Cauliflower Curry

Article first published as Cauliflower Curry on Blogcritics.

If there's a cuisine I wish I could cook more often in my kitchen, it would be Indian. I love the depth of flavors this cuisine has and it seems the right combination of spices and proper ratios is a skill I need to work on. When my friend Sara brought this Cauliflower Curry to the recent potluck playdate I hosted, it was a wonderful addition to the table. I'm usually not a fan of cauliflower but this dish makes me want to eat cauliflower more! The blend of spices is spot on and it's a flavorful vegetarian dish that holds it own...

Like most Indian cooks, measuring ingredients isn't usually done. Cooking is more about the senses and how things taste, look and feel versus the scientific approach of measuring. However the following recipe captures the tastes perfectly! This is a good introduction to Indian cuisine if you're looking to dabble a bit...

Cauliflower Curry
recipe adapted from Food

1/3 cup water
1 small cauliflower, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 sweet onion, chopped fine (8-10 oz)
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 (15 ounce) cans chickpeas, drained
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can fire roasted tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
kosher salt
cilantro, for serving
plain yogurt, for serving

Place cauliflower with 2 tablespoons water in a microwave safe bowl; microwave, at full power, 5 minutes; drain.

Heat a skillet over medium high heat with 1 tablespoon oil; cook onions until they being to turn golden, 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add garlic, ginger, and cumin; cook 30 seconds.

Add another tablespoon of oil; toss in cauliflower, stirring until light brown, about 3 minutes more.Stir in tomatoes, chickpeas, turmeric, cayenne, and 1/3 cup water.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 4 minutes; season with salt.

Serve garnished with cilantro and a dollop of yogurt.