinkle with a bit of fresh chopped cilantro and serve it up.
   Serve it with some rice, another vegetable side and some hot chapattis. Or it's equally at home snuggling next to a chicken breast or any other Western-style main dish. This is the dish that confirms..."Nobody puts Cauliflower in the corner!"

18 comments :

  1. I love cauliflower with Indian spicings. Actually, although eaten plain I agree with you about cauliflower vs broccoli, cauliflower's very blandness has lent it to being used more often in my kitchen lately. Its flavor does not clash with much.

    Have you picked up Pushpent Pant's Indian Cookbook yet? I have a cauliflower dish from it coming up on my blog that includes oranges, which was very different from any other Indian presentations I've seen (I love the book btw).

    ReplyDelete
  2. @Laura,
    thanks for the tip..I'm definitely going to find that cookbook!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think of it as the OTHER way around. I prefer cauliflower over broccoli! Another delicious recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Browned or Roasted Cauliflower is the best. I really REALLY love it with some curry and coconut milk. Heaven!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That is a a yummy looking curry!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Really pretty. You turned the ugly step sister into a princess.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow! What a delicious way to prepare Cauliflower!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love this recipe! Always looking for creative ways to spice up this veggie. Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I do like the look of this cauliflower!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Haha! I definitely would NOT put this cauliflower in the corner! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello! I'm your newest follower! I found you through the Cook Eat Share website. I have to say that I LOVE your blog and look forward to following you. I have recently been trying new Indian dishes and I'm so glad I found you :) Take care! Celeste CookingCreation.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. @cooking creation,
    thanks so much for your post...and welcome aboard. we do have fun around here

    ReplyDelete
  13. @penny aka jeroxie,
    I love anything cooked in a any sort of coconut, or with coconut involved in any way!

    ReplyDelete
  14. @kathleeen, yes, and easy too. Also you can add any other vegetables you might have. Mix and match I always say.

    ReplyDelete
  15. @raptortioe.com,
    yes, and there
    is a great recipe for roast cauliflower with sage salt that I got from my friend at the blog Vegetable Matter
    try this one!
    http://vegetablematter.blogspot.com/2009/12/roasted-cauliflower-with-lemon-brown.html

    ReplyDelete
  16. We love cauliflower, this curry looks delicious.
    http://bhalokhabo.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Cauliflower is a good addition to your meal to make it more healthy.

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin