Roasted Cauliflower with Cumin, Coriander and Almonds

Meatless, Sides, Vegan / Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

A few weeks ago, I was cleansed from the Tuesdays with Dorie blogroll, and a few of you have asked why.

Actually, I stopped baking with the group several months ago.

The size of my ass had started to exceed my ambition.

It turns out that keeping cookies, cake and pie around the house is a bad idea. WHO KNEW?!?

So, I’m backing off desserts for a while and discovering new things. Like Vitatops. And Dr. Oz’s Magical Breakfast Blaster Smoothie. And cauliflower.

I had only eaten cauliflower either cooked to mush and topped with cheese sauce or raw and dipped in Ranch, so I was game to try Jamie Oliver’s Roasted Cauliflower with Cumin, Coriander and Almonds.

First, you blanch the cauliflower, let it steam dry, and add it to the pan with the toasted spices, almonds, crushed red chiles, lemon zest and lemon juice. Then fry it just until it gets some color, and roast it in the oven for about 15 minutes.

The cauliflower keeps a little crunch, gains a lot of flavor and has a really nice kick to it from the chiles. It would make an especially great side for an Indian-inspired meal, but it works with your basic lemon chicken, too.

So, farewell, Tuesdays with Dorie. You gave me dozens of great recipes and even better friends.

And this third buttock.

Pass the cauliflower.

Roasted Cauliflower with Cumin, Coriander and Almonds

Adapted from Jamie Oliver’s “Cook with Jamie”

Serves 4

  • 1 head of cauliflower, green leaves removed, broken into florets
  • Kosher Salt
  • Olive oil
  • Pat of butter (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
  • 1-2 dried red chiles
  • A handful of blanched almonds
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Add the cauliflower to a pot of salted boiling water. Let it cook for a couple of minutes then drain in a colander, allowing it to steam dry (you don’t want any water left in your cauliflower, or it won’t roast properly).
  3. Toss it in a good glug of olive oil and the butter.
  4. In a pestle and mortar, bash your spices and chillies with a pinch of salt, then mix them with your almonds and put in a hot, dry ovenproof pan to slowly toast them on the stovetop over medium heat.
  5. After a couple of minutes, add the cauliflower. When it gets a nice bit of color on it, add the lemon zest and juice and mix around well. Fry for about a minute longer; then pop the pan into the preheated oven for about 15 minutes to crisp up.

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23 thoughts on “Roasted Cauliflower with Cumin, Coriander and Almonds”

  1. I have been loving cauliflower lately. Roasted with an entire head of galric has been my 'guilty' pleasure. But with almonds, YUM!!!! This must be made ASAP.

  2. I've never been a TWD baker for reasons such as you gave, but I do love cauliflower! Roasted, as rice, pureed… so good any way!

  3. This looks so good and the picture is great! I love cauliflower just raw and could eat a whole head of it at once if it wouldn't make me sick to my stomach. So good… I will have to try this!

  4. Too funny! I had the exact same reason to stop baking with the Daring Bakers.

    Too much goodness lying around the house migrated through the lips directly to the hips.

    This cauliflower recipe looks GOOD!

  5. My favorite was to make cauliflower! I buy what is called "dry chutney" at an Indian grocery which sounds like a similar spice mix. It's not quite as hot as the surface of the sun, but…

    I guess what they say about martinis being like women's breasts could also apply to the buttocks- you know- one isn't enough, three is too many.

  6. It seems like a lot of work, his recipe! I dispense with the blanching and pan-frying altogether. Cauliflower onto baking sheet + olive oil + salt + whatever flavoring into 400F oven. Roast as much as you want to… I like it with nice crispy bits. =)

  7. Interesting spice combo, that clever little Jaimie. I'm on the verge of being kicked out of BB, so I better keep my mouth shut about TWD. Thatw as a whole lotta cake and sweet stuff going on up in there, bless their hearts. And cardiologists.

  8. Haha love this post. I definitely understand…I used to have a healthy food blog…until I discovered that baking gets you more hits. And tastes so damn good. And I'm paying for it, but what can you do. There's no turning back (for me).

    This cauliflower looks delicious! Roasted veggies are the best. Great spice combo!

  9. You are too funny. It's hard to step away from the "dark side" lol but I am in the minority who gets excited over healthy recipes. ;-) This looks delicious–I love anything with cumin and coriander.

  10. I love to bake but only do so occassionally 'cuz I'm the only one in my family who eats it! Damn those calories! I just did a 1 month experiment eating vegan, and I am probably the only person in the world who could eat vegan and GAIN weight!

  11. too funny! i can completely relate!! i love making fun new desserts but have no self control which is dangerous! but thankfully veggies come to the rescue…i love cauliflower and the simpler the better. i usually roast or pan sear it & enjoy it with hummus…so satisfying!

  14. Haha, I was part of the group for about 2 months before realizing it was time to quit and start with the cauliflower.

    I like the sounds of this dish – simple and easy to prepare, and delicious!

  18. i've just rediscovered cauliflower…….this looks delicious, will have to try myself!

    merci!
    the paris food blague

  20. Holy Smokes, Batgirl. We both did cauliflower the same week, with vastly different results and coming from very, very different places. I hope you can put that third buttock to good use. I've been using mine as a cocktail table.

  21. I love me some cauliflower. I'll eat it just about in way I find it! I had bloggy friends telling me that I just HAD to join TWD, but I just knew that I would end up with the same problem you've found. Besides, I'm perfectly capable of growing out of my pants on my own! I keep telling myself that someday I'll grown out of them vertically instead of horizontally, but at 26, I guess I should give up that dream. Ah well! Your cauliflower photo is divine!

  23. Cool recipe – I really like c-flower but i feel like it's kind of a boring addition to the plate and rarely inspires much interest…it's just sort of "there" so I like the creativity and color that this recipe has. Definitly interested in trying this one out!

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