INGREDIENTS

4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons canola oil or extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground peppercorns
1 medium red onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 large or 2 small heads cauliflowers, cut into florets (about 3½ pounds)
1 small red potato, peeled and chopped
1 pound spinach, washed and tough stems removed
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons kosher salt
8 cups water

DIRECTIONS

Place the butter, oil, rosemary, thyme, and ground peppercorns in a large pot, and heat over medium-high until the butter is melted and the rosemary is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, and cook until they are soft, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Add the cauliflower and potato, and cook for 3 minutes. Add the spinach, milk, salt, and water, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook until the cauliflower easily mashes against the side of the pot, about 30 minutes.

Transfer some of the soup to a blender (don’t fill blender more than two-thirds full), cover, and pulse to release some heat. Blend the soup until it is completely smooth, and pour it into a clean pot. Repeat with the remaining soup. Bring the soup back to a boil, taste for seasoning, and serve.

© Recipe Property of Suvir Saran

INGREDIENTS

About 2 quarts corn or canola oil, for frying
3 eggs
²⁄₃ cup cornstarch
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 large or 2 small heads cauliflower, trimmed and cut into florets
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 cup ketchup
Cayenne pepper to taste
Cooked white rice, for serving (optional)
Steamed greens, for serving (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Put at least 2 inches of oil into a deep-sided, heavy bottomed pot and bring to 350°F on a candy thermometer. (In a bind, put a pinch of flour into the pot; at 350°F it will sizzle but won’t burn). In a bowl large enough to accommodate the cauliflower, whisk together the eggs and cornstarch. Season with a large pinch of salt and pepper and add the cauliflower. Toss to coat the florets evenly.

Fry the cauliflower in batches, so as not to crowd the pan, making sure that the oil is hot each time you add fresh florets. Cook until the cauliflower begins to mottle, about 4 minutes, then transfer to paper towels to drain. Now take a tablespoon of the hot oil from the frying pot, and place it in a large pan over medium heat, swirling to coat the pan. Add the garlic, and fry until fragrant; then add the ketchup, stirring occasionally, until it begins to bubble and caramelize around the edges. Add cayenne pinch by pinch to taste and then the cauliflower. Toss until hot and coated. Serve with white rice and steamed greens, if desired.

© Recipe Property of Suvir Saran

INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon nigella seeds (optional)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
Rounded ¼ teaspoon coriander seeds
A 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
1½ pounds red boiling potatoes, peeled, halved, and sliced lengthwise about ½ inch thick
1 small to medium head cauliflower, cored and cut into medium florets
¹⁄₈ teaspoon ground cumin
¹⁄₈ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 fresh hot green chile, chopped
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS

Combine the oil, nigella, if using, cumin, and coriander seeds in a large wok, kadai, or frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until the cumin turns golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the ginger and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the potatoes and stir well to coat with the spices. Then cover and cook until the potatoes have browned some and have begun to soften and stick to the bottom of the pan, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir three or four times during this time and check the cooking. If the potatoes brown too quickly, turn the heat down. If they aren’t browning at all, raise the heat.

Add the cauliflower, ground cumin, cayenne, and fresh chile and stir to coat the cauliflower with the spices. Then cover and cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan three of four times during cooking, until the potatoes are well browned, about 10 minutes.

Sprinkle the vegetables with salt, cover, and continue cooking until the cauliflower is nicely browned and the vegetables are tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir the vegetables every 3 to 4 minutes and check the cooking; if they begin to stick badly and burn, add a teaspoon of water and scrape with a spatula to loosen the spcies and crispy bits from the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with the chopped cilantro and serve hot.

© Recipe Property of Suvir Saran

INGREDIENTS

1 medium leek, white and pale green only, sliced thin
1 large Spanish onion, peeled and sliced thin
2 sticks unsalted butter
¼ cup white wine
1 head cauliflower, trimmed, core removed and chopped (5 florets reserved and thinly sliced for garnish)
Kosher salt
½ oz. best quality American paddlefish roe
Best quality extra virgin olive oil
Maldon sea salt

DIRECTIONS

In a 10 quart pot over medium low heat, cook onions and leeks in ½ stick of butter slowly, stirring regularly.
They should not take on any color. After 10 minutes, add wine, and cook until completely reduced. Add ½ cup water, and continue cooking. Should take ½ hour total.

Once the onions and leeks are cooked, add the cauliflower, cover with water, and season with salt. Raise heat to high, and bring to a boil. Once it’s come up, drop to a low simmer, and cover loosly. Cook until cauliflower is very soft, about 30 minutes.

Fill the bowl of a blender about half way with the cooked cauliflower mixture, and blend very well. While the blender is running, add ¼ stick butter, and incorporate. Strain pureed cauliflower through a fine mesh strainer into a pot, or bowl. Continue with remaining cauliflower. Add water to thin mixture as necessary in the blender, and then to desired consistency for the soup. Adjust seasoning.

To serve, brown sliced florets in olive oil on medium high heat. Ladle soup into shallow bowls, top with roasted cauliflower, and a dollop of caviar. Drizzle with best quality extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkle with Maldon sea salt.

Recipe Property of Gabe McMackin

These are Moroccan inspired latkes with a tangy mint sauce adds interest and an exotic twist.

INGREDIENTS

For Latkes

1 small head of cauliflower, washed and grated
1 medium yellow onion, grated
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon honey
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Vegetable oil

For Preserved Lemons and Mint Marmalade

1 cup preserved lemons, chopped fine (2 whole lemons chopped with peels and all is okay is well)
1 cup sugar in the raw
1 cup water
½ cup fresh mint, chopped

PREPARATION

In a large mixing bowl, combine grated cauliflower, onion, parsley, ginger, honey, zest and juice of lemon, eggs, flour, cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, salt, and pepper, mix well. Heat a large heavy bottom skillet over high heat, making sure there is enough oil to cover the bottom generously. Form 2-inch pancakes, drop into pan, and brown on both sides until deep golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Take off heat, and place on paper towels so excess oil can be drained.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine lemons, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer for approximately 10 minutes uncovered. Take off heat when it reaches desired consistency, and add mint. Serve warm over latkes.

INGREDIENTS

Olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
1 medium yellow onion, chopped fine
2 cups yellow or brown lentils
2 cups vegetable stock
¼ cup fresh rosemary leaves
¼ cup fresh thyme leaves
3 medium gold beets, peeled and chopped into 1-inch cubes
2 cups cauliflower florets
Salt and pepper

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 350°F

In a medium sauce pan, add olive and sauté garlic and onions until translucent, or about 5 minutes.  Add lentils, stock, herbs, beets and cauliflower and season with salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil and cook for about 15 minutes.  Place in pre-heated oven uncovered for about 30 minutes or until lentils, beets and cauliflower are tender.