4.15.2010

Surprise Flowers and Cold Cauliflower Curry with Green Peas

We've had the most scrumptiously warm weather this week! No jackets needed, scarves removed by noon, short sleeves and breeze-catching dresses the order of the day for my afternoon walk.

On the last  few minutes of my walk today I rounded a corner and came face to face with a pert little miss riding her bicycle, blond hair mussed in the wind, training wheels clattering as she braked to a halt. "Hello!" she called cheerily. "Do you want to come get some purple flowers from my mom?" Grinning I said "I'd love to but I have to get back to work right now." Without a seconds hesitation, she thrust out a drooping cluster of white flowers she had clenched in her fist, and bestowed them on me. I thanked her profusely for her gift and she bid me farewell. As I turned to walk back to work she shouted in delight, "That's MY path! I'll go with you!" So she pedaled like mad to stay a bit ahead of me, stopping now and then to smile back at me until we parted ways at the corner. She totally made my day. :-)


With this gorgeous spring weather, I knew I wanted food that was nourishing, tasty and cold. I found just such a thing in this marvy Cauliflower Curry with Green Peas. Originally intended to be served piping hot over rice, I chilled mine and found it just as yummy, cool and delicious on a warm afternoon.




Very easy to make, this curry does call for some unique spices like ground mango powder and asafetida. I didn't have the mango powder, so I used ground pomegranate powder instead and it worked just dandy. :-)


Served hot or cold over Bhutanese red rice or some other whole grain rice, this dish is made even better with a sprinkling of zesty goat cheese.


Cold Cauliflower Curry with Green Peas
(Adapted from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp toasted ground cumin
1/4 tsp asafetida
1/4 cup peeled and grated ginger
4 tsp toasted ground coriander
1/2 tsp cayenne
1 tsp turmeric
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 large cauliflower cut into bite sized pieces, including the stems
Salt
1/2 pound sugar snap peas, strings removed (I didn't have these so I used frozen peas, thawed)
2 tsp green mango powder (I didn't have this so I used ground pomegranate powder)
1 tsp garam masala

Directions:
  1. In a white pot heat the oil over medium high heat. Add cumin and asafetida and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. 
  2. Add the ginger, coriander, cayenne and turmeric and cook for 30 seconds more. 
  3. Add the onion, lower the heat and cook until limp, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. 
  4. Add cauliflower and 1 1/2 tsp salt. Mix everything together.
  5. Pour in 1/2 cup water, cover pot and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
  6. Add peas and cook for a few minutes more, until they're bright green. 
  7. Add mango/pomegranate powder and garam masala, stir together, taste for salt, and serve.

10 comments:

  1. We make this at our house too! Somehow it just hits the spot and my husband can whip it up with his eyes closed! I'm still stuck at your cinnamon mocha tart. Life just can't go on until I try this myself at home!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, that's great, Paradis! I tried it for the first time this week and it's already "comfort food" for me. :-) I have four slices of the tart left and I'm eeking them out slowly. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ground mango powder that great. Wonderful dish. I love the way you present your food. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is right up my alley. I get made fun of a lot for preferring to eat hot Thai food and Chinese food. It just tastes better room temperature or cold.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks, Lazaro! I can't wait to get the real deal soon and try it out. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think so too, Deanna! The heat distracts from the flavors somehow. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. That little sweetie sounds adorable! Would have made my day as well.

    This curry looks delicious! I would love a big bowl. You have been going to town on that deborah madison cookbook! Further proof that I need to buy it...

    ReplyDelete
  8. She was a doll, Joanne. :-) Cheered my day right up!

    I AM going to town on that book! I really love it. Everything I've tried has been awesome. I'm trying to add lots of veggies into my diet, and she makes them taste so darn good! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. You choose to make the most creative recipes and your photos are some of the best, I have seen, anywhere.

    Visiting your blog is like walking in a beautiful garden.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh Chaya, you have cheered my heart so much tonight. :-) I'm so glad you like visiting here, so happy you find it peaceful and beautiful. :-)

    ReplyDelete