Are you in search of a new Middle Eastern recipe to try? Look no further than this mouthwatering roasted cauliflower and tahini salad. With its irresistible combination of flavors and textures, it’s sure to impress your guests and elevate your next meal. Follow the easy steps to recreate it in your kitchen and savor the delicious results!
It was a beautiful morning in Las Vegas. My coworker and I decided to try out a new Middle Eastern restaurant that had just opened up in town. As soon as we walked in, the enticing aroma of spices filled the air, and we knew that we were in for a treat.
We perused the menu, and our eyes immediately gravitated toward the roasted cauliflower and tahini salad. It sounded like the perfect combination of savory and tangy flavors, and we couldn’t resist ordering it.
As we waited for our food, we chatted with the friendly server. He shared stories about their culture and the dishes they loved. Just as our salads arrived, one of the servers accidentally dropped a tray of food. We watched in horror as the dishes shattered on the floor.
The young Middle Eastern guy who had made our roasted cauliflower and tahini salad rushed over to help clean up the mess. We could see the disappointment on his face. So, In an attempt to lift his spirits, we asked him about the salad we had just ordered and how it was made.
To our surprise, he started listing off the ingredients, including the roasted cauliflower, red onion, olive oil, parsley, and the delicious-sounding lemon tahini dressing. In addition, he even shared his recipe for spiced chickpeas, which he said he liked to add for an extra crunch.
We were extremely happy to get this insider information, and we thanked him for his generosity. As we savored each bite of the roasted cauliflower and tahini salad, we marveled at how the roasted cauliflower brought out the nutty flavor of the tahini dressing and the spiced chickpeas added a satisfying crunch to the dish.
We left the restaurant feeling grateful for the unexpected encounter and inspired to try making the dish at home. With the recipe in hand, I gathered all the ingredients, including a fresh head of cauliflower, a red onion, olive oil, parsley, and all the ingredients for the lemon tahini dressing and spiced chickpeas.
I prepped the ingredients, roasted the cauliflower to perfection, mixed the dressing, and combined everything in a large bowl. The result was just as satisfying as we remembered it being at the restaurant.
Here’s how I recreated the roasted cauliflower and tahini salad in my kitchen.
Ingredients:
- 1 cauliflower head
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1/2 piece of red onion
- 1/3 cup of tahini
- 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
- 1/2 bunch of parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon of cumin
- 1/3 cup of water
- 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne
- 1/4 cup of lemon juice
- 1 15-ounce can of chickpeas
- 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
How to create roasted cauliflower and tahini salad?
- To start making this delicious roasted cauliflower and tahini salad, you need to preheat the oven to 400ºF. Once the oven is heated, chop a head of cauliflower into small florets and slice half of a red onion into thin strips of about 1/4 inch. To ensure even cooking, spread the cauliflower and onion strips evenly on a baking sheet. Next, drizzle generously with olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Mix the veggies until they are thoroughly coated and roast them in the oven for about 20 minutes or until they are golden brown, cooked through, and fragrant. Don’t forget to stir them after 20 minutes, then put them back in the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cauliflower is soft and lightly browned.
- While your vegetables are roasting in the oven, it’s time to prepare the delicious lemon and tahini dressing. In a blender, blend tahini, garlic, water, cumin, lemon juice, cayenne, and salt until you get a smooth mixture. Once blended, refrigerate the dressing until you’re ready to use it.
- Next up, it’s time to cook the chickpeas. Begin by draining and rinsing the chickpeas, then add them to a skillet with some olive oil, cayenne, salt, smoked paprika, and pepper. Cook the chickpeas over medium heat for about five minutes or until they become crispy. Once they’re done, remove the chickpeas from the heat.
- While the chickpeas are cooking, it’s time to prepare the parsley. Once the parsley leaves have been removed from their stems, roughly chop them into small pieces. You should aim for 1.5 cups of loosely packed parsley after chopping.
- Now that everything is ready, it’s time to combine all the ingredients to create your delicious roasted cauliflower and tahini salad. In a bowl, combine the roasted cauliflower and onions with spiced chickpeas, then top with chopped parsley. Toss everything together to combine and drizzle with the lemon and tahini dressing. The result is a delicious and hearty salad with layers of flavor and texture. You can serve it warm or cold, making it perfect for any season.
Roasted cauliflower and tahini salad is a fantastic dish to serve on any occasion, whether it’s a family gathering or a potluck with friends. This healthy and delicious salad can be a side dish to grilled meats or a main dish for a light lunch, providing you with a satisfying meal that is bursting with flavors and textures.
Aside from being a salad, this recipe is also versatile enough to be used in other ways. You can use it as a topping for pita bread, a filling for a wrap, or even as a dip for your favorite vegetables. The roasted cauliflower adds a nutty and slightly sweet flavor to the dish, while the spiced chickpeas give it a satisfying crunch. The lemon tahini dressing adds a tangy and creamy element, perfectly balancing out the dish.
Impress your guests with your culinary skills by giving this roasted cauliflower and tahini salad a try! With its combination of flavors and textures, this dish is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. So, don’t hesitate to elevate your next meal to a whole new level with this delicious recipe!
