Anjum Anand’s Tandoori cauliflower

Serves: 8

Know your nutrients

Calories

279 -

Fat

19.2g -

Saturates

7.6g -

Sugars

9g -

Salt

0.23g -

Protein

9.9g -

Carbs

17.2g -

Fibre

3.3g -

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The tandoor oven cooks some of the most flavourful dishes in India, but is often skewed towards meat eaters. One of the few concessions to the large vegetarian population is tandoori cauliflower. I have to say, I love cauliflower, and this recipe gives it that extra edge. It is now a go-to appetizer for when I have friends round and don’t want to serve meat or fish. It doesn’t need a chutney or anything else.

Anjum Anand’s Tandoori cauliflower Recipe: Veggie

Ingredients
Method

Ingredients:

For the cauliflower

900g cauliflower (around 1 small one)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 tbsp chickpea flour

60g cashew nuts

3 small garlic cloves

20g finely grated root ginger (peeled weight)

3 tbsp vegetable oil, plus more for the oven rack

400g plain yoghurt

1⁄8–1⁄4 tsp chilli powder, or to taste

Paprika, for colour, if you like

1 tsp carom seeds

3 tsp garam masala

3 tsp ground cumin

To serve

Large handful of chopped coriander

2 small tomatoes, deseeded and chopped

3⁄4 tsp chaat masala, or to taste

1 small Indian green finger chilli, finely chopped, or to taste

200g crème fraîche

method:

Cut the cauliflower into large 7.5cm florets. Bring a pot of water to the boil, add 1 tsp salt and the cauliflower. When it returns to the boil, cook for one minute, then drain.
Dry-roast the chickpea flour in a frying pan, stirring very often, until it has darkened by a couple of shades and smells roasted. Take it off the heat.
Place the cashews, garlic, ginger, oil and half the yoghurt in a measuring jug or blender and blend until smooth. Stir in the remaining yoghurt, spices, a little more salt and the chickpea flour. It should taste good, so adjust the salt if necessary. Place in a large bowl, add the cauliflower and leave for 20 minutes or so, if you have some time.
Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/gas 6. Line the base of the oven with foil, then oil an oven rack and place it in the middle of the oven. Once hot, place the cauliflower florets on the oiled rack and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until charred in areas and cooked through (the stalk should be tender when pierced with the point of a knife).
Meanwhile, mix together the coriander, tomatoes, chaat masala and chilli, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Spread the crème fraiche in a swirl over a serving platter. Spoon on just over half of the tomato mix. Place the cauliflower evenly over the crème fraîche, spoon over the rest of the tomato mix and serve.

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