C a u l i f l o w e r i n a cast-i r o n pot is a winner

You wouldn't think the lowly Cauliflower would shine in a recipe but in this one it does and more. The chef shows his masterpiece in this recipe and I did my best to make it.
I made the Vadouvan (Indian Spice Blend)seasoning package by myself instead of hunting it down in some Indian restaurants close by. It came out better then expected and even my wife liked it although not as much as I (see prefers the plain veg).
The seasoning with the vegetable is addictive and I kept eating the rest (with my hot dog meal) until I finished all of it after my wife took some bites.
The raw Cauliflower with the sauce is great. However if you prefer, steam the Cauliflower before eating. Better ?
I wonder what other dishes go with Vadouvan?

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I N G R E D I E N T S

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" 2 t a b l e s p o o n s e x t r a - v i r g i n o l i v e o i l
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" 2 t a b l e s p o o n s v a d o u v a n ( f r o m w w w . l e - s a n c t u a i r e . c o m )
right below this recipe
" 1 t e a s p o o n I t a l i a n p a r s l e y
" D a y - o l d b r e a d f o r t o a s t i n g
" F i n e s e a s a l t t o t a s t e

R e c i p e c o n t i n u e s b e l o w !ì a d v e r t i s e m e n t

D I R E C T I O N S

S t e a l T h i s R e c i p e Æ S t e p b y S t e p I n s t r u c t i o n s :
S l i c e t h e c a u l i f l o w e r a b o u t 1 / 8 o f a n i n c h t h i c k . S e a s o n 1 a n d º o f c a u l i f l o w e r w i t h o l i v e o i l a n d s e a s a l t t o t a s t e . R o a s t i n a 3 5 0 - d e g r e e o v e n u n t i l s l i g h t l y c h a r r e d a n d t e n d e r .

S t a r t t h e b u t t e r i n a c o l d s a u c e p o t a n d p l a c e o n m e d i u m h e a t . A l l o w t h e b u t t e r t o m e l t , b e c o m e f o a m y a n d t u r n g o l d e n b r o w n .
R e m o v e t h e b r o w n b u t t e r f r o m h e a t a n d a d d t h e v a d o u v a n .
L e t t h e v a d o u v a n a n d b u t t e r s i t f o r a n h o u r .

A d d a l l b u t 1 / 4 o f t h e r e m a i n i n g r a w c a u l i f l o w e r t o a s a u c e p o t .
A d d t h e m i l k a n d j u s t e n o u g h w a t e r t o c o v e r c a u l i f l o w e r .
A d d a t e a s p o o n o f s e a s a l t a n d c o o k o n
l o w - m e d i u m h e a t u n t i l c a u l i f l o w e r i s
c o m p l e t e l y s o f t .
P u r e e t h i s m i x t u r e a n d s t r a i n t h r o u g h a f i n e s i e v e .

S l i c e t h e d a y - o l d b r e a d a s t h i c k a s y o u w a n t a n d b r u s h l i g h t l y w i t h t h e v a d o u v a n b u t t e r .
B a k e i n a 3 5 0 - d e g r e e o v e n f o r a b o u t 5 - 6 m i n u t e s . ( A t t h i s t i m e c o r r e c t y o u r s e a s o n i n g o n t h e r o a s t e d a n d p u r e e d c a u l i f l o w e r . )

S e a s o n t h e r e m a i n i n g r a w c a u l i f l o w e r w i t h a
t o u c h o f t h e v a d o u v a n , p a r s l e y a n d s e a s a l t .

O n t o p , a d d t h e r a w c a u l i f l o w e r a n d t h e d i s h i s r e a d y t o s e r v e w i t h t h e t o a s t e d b r e a d .
T I P S

T o c r e a t e f o u r i n d i v i d u a l s e r v i n g s , h a v e 4 s m a l l s e r v i n g p o t s , s u c h a s m i n i c a s t - i r o n p o t s . L a y e r t h e r o a s t e d a n d p u r e e d c a u l i f l o w e r a n d t h e n t h e v a d o u v a n b u t t e r c o n t i n u o u s l y u n t i l t h e p o t i s f i l l e d
**

Vadouvan (Indian Spice Blend)
Makes about 3 cups

* Active time:45 min
* Start to finish:3 hr

September 2008
There are many versions of vadouvan, but we like the one that Grimes came up with, starting with a formula by chef Inaki Aizpitarte, of Le Chateaubriand, and roasting it for an exotic meatiness. Make one big batch and keep it in the freezer for weeks—we’re sure you’ll be tossing it into all kinds of dishes.

Learn the story behind this dish in our series The Recipe.
http://www.gourmet.com/food/2008/08/the-recipe-fricassee-hen-with-vadouvan

* 2 lb onions, cut into 1-inch pieces
* 1 lb shallots, halved
* 12 garlic cloves, peeled
* 1/4 cup vegetable oil
* 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
* 1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh curry leaves (optional)
* 1 tablespoon ground cumin
* 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
* 1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
* 3/4 teaspoon turmeric
* 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
* 1/2 teaspoon hot red-pepper flakes
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

*
Equipment:
an electric coffee/spice grinder or a mortar and pestle

*
Preheat oven to 350ºF with rack in middle.
*
Pulse onions in 3 batches in a food processor until very coarsely chopped (there may be a few large pieces remaining), transferring to a bowl. Repeat with shallots, then garlic.
*
Heat oil in a deep 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over high heat until it shimmers, then sauté onions, shallots, and garlic (stir often) until golden and browned in spots, 25 to 30 minutes.
*
Grind fenugreek seeds in grinder or with mortar and pestle. Add to onion mixture along with remaining ingredients, 1 Tbsp salt, and 1 tsp pepper and stir until combined.
*
Transfer to a parchment-paper-lined large 4-sided sheet pan and spread as thinly and evenly as possible. Bake, stirring occasionally with a skewer to separate onions, until well browned and barely moist, 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

Cooks’ notes:

* Vadouvan keeps in the refrigerator 1 month (cool before covering) or in the freezer 6 months.
* We’ve also got a web-exclusive recipe using the leftover