Sicilian Cauliflower Salad Recipes

ITALIAN CAULIFLOWER SALAD

Steps:

• Chop the cauliflower into bite-sized pieces and place in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of water, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave for 3 minutes or until as tender as you'd like. Drain the liquid from the bowl.
• Slice the grape tomatoes in half. Chop the spinach into small pieces. Cut the pepperoni and salami slices in half.
• Add the tomatoes, spinach, pepperoni, salami, mozzarella, onion, and pepperoncini to the bowl with the cauliflower.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, oregano, basil, rosemary, and garlic until well combined. Taste and add additional lemon, herbs, or salt as desired.
• Pour the dressing over the cauliflower salad and toss to coat.
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld before serving.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER SALAD WITH SAFFRON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Arrange the cauliflower on a large, rimmed baking sheet in a single layer.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and cook, stirring, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add the raisins and stir until plump, about 30 seconds. Transfer the nut mixture to a large bowl.
• Add the saffron to the skillet with the vinegar and 2 tablespoons of water. Increase the heat to medium-high and simmer until the liquid reduces down to about a tablespoon. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil. Add 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook for 30 seconds. Drizzle the oil mixture all over the cauliflower and toss to coat. Roast until just tender and browned in spots, about 15 minutes.
• Stir the parsley and dill into the bowl with the nuts and raisins. Add the cauliflower, season with salt and pepper and toss together. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SEARED RED SNAPPER WITH SICILIAN CAULIFLOWER & PARSLEY SALAD

Steps:

• Coat a large saucepan with olive oil, add the onions, and bring to medium heat. Add a generous pinch of salt and the red pepper. Cook until the onions are soft and aromatic, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and 3/4 cup water; season with salt. Bring the mixture to a boil (BTB), reduce to a simmer (RTS), and cook for 20 to 30 minutes. Taste it and make sure it's delicious.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt; it should taste like the ocean. Add the cauliflower, let the water come back to a rolling boil, and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes, or until it's really soft and almost falling apart.
• Strain the cauliflower and add it to the tomato mixture. Cook everything for 20 to 30 minutes more, or until the cauliflower has completely broken up and the sauce clings to it. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Stir in the lemon zest, olives, and caperberries; remove from the heat and reserve. (This can all totally be done ahead of time, and while it's really great when made to order, this dish actually gets better when made ahead.)
• FOR THE FISH AND SALAD
• Take the fish out of the fridge 10 to 15 minutes before you're ready to cook. Pat the skin dry with a paper towel and season on both sides with salt.
• Coat a large sauté pan generously with olive oil and bring it to high heat, almost smoking. Coat the UNDERNEATH of another smaller sauté pan with olive oil. Place the fish fillets skin side down in the larger sauté pan and gently place the other sauté pan directly on top of the fish. The purpose of this is to gently press the skin of the fish onto the bottom of the larger pan to create a lovely, even, crispy skin. (The first thing fish skin wants to do is stick to the pan, and the first thing cooks want to do is move it. Resist the urge; it will unstick itself when it's ready. This is where patience comes in-if you try to move it before it's ready, the fish skin will win every time.)
• After a couple minutes, remove the top sauté pan to allow the steam to escape and the skin to get really crispy. As the fish cooks it turns from translucent to opaque-the idea is to cook the fish two-thirds of the way on the skin side and then flip it over for the last third of the cooking time. The rule for fish is 7 to 8 minutes per inch of thickness, a little less if you like your fish on the rare side.
• Reheat the cauliflower mixture if necessary. In a medium bowl, toss the parsley with the lemon juice, some salt, and a drizzle of finishing oil. Serve the fish nestled in a mound of the cauliflower and garnish with the parsley salad.
• IS YOUR FISH FRESH? Perform the Necessary Freshness Checks
• Some of these rules apply only to whole fish, but if you're buying fillets, the smell and the impression tests still work. Whether it's whole or a fillet, you want a piece of fish that looks healthy and fresh!
• Smell it. If it smells like what it is, you don't want it. Fish should smell like the ocean or nothing at all.
• Make an impression. Gently press with your finger somewhere on the body of the fish; if it springs back, it's perfect. If you leave an impression, leave that fish alone.
• The eyes should be clear and bulging. If the eyes are sunken and cloudy, leave it at the store.
• The gills should be red and moist. If they're beige and slimy-ick, yuck, gross.
• The fins and tail should be moist and pliable. If they're dry and brittle, walk away.

SICILIAN CAULIFLOWER SALAD

Steps:

• Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. Drop in the cauliflower florets and 2 tablespoons of the salt; cook until tender-crisp, about 3 minutes, then drain and shock in ice water; drain again.
• Place the cauliflower florets in a bowl. Add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt, the vinegar, olive oil, pepper, olives, capers, gherkins, parsley, and anchovies, and set aside to marinate, tossing once in a while, for 1 hour to 6 hours at room temperature.
• Sprinkle with the hard-boiled eggs and enjoy. Serves 6.

SICILIAN CAULIFLOWER AND BLACK OLIVE GRATIN

Steps:

• Break up the cauliflower into small florets while you bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water generously and drop in the cauliflower. Boil 5 minutes while you fill a bowl with ice and water. Transfer the cauliflower to the ice water, let sit for a couple of minutes, then drain and place on paper towels.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish or gratin dish. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 3 minutes, and add a pinch of salt and the garlic. Cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds, until fragrant and translucent. Remove from the heat and stir in the olives.
• Place the cauliflower in the baking dish and add the onion and olive mixture, the remaining olive oil, the parsley and half the cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir together well. Spread out in the dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cheese is nicely browned. Serve hot or warm.