Roasted Cauliflower With Tahini-Parsley Sauce

This Middle Eastern sauce goes wonderfully with foods other than roasted cauliflower. It’s traditionally served with falafel and keftes, fish, salads, deep-fried vegetables — or just with pita bread.

Ingredients

• 1 large cauliflower, broken into florets
• Salt to taste
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 to 3 garlic cloves, to taste, cut in half, green shoots removed
• 1 cup sesame tahini
• ¼ to ¾ cup fresh lemon juice, to taste
• 1 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley (2 bunches)

• Nutritional Information

  • Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

    479 calories; 39 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 17 grams monounsaturated fat; 14 grams polyunsaturated fat; 26 grams carbohydrates; 10 grams dietary fiber; 5 grams sugars; 14 grams protein; 140 milligrams sodium

  Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
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Serves four to six, with some sauce left over

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, and fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the cauliflower. Blanch for two minutes, and transfer to the ice water. Drain and blot dry. Transfer to a baking dish.
2. Season the cauliflower with salt and pepper, and toss with the olive oil. Place in the oven, and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring from time to time, until tender and lightly browned.
3. Puree the garlic cloves with 1/4 teaspoon salt in a mortar and pestle. Transfer to a bowl, and whisk in the sesame tahini. Whisk in the lemon juice, beginning with the smaller amount. The mixture will stiffen up. Gradually whisk in up to 1/2 cup water, until the sauce has the consistency of thick cream (or runny yogurt). Stir in the parsley. Taste, and adjust salt and lemon juice. Serve with the cauliflower. You will have some sauce left over.

• Variation: A plain tahini-garlic sauce is made the same way, without the addition of parsley. Advance preparation: The color won’t be as nice, because the acid in the lemon juice will dull the green of the parsley. But the sauce will taste good for three or four days. Keep in the refrigerator. Martha Rose Shulman can be reached at martha-rose-shulman.com.

1 hour