GRILLED CAULIFLOWER WEDGES WITH HERB TARATOR

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Grilled Cauliflower Wedges With Herb Tarator image

Cauliflower's versatility extends all the way to the grill, where it takes on complex flavor and a range of textures. While the exterior becomes burnished and crisp, the interior turns sweet and nutty, offering deep meaty smokiness that can satisfy vegetarians and carnivores. And although a whole grilled cauliflower looks impressive, it is far easier to cut it into wedges to reduce the cook time and to provide more surface area to get charred and caramelized. Pair with an earthy Lebanese-style tarator for an easy weeknight dinner. Tarator is a Middle Eastern tahini sauce that is brightened with a heavy dose of lemon. Eaten throughout Eastern Europe and the Middle East, tarator can either be a cold cucumber soup, a yogurt-based dip, or a sauce. Sometimes walnuts or stale bread are added. I learned this version of tarator from my friend Elham Abi-Ghanem, who is of Lebanese heritage.

Provided by Hetty McKinnon

Categories     Cauliflower     Almond     Garlic     Dill     Mint     Lemon Juice     Coriander     Cumin     Herb     Vegetable     Vegetarian     Grill/Barbecue

Number Of Ingredients 15

Tarator
¼ cup sliced or slivered almonds
2 garlic cloves, finely grated
1 cup chopped dill
½ cup mint leaves
½ cup tahini
⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
Cauliflower and assembly
1 small cauliflower (about 1½ lb.)
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil (for drizzling)
½ tsp. ground coriander
½ tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. turmeric
Handful of tender herbs (such as dill, mint, parsley, cilantro, basil, and/or chives)

Steps:

  • Tarator
  • Toast almonds in a dry small skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool. Set aside for serving.
  • Blend garlic, dill, mint, tahini, and ⅓ cup water in a blender or food processor until a thick paste forms. Add lemon juice and blend again, adding an additional 1-2 Tbsp. water if sauce is too thick. It should be easily spreadable but not runny. Season with salt and lots of pepper.
  • Cauliflower and assembly
  • Remove outer leaves and trim stem from cauliflower so it sits flat. Cut cauliflower into 4 wedges.
  • Whisk oil, coriander, cumin, turmeric, and a big pinch of salt in a large bowl to combine. Add cauliflower and coat in oil. The cauliflower can fall apart easily, so handle with care and use your fingers to work oil into the uneven surface.
  • Prepare a grill for medium-high heat (if using a charcoal grill, bank most of the coals on one side of the grill). Place cauliflower, cut side down, on grate over hottest part of grill and grill, undisturbed, until char marks form, about 3 minutes (you can carefully lift to check, but try not to move too much). Turn over onto other cut side and grill, undisturbed, until grill marks form, about 3 minutes. Turn onto uneven floret side and slide over to cooler part of grill or reduce heat to low and cover with lid. Grill until tender (if a bamboo skewer easily slides through the thickest part, it's done), 10-15 minutes. (And if you don't have a grill, you can do this in a grill pan over high. Once pan is very hot, add cauliflower, reduce heat to medium-high, and cook both cut sides as above. When you turn cauliflower over onto uneven floret side, reduce heat to low and cover pan with foil to finish cooking.)
  • To serve, spread some tarator onto individual plates or a platter. Arrange cauliflower wedges on top and dollop remaining tarator over. Scatter mixed tender herbs and almonds on top.

shahbbir shah
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These wedges are a great way to get your kids to eat more vegetables. My kids love them!


M.d Kawosar
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I've made these wedges several times now and they're always a hit. I love the crispy edges and the tender inside.


Ronald Anderson
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These wedges are perfect for a summer BBQ. They're easy to make and they're always a hit with my guests.


Suwanna Boonnak
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I'm not a huge fan of cauliflower, but I really enjoyed these wedges. They're so flavorful and the sauce is delicious.


MA Informative Videos
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These wedges are a great way to use up leftover cauliflower. I always have a head of cauliflower in my fridge, so this recipe is perfect for me.


Patrica Stephanie Tustin
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I'm always looking for new ways to cook cauliflower, and this recipe is a keeper. It's so simple, but the results are amazing.


Rana Shazad
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These wedges are the perfect healthy snack. They're low in calories and fat, and they're packed with nutrients.


nouella foley
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I'm not sure what I did wrong, but my wedges didn't turn out as crispy as I wanted them to.


Anurag Debnath
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These wedges are so versatile. I've served them as a side dish, a main course, and even an appetizer.


Mendel Joseph
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I love the smoky flavor that the grill gives these wedges.


Sk S
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These wedges were a bit too charred for my liking. I think I'll cook them for less time next time.


Rone Rodrigues
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The herb-tarator sauce is amazing! I could eat it on anything.


md sohel gaji
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I made these cauliflower steak with my kids and they loved them! What a healthy and delicious way to get them to eat vegetables.


Mohan Yare
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These wedges were a little bland for my taste. I think I'll try adding some more spices next time.


Angela Nicholson
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I've made these wedges several times now and they're always a crowd-pleaser. They're so easy to make and they're always a hit.


Ngcwele Vilakazi
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I'm not a huge fan of cauliflower, but these wedges were surprisingly good. The herb-tarator sauce is what really makes them.


Peace Omosaye
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These cauliflower wedges were a hit at my last BBQ! Everyone loved them, even the meat-eaters.