Grilled Cauliflower Wedges With Herb Tarator

A Middle Eastern-inspired dish featuring grilled cauliflower wedges served with a creamy herb-loaded tarator sauce made with tahini, fresh herbs, and almonds. The cauliflower is seasoned with warm spices and grilled until tender and charred.

4 servings
50 min
Grilled Cauliflower Wedges With Herb Tarator - Delicious recipe from Recipe Notes

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup sliced or slivered almonds
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 cup chopped dill
  • ½ cup mint leaves
  • ½ cup tahini
  • cup fresh lemon juice
  • to taste Kosher salt and pepper
  • 1 head small cauliflower
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ tsp ground coriander
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 1 handful dill
  • 1 handful mint
  • 1 handful parsley
  • 1 handful cilantro
  • 1 handful basil
  • 1 handful chives

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Toast almonds in a dry small skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool. Set aside for serving.

    5 min

  2. 2.

    Blend garlic, dill, mint, tahini, and ⅓ cup water in a blender or food processor until a thick paste forms. Add lemon juice and blend again, adding an additional 1-2 Tbsp. water if sauce is too thick. It should be easily spreadable but not runny. Season with salt and lots of pepper.

    10 min

  3. 3.

    Remove outer leaves and trim stem from cauliflower so it sits flat. Cut cauliflower into 4 wedges.

    5 min

  4. 4.

    Whisk oil, coriander, cumin, turmeric, and a big pinch of salt in a large bowl to combine. Add cauliflower and coat in oil. The cauliflower can fall apart easily, so handle with care and use your fingers to work oil into the uneven surface.

    5 min

  5. 5.

    Prepare a grill for medium-high heat (if using a charcoal grill, bank most of the coals on one side of the grill). Place cauliflower, cut side down, on grate over hottest part of grill and grill, undisturbed, until char marks form, about 3 minutes (you can carefully lift to check, but try not to move too much). Turn over onto other cut side and grill, undisturbed, until grill marks form, about 3 minutes. Turn onto uneven floret side and slide over to cooler part of grill or reduce heat to low and cover with lid. Grill until tender (if a bamboo skewer easily slides through the thickest part, it's done), 10-15 minutes. (And if you don't have a grill, you can do this in a grill pan over high. Once pan is very hot, add cauliflower, reduce heat to medium-high, and cook both cut sides as above. When you turn cauliflower over onto uneven floret side, reduce heat to low and cover pan with foil to finish cooking.)

    20 min

  6. 6.

    To serve, spread some tarator onto individual plates or a platter. Arrange cauliflower wedges on top and dollop remaining tarator over. Scatter mixed tender herbs and almonds on top.

    5 min