Middle Eastern Crunch Turmeric Pickled Cauliflower Food

MIDDLE EASTERN CRUNCH: TURMERIC PICKLED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients except for the cauliflower in a large stockpot and bring to a boil.
• Add cauliflower and bring back to a boil.
• Remove from heat and allow to come to room temperature.
• Keep covered in its liquid in refrigerator.

PICKLED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Wash the cauliflowers and break them into flowerettes.
• Scald, cool, and peel the onions.
• Mix the vegetables with the salt, add just enough water to cover, and let stand about 18 hours.
• Drain, rinse in cold water, and drain again.
• Dissolve the sugar in the vinegar, add the seeds and hot pepper and bring to a boil.
• Add the vegetables and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are barely tender.
• Pack the vegetables into hot jars, fill the jars with the boiling-hot liquid and seal.

MEXICAN-STYLE PICKLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Pack onion, fresno and carrots into a 1-qt. heatproof jar or a nonreactive container. Toast peppercorn and allspice berries in a dry large saucepan over medium heat, tossing constantly, until just fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add vinegar, sugar, salt and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar and salt. Remove from heat and stir in bay leaf, oregano, lemon zest, lemon juice, and garlic. Let cool slightly, then pour brine over onion, fresno and carrots to submerge. Seal jar and chill at least 3 hours before serving. The flavor will mellow as it sits.
• Do Ahead: Vegetables can be pickled 3 weeks ahead. Keep chilled.

MAKLOUBEH - CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Saute onion and meat together in butter.
• Add salt and spices. Add broth or water and cover. Let meat simmer over moderate heat until tender.
• Break cauliflower into medium size florets. Sprinkle with salt. Fry in deep, hot oil until dark brown, the darker the better. When it looks almost burnt to me, I know its right. Drain on paper towels.
• Add cauliflower on top of meat. Add uncooked rice on top of cauliflower. Make sure that all are covered by broth. Add more if necessary to cover.
• Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer for 40 minutes, or until rice is tender and broth/water is absorbed.
• Traditionally, this dish is allowed to cool for 30 minutes and then the pot is turned upside down in a large platter. It is then garnished with pine nuts and served with plain yogurt. I just dish it from the pot because my family can't wait 30 minutes now that the whole house smells so yummy.

EM SHAAT (MIDDLE EASTERN CAULIFLOWER FRITTERS)

Steps:

• Boil cauliflower until tender but not mushy.
• Once cauliflower is done drain, put in a large bowl.
• Separate the floret, keep it somewhat chunky. So cut it into half or fourths.
• Meanwhile chop garlic and hot pepper together in a mortar or food processor well.
• Add hot pepper,garlic,chopped parsley,1 beaten egg,flour,milk, and salt to taste.
• Batter should be thin, a tiny bit thinner than pancake batter.
• If batter is too thick, add a bit water. If batter is too thin, add more flour.
• Mix well together with a spoon.
• Meanwhile let oil get hot enough to fry.
• You can make the fritters large or small.
• Add mixture to oil with a tablespoon.
• Two tablespoon full of mixture will make a large fritter.
• Let fry until golden.
• Squeeze lemon on top (optional).
• Enjoy!