Say good-bye to boring and spice up your cauliflower with Za'atar- Enjoy this easy deliciously spiced combination of interesting flavors.
Vegetables are an important part of our diets, and I eat a variety of vegetables everyday to help provide my body with nutrients and help it detox from unavoidable exposure to toxins in food, in the air, in our homes. After a while I need to make the vegetables more interesting.
Here is what I did to spice up and perk up a bland head of cauliflower. (I do love bland cauliflower).
Imagine some snowy white cauliflower florets cooked with freshly grated ginger and half moon sliced onions, seasoned with freshly squeezed lime juice, turmeric, and za'atar. Then before serving I smother the side dish in freshly chopped scallions.The combination of spices creates a highly interesting and tasty side dish that is easy to make and provides lots of healthy nutrients.
Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable that is anti-inflammatory, immune boosting, and contains lots of protective anti-oxidants.
Fresh Ginger is also anti-inflammatory, soothing to the stomach, and loaded with vitamins.
Turmeric is also a great anti-inflammatory.
Lime juice (although acidic) once it hits the system, becomes alkalizing.
Ingredients:
Olive oil or olive oil spray
2 cups of onions, sliced in half moons
2 teaspoons of grated ginger
1/2 cup of vegetable broth, divided
1 medium head of cauliflower, broken into florets
or 1 large bag of frozen cauliflower florets
1/4 cup of lime juice
1/8 teaspoon of ground turmeric (or a couple of shakes)
1 teaspoon of za'atar
1/2 cup of sliced green onion
Directions:
Coat or spray the bottom of a large skillet with olive oil. Add onions and sauté for 3 minutes stirring. Add freshly grated ginger, stir and continue to sauté for another 2 minutes adding 1/4 cup of broth if needed to prevent sticking. Add cauliflower (fresh or frozen), lime juice, 1/4 cup broth, and turmeric. Toss well and continue cooking on a low flame covered until cauliflower is soft (about 5 minutes).
Remove from skillet and pour into a serving bowl. Sprinkle with za'atar and serve and enjoy.
What a great idea!....I will try it for Thanksgiving (I celebrate both the Canadian and American thanksgiving)....I love cauliflower so much that I eat it just boiled with some sea salt and olive oil.....Happy birthday!....you look great in the picture!.......Abrazotes, Marcela
ReplyDeleteYes , it's a simple but flavorful way to perk up cauliflower.
DeleteWe eat a variety of veg every day too. It is nice to use different recipes for variety for sure. Ginger is a favourite here.
ReplyDeleteI am really a fan of freshly grated ginger and it adds such a good flavor to vegetables.
Deletethis sounds perfect for me. i have arthritis, so any anti-inflammatory foods are a plus.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
Yes, cauliflower, ginger, and turmeric are anti-inflammatory I believe.
DeleteSo yummy!!
ReplyDeleteThanks and so glad you stopped by.
DeleteHi Judee, This is a wonderfully colorful and healthy dish. Will pin and reshare on SM. If I add some kind of bean or legume to your dish, I'll have a main course that's simple, high protein and WFPB.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nancy. I certainly appreciate when you pin and reshape my post. I think the idea of adding a protein is a great idea.
DeleteThe turmeric and ginger add such a tasty fun flair to your cauliflower. Yum!
ReplyDeleteYes, I love how turmeric adds a beautiful yellow color and the ginger is so flavorful.
DeleteThis veggie side dish looks healthy and delicious!
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree- Nothing like eating fresh seasonal vegetables with lots of healthy spices.
DeleteZa'atar is my favourite middle eastern spice blend. This looks healthful and tasty!
ReplyDeleteI also like Za'atar. I was introduced to it over 40 years ago when I married my husband and that was way before it became popular and more well known.
DeleteThis sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteThe other day I made falafel, using your recipe. Oh they were so good. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe.
Nil,
DeleteI was so excited to your post of the falafel that you made and I truly appreciated that you linked back to my post for the recipe. Your falafel looked amazing. Glad you enjoyed it!
I do love bland cauliflower too, Judee! Haha... but sprucing it up is always a good idea too. This looks and sounds absolutely delightful, I'd love to give it a go sometimes. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCauliflower is one fo my favorites and I seem to enjoy it steamed with a little salt as well as perked up in a full flavorful recipe.
DeleteThis sounds great! I love putting zaatar in stews and now have to try it in cauliflower.
ReplyDeleteI find the flavors in za'atar lend themselves to lots of recipes, especially vegetables. My husband's favorite way to enjoy za'atar is baked on pita bread.
DeleteWhat a timely post! I've got a head of cauliflower in my fridge right now!
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you try it and like it! It's a healthy and flavorful side.
DeleteCauliflower looks so delicious, Judee!! very similar to how I make cauliflower as a dry curry. But your idea of using broth instead of water to cook the vegetable is awesome, I 've never thought of this, and the zaatar seasoning too is something new to me, I will make it your way and let you know how it turned out, thanks for the recipe!!!
ReplyDeleteAarthi,
DeleteIf you have never tried Za'atar, I think you will really like it. It is made with an oregano base with sesame seeds and other spices.
Vicki,
ReplyDeleteZa'atar is a poplular Middle Eastern blend of spices that has an oregano type of spice as the base along with sesame seeds, sumac and other spices.
I have some Za'atar in the pantry...and I've never pulled it out! I should go find it and make this side dish. We're always hunting for different side dishes to bulk out our dinner plate, and this sounds delicious!
ReplyDelete