Vegan cauliflower with tahini and lemon dressing

Vegan cauliflower with tahini and lemon dressing: oven-roasted cauliflower with tahini, lemon, garlic and fresh herbs. Creamy, spiced and easy for every day.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 10 min
• Cooking time: 30 min
• Total time: 40 min
• Calories: 210 kcal per serving
• Protein: 7 g
• Fat: 16 g
• Carbs: 11 g

Ingredients

• 1 crushed garlic clove
• 1 cauliflower
• Juice of an unwaxed lemon
• 2-3 tbsp ice-cold water
• Coarse sea salt
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 3 heaped tbsp pure tahini
• Parsley or coriander
• 1 tsp cumin

Method

You’ll need: oven · baking tray · chopping board · knife

1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C (180 °C fan) and get a baking tray ready. Trim the cauliflower and cut it into thick steaks, using the loose florets too.
2. Spread the cauliflower out on the tray, drizzle with olive oil and season with coarse sea salt and cumin.
3. Roast the cauliflower at 200 °C for 25–30 min, until the edges are golden brown and the inside is tender. Check in between so the steaks don't get too dark.
4. Meanwhile, stir the tahini with the lemon juice and crushed garlic. The mixture firms up at first, then turns creamy as you gradually add the ice-cold water.
5. Season the dressing and roughly chop the herbs. Parsley is the classic choice, coriander a little fresher and bolder.
6. Arrange the roasted cauliflower, drizzle with the tahini and lemon dressing and serve with fresh herbs.

Good to know

So simple, and still really good. The cauliflower turns golden brown in the oven, and the dressing brings freshness and creaminess to the plate.

Swaps

Tahini → white almond butter (milder flavour, provides vitamin E). Parsley → coriander (a different flavour profile, also with plant micronutrients). Olive oil → avocado oil (heat-stable, provides monounsaturated fatty acids). Cumin → za'atar (spicy and herby, often with extra herbs and sesame).

Allergens

Contains sesame, so it isn't suitable if you have a sesame allergy. Season it mildly for children; during pregnancy, the ingredients are generally fine with good kitchen hygiene and thoroughly cooked cauliflower.

Frequently asked questions

What's in cauliflower nutritionally?

Cauliflower contains vitamin C, folate, potassium and fibre. Roasted, it tastes mild and slightly nutty, although some of the heat-sensitive vitamin C is lost.

Which minerals does tahini contain?

Tahini provides calcium, magnesium, iron and copper, plus unsaturated fatty acids. How much of them it contains also depends on the rest of the recipe and on how the sesame is processed.

Is the lemon juice just for flavour?

No, lemon juice also brings vitamin C. The amount in a dressing like this is worthwhile, but it's no nutrient miracle with big promises.

How does garlic sit with a sensitive digestion?

Garlic contains sulphur-containing plant compounds, but it doesn't agree with everyone. Especially with a sensitive gut or irritable bowel syndrome, it can make symptoms worse.

What does cumin provide besides flavour?

Cumin contains small amounts of essential oils and plant compounds, as well as some iron. It gives the cauliflower a warm, earthy note.

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