Coconut Curried Cauliflower Recipes

CAULIFLOWER AND COCONUT CURRY

Steps:

• Place lentils in a pan and cover with 2 cups cold water. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes until thick and creamy. Cover and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat 1/4 cup oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, add cauliflower and half the cumin seeds and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add remaining 2 tbsp oil and cumin seeds to hot pan, then, as soon as seeds start to sizzle, add onion. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until onion is soft but not browned.
• Add ginger, garlic and chilli, and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in ground coriander, ground cumin, turmeric, curry powder, coconut milk, cauliflower and tomato, then simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until cauliflower is just tender.
• Stir lentils and lime juice into the curry and season to taste with salt. Simmer for a further 2-3 minutes, then stir in coriander. Remove from heat.
• For the tarka, heat oil in a small frypan over medium heat, add spices and sizzle for a few seconds. Drizzle over the curry, cover and leave for 5 minutes for the flavours to infuse before serving.

CAULIFLOWER, CASHEW, PEA AND COCONUT CURRY

Steps:

• Place the ginger, garlic and green chile in a mortar and pestle with a pinch of salt. Mash until a paste forms and set aside. Alternately, finely chop the ginger, garlic and green chile together, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, then mash into a coarse paste using the flat portion of your chef's knife.
• In a large skillet with a lid, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium. Cook the onions until golden, about 10 minutes. Add the ginger paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato paste, coriander, cumin, chile powder and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt. Stir in the cauliflower and coconut milk and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the cauliflower is tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a small skillet over medium. Fry the cashews, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
• Add the peas and garam masala to the cauliflower mixture and cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
• Top the curry with the cashews, cilantro and a squeeze of lemon just before serving. Serve with a big steaming bowl of basmati rice.

COCONUT CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Coat the bottom of a thick bottomed skillet with vegetable oil.
• When hot, add the cauliflower florets and fry them until brown, taking care not to burn them.
• Pour in the coconut milk and stir in the curry paste until well integrated.
• Simmer gently until the coconut milk is thick and creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Just before serving add the cilantro and salt to taste.
• Note: I recommend freezing any extra curry paste you might have left over; it seems to keep almost indefinitely.

CURRIED COCONUT QUINOA AND GREENS WITH ROASTED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Roast the cauliflower: Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Toss the cauliflower florets with coconut oil, cayenne pepper and a light sprinkle of sea salt. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes on the middle rack, turning halfway, until the cauliflower is tender and golden on the edges.
• Cook the quinoa: In a large pot with a lid, warm the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it is turning translucent, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add the ginger, turmeric, curry powder and cardamom and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the coconut milk, water, rinsed quinoa and raisins. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes, then remove the pot from the heat and let it rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
• Fluff the quinoa with a fork. Stir in the salt, vinegar and greens (if you intend to eat this dish as leftovers, I recommend storing leafy greens separate from the quinoa, as the greens don't reheat well). Divide the quinoa into bowls and top with roasted cauliflower. Garnish with green onions and red pepper flakes if you'd like.