roasted cauliflower in cast iron pan on table
Photography, Stacey Brandford

Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Garlic Yogurt Sauce

This vegetarian main is a lot of things: Middle Eastern-ish, easy to make and pretty darn gorgeous.

This roasted cauliflower main is elegant enough to serve to friends and family yet simple enough to keep you out of the kitchen. Mostly, though, it’s really delicious. Serve it family-style in all its glory with some flatbread tucked in alongside, or, if you prefer, cut into four dramatic wedges to serve individually and pile each with a quarter of the toppings.

With the hot roasted flavours of cumin and turmeric and the delightful textures of toasted almonds and sesame seeds, there’s nothing better than a cooling and smooth accompaniment to balance the flavours.

two plates with cauliflower, flatbread and garlic sauce with fork

Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Pickled Onions and Garlic Yogurt Sauce

Course Main Course
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 2 Medjool dates pitted
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 cloves garlic finely grated
  • tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp ground allspice
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • ¼ tsp ground turmeric
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 large head cauliflower stem trimmed and leaves removed

Pickled Onion & Garlicky Yogurt

  • ½ medium red onion thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp kosher salt divided
  • 1 cup Liberté Greek 5% Extra Creamy Yogourt
  • 1 clove garlic finely grated

To Serve

  • flatbread
  • 1 –2 green finger chilies serrano, or jalapeno, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup toasted almonds coarsely chopped
  • ½ cup crumbled feta
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
  • 2 cups loosely packed cilantro leaves

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 450°F.
  • In small bowl, soak dates in ½ cup hot water for 15 minutes; drain. Chop dates and using side of chef’s knife, work into a paste. Scrape into a bowl; stir in butter, garlic, salt, allspice, cumin, turmeric and cinnamon.
  • In a large skillet, place cauliflower stem-side down; spread butter mixture overtop, covering florets. Roast until lightly charred and fork-tender, about 50 to 60 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, gather the accompaniments. In a small bowl, combine onion, lemon juice and ¼ tsp of the salt. Let stand. In another bowl, stir together yogourt, garlic and the remaining ¼ tsp salt; set aside.
  • To serve, warm flatbread. Top cauliflower with onion mixture, green chilies, almonds, feta and sesame seeds.
  • Arrange flatbread and cilantro around cauliflower and serve with garlicky yogourt.

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