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Indian Butter Cauliflower

A creamy, spicy dish featuring cauliflower in a rich buttery sauce, perfect for a meatless meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Vegetarian
Cuisine: Indian
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cauliflower
  • 1 pound bite-sized cauliflower florets
  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1.5 teaspoons cumin
  • 0.5 teaspoon coriander
  • 3.5 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 1 unit shallot, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1.5 teaspoons minced ginger
  • 1.5 teaspoons garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon chile powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 28 ounce can tomato puree
  • 2/3 cup heavy cream or plain yogurt
  • to taste Salt and pepper
  • for garnish Chopped cilantro

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Place cauliflower pieces in a mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Add 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon coriander, salt, and cracked black pepper; toss until well coated.
Searing Cauliflower
  1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 1/2 tablespoons butter and sear the cauliflower for 3-4 minutes until golden. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
Making the Sauce
  1. In the same skillet, add the remaining butter, shallot, garlic, and ginger; sauté for 3-4 minutes.
  2. Add the remaining spices (cumin, coriander, garam masala, chile powder, and smoked paprika) and sauté for another 3-4 minutes.
  3. Stir in tomato puree and lightly season with salt and pepper; simmer for 5 minutes.
  4. Return the cauliflower to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until softened.
  5. Stir in cream or yogurt and simmer for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce is thick and creamy. Adjust seasonings as necessary.
Serving
  1. Top with chopped cilantro and serve over cilantro-basmati rice, with a side of grilled pita bread.

Notes

For a bit more heat, you can increase the amount of chile powder according to your taste. To save time, you can use pre-cut cauliflower florets. Don’t skip the step of searing the cauliflower; it adds a nice golden color and enhances the flavor.