Cauliflower roast

Cauliflower is a staple in my household as it can be used for a wide range of dishes. A few family favourites are cauliflower Manchurian, cauliflower curry and cauliflower fry. Recently I wanted to try something different and after several attempts, I am pleased to share this new recipe with you! A key ingredient I had used was homemade pepper. Whole pepper when roasted and ground imparts a wonderful flavour. Do try this at home and let me know what you think!

Ingredients

1 cup=250 ml

Cauliflower florets*, 350g

For the batter:

Cornflour, 2 tbs
Plain flour, 2 tbs
Rice powder, 1/2 tbs

Turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp

Chilli powder,1 tsp

Ginger garlic paste, 1 tsp

Salt, 1/2 tsp

Oil, for frying

For the dry roast:
Sunflower or canola oil, 2 ½  tbs

Mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp
Fennel seeds, 1/2 tsp
Ginger garlic (finely chopped), 1 tsp each

Onion (thinly sliced), 1 ¼ cup
Green chilli, 2 nos.
Curry leaves, a few

Turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp
Crushed pepper powder, 1/2  tsp
Salt, to taste

Note: Ensure that all your florets are of roughly the same size. Trim off the stems as necessary. 

Preparation

• Blanch the florets in boiling water with salt and a little turmeric powder for 2 minutes. 
• Mix all the batter ingredients with a sufficient amount of water to make a thick paste.
• Add the florets and mix to coat well. Set aside for twenty minutes.
• Heat oil and deep fry the cauliflower in three or four batches. Transfer to a bowl lined with kitchen towels to remove excess oil.
• For roasting, heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. Once it pops, lower the flame and add fennel seeds; and sauté for few seconds.
• Add ginger garlic and sauté for a few seconds or until aromatic.
• Add onion, green chili, curry leaves, and sauté for two minutes over medium flame until onion turns translucent.
• Add a little salt and mix.
• Add pepper powder, turmeric powder, and sauté for a few seconds.
• Add cauliflower and sauté for five minutes.
• Check salt.
• Add a few more curry leaves and sauté.
• Switch off the flame and transfer to a bowl.

Your yummy cauliflower roast is ready. Enjoy with plain rice, vegetable fried rice, ghee rice, or chappati.

Please share and comment. Thank you :)