Fried Cauliflower With Lemon Tahini Sauce Food

TAHINI CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cauliflower and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower is tender and golden in spots, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the tahini, yogurt, pomegranate molasses, cumin, cayenne, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a small bowl.
• Transfer the cauliflower and garlic to a medium bowl and set aside. Wipe out the skillet and set over low heat.
• Add the tahini mixture and 1/3 cup water to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until smooth and warm, about 3 minutes. Add the cauliflower and garlic and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving platter.
• Combine the sesame seeds and za'atar in a small bowl. Top the cauliflower with the chopped parsley and sesame seed mixture.

FRIED CAULIFLOWER WITH TAHINI SAUCE

Steps:

• *** TO PREPARE THE CAULIFLOWER ***.
• Place a large pot with 8 cups water and the salt over high heat. Cover and bring to a rolling boil. Meanwhile, remove all the leaves from around the stem of the cauliflower. Cut the florets off the central stem into 2- 3-inch pieces, keeping them consistent in size.
• Place the florets in the boiling water. Return the water to a rolling boil and cook uncovered, stirring a couple of times, for 5 minutes. Drain, then evenly spread the florets over a flat tray and cool for 30 minutes uncovered. The steamed florets must cool prior to frying or they will fall apart.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat to 375°, using a candy/fry thermometer for accuracy. The oil should be about 1 1/2" deep. Fry 4 to 5 florets at a time until golden brown and the edges are crispy. Remove them with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined dish. Make sure the temperature of the oil remains at 375° so that the florets fry evenly. Fry the remaining pieces of cauliflower. If you prefer, you can serve the cauliflower steamed.
• *** TO PREPARE THE TAHINI SAUCE ***.
• In a small bowl, mash the garlic and salt to a pulp using a pestle. Add the tahini, lemon juice and water. Whisk until smooth and creamy; the consistency will be like pancake batter.
• Use a spoon to mix in the parsley. Cover and refrigerate until needed. Tahini sauce may thicken once refrigerated. Thin it with lemon juice or water.
• TO SERVE *** Place the tahini sauce in a small bowl in the center of the platter. Arrange the warm or room-temperature cauliflower around the tahini.

FRIED WHOLE CAULIFLOWER WITH CREAMY LEMON DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon zest and juice, parsley and a large pinch of salt and pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Refrigerate while you fry the cauliflower.
• Fill a large, deep stockpot halfway with oil and heat to 375 degrees F over medium-high heat. Set a cooling rack over a baking sheet.
• Gently lower the cauliflower into the hot oil with a large spider or large slotted spoon. This might splatter so be very careful once the cauliflower is in the oil. The cauliflower might not be fully submerged, but that is okay. Cook until the cauliflower is golden brown and you can easily insert a paring knife into one of the florets, 5 to 7 minutes, carefully flipping the cauliflower halfway through the cooking time.
• Lift the cauliflower out of the hot oil using the large spider or slotted spoon and transfer to the cooling rack. Season liberally with salt. Allow the excess oil to drip away before putting the cauliflower onto a large serving platter. Serve alongside the creamy lemon sauce.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH TAHINI-PARSLEY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, and fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the cauliflower. Blanch for two minutes, and transfer to the ice water. Drain and blot dry. Transfer to a baking dish.
• Season the cauliflower with salt and pepper, and toss with the olive oil. Place in the oven, and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring from time to time, until tender and lightly browned.
• Puree the garlic cloves with 1/4 teaspoon salt in a mortar and pestle. Transfer to a bowl, and whisk in the sesame tahini. Whisk in the lemon juice, beginning with the smaller amount. The mixture will stiffen up. Gradually whisk in up to 1/2 cup water, until the sauce has the consistency of thick cream (or runny yogurt). Stir in the parsley. Taste, and adjust salt and lemon juice. Serve with the cauliflower. You will have some sauce left over.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER IN LEMON-TAHINI SAUCE

Steps:

• Place oven rack in top position. Preheat oven to 425°F
• Toss cauliflower with 2 teaspoons olive oil, and season with salt.
• Spread on large cookie sheet, and bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until cauliflower is fork-tender and slightly browned.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil in small saucepan over medium heat. Sauté garlic in oil 1 to 2 minutes, or until fragrant.
• Stir in tahini, lemon juice, 5 Tbs. water and salt. Simmer over low heat 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Divide cauliflower among plates. Whisk sauce, then spoon over cauliflower.
• Sprinkle with parsley and sesame seeds, and serve.