One of my most favorite salads is this exotically spiced salad I learned from Native Foods founder, Chef Tanya, at one of her cooking demos. She opened my world to roasted cauliflower. Because there are lots of sugars in cauliflower, it caramelizes beautifully during the roasting process. But it just gets better with savory-salty bites of olives, sweet dried apricots/currants, and crunchy almonds. Despite this salad's vegan nature, I brought it to a 4th of July Party filled with BBQing meat lovers and it was enthusiastically received. I still can't get over how much I love this salad. It would make a lovely Fall dish because of the cinnamon spiced dressing and roasted flavors. You must make it!
Low and behold below the righteous salad close up!
Moroccan Roasted Cauliflower Salad
Original recipe here
Serves 4
1 Cauliflower
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup chopped Italian parsley
½ cup diced red onion
½ cup pitted olives (I used kalamata)
½ cup dried fruit of choice (currants, raisins, dates, apricots, cranberries...)
1 recipe Moroccan Dressing *
1 cup Roasted Cinnamon Almonds (I used plain ol un-spiced roasted almonds) **
1. Preheat oven to 450°.
2. Cut cauliflower into about 1 ½ inch pieces
3. Toss with olive oil and bake for 30 min.
4. Remove and toss in bowl with parsley, red onion, olives, Moroccan Dressing.
5. Garnish with Roasted Cinnamon Almonds.
Moroccan Dressing:
1/3 cup olive oil
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
3 Tbsp. orange juice
1 tsp. orange zest
½ tsp. finely chopped ginger
½ tsp. paprika
¼ tsp. cumin
¼ tsp. coriander
¼ tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. turmeric
Whisk all together in bowl or shake in jar well.
Whisk all together in bowl or shake in jar well.
*Roasted Cinnamon Almonds
1 cup raw whole almonds
¼ cup warm water
¼ tsp. salt
½ tsp. cinnamon
1. Pre-heat oven to 400°.
2. In small bowl dissolve salt in warm water and whisk in cinnamon.
3. Toss in almonds, place on baking tray and bake for about 7 minutes.
19 comments:
Sounds superb Anna, I love everything Moroccan.
I am sure I would love this salad. My children don't even want to hear the word "cauliflower" :)
Ohh yes, I MUST make this indeed. And I MUST add some quinoa to it too! ;)
OMG, perfecet timing! I've been looking for a cauliflower salad! Def need to try this, sans olives of course :)
Thanks Anna! Chef Tanya is doing Halloween cooking demos in October...you need to come :)
This looks divine and quite healthy. Love the ingredients used to marry everything together.
Okay, now you've really hit home Anna! You've highlighted a Moroccan inspired dish which is my absolute favourite kind of food....next to Japanese. I really love Moroccan flavours! This cauliflower dish looks fantastic. Bonus: My husband doesn't like cauliflower so more for me :) Must try this out soon. Yum!
elra - Me too! Now I'm curious about more Moroccan restaurants/ recipes. hmmmm
Ivy - Hah, maybe you should call it "cotton candy" ? ;P
Diana - This is such a TALF salad, and I wouldn't expect anything but a quinoa twist from you.
Stuffycheaks - No olives?! Noooo! One of these days you will turn!
Hungry Girls -I would love to, but I am in Portland now! Any demos up here :) ;P
Peter - Thanks Peter!
Helen - Oh hahaa seriously we are related. My parents were about to name me Helen (after my yiayia) but there were already too many Helen's in the family and Athena was "too Greek" for my Californian mom. I hope you make this Helen - I think you'll love it, since I know I do and you love cauliflower. I can't wait to hear back from you about it!
Yes, this is a must! I miss Native Foods so much. What I would give for some of her iced tea in the middle of summertime. Mmm...
Roasted cauliflower is the best! Love your post and I must try your salad.
Nicolette - YES! You would truly love this salad then. Native Foods is awesome! I love their cardamon rose cupcakes. mmmm
Mary - Roasted cauli is magical indeed!
This looks great - I love the idea of the almonds and all those spices. I often make Sicilian cauliflower salad. This is a great alternative. Thanks.
It looks delicious. I really like cauliflower, but only when its filled with spices and flavors like your salad.
Hi Anna,
Very nice! :) I was just looking for ideas for some Salads at home. And it's so healthy. Thanks! :)
I'm sort of obsessed with roasted cauliflower. Love everything in this salad.
How do they say 'this is the bomb' in Morocco? Just made it last night and it was awesome! Love the citrus flavors and how it all comes together. It's a beauty too. I've only plain roasted with olive oil/salt and also curry/red onion/garbanzos, and now I'm definitely going to put this one in my rotation. Thanks, Anna!
Foodalogue - I'm curious about your Sicilian salad! Is it on your blog?
Indie Tea - That dressing is pure wonderfulness with the cinnamon! I think it would go great on other things as well.
Esi - I am with you!
Lydia - YAY!!!!I'm so happy you made it and loved it! Woot! That orange zest is really a must, huh?
Exile Kiss - Thank you! I hope you make this - let me know what you think!
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