Curried Cauliflower. The Best Vegetable.

I was a well fed child with well fed friends.  All thanks to my beautiful, smart, and kind mother.  That woman sure knows how to serve a meal. If you were to come to our house, the first words out of her mouth would probably be, 'Are you hungry?' or 'What can i make you?' (Since I started modeling she also asks me, IF i'm still eating, Thanks mom.)

My mother, Neeta, making Chicken Curry and Chipatis for dinner. Oh, i love her. She's going to hate me for posting this picture. 

My mother is Indian, which makes me half Indian (my father is Canadian). For some reason, I seem to have received very little of my mother's Indian-looking genes. Whatever. I have my mother’s Indian taste buds and I enjoy my garlic, spices, and curry. Nom nom nom! 

our 'GAP' inspired family pictures. Styling: Maya and I. Photos: Chelsi Clarke Photography 

Anyway, just outside my agency in Beverly Hills, CA there is a small cafe serving coffee, mouth watering baked goods, and lunch. I had a long drive ahead of me down to OC and decided to pick up some grub. Just as i walked in i saw a steaming plate of, 'something' walk through the kitchen door. I didn't care what it was, it looked good, i wanted it. The man at the counter told me it was 'Curried Cauliflower' and filled my entire to-go container with it. I walked out to my car and took a bite, it was mind numbingly good, my entire Indian childhood in a box. Shoot, i don't have enough of this; I had to make my own soon, so soon. 

Here is my own tasty rendition of 'Curried Cauliflower.' Put it on salads, serve it with fish/chicken/shrimp. This is the BEST way to eat a vegetable. 

Take out all of your ingredients + Balsamic and Red Wine Vinegar (i so forgetfully-forgot).

Chop up the Cauliflower into small pieces. 

slice an onion in half and slice into half moons. 

Combine, oil, vinegars, spices, and tomato paste in a bowl and whisk. 

Pour over the onions and cauliflower. 

Pour onto a pan and coat the veggies with the dressing and place into a 400 degree oven for 45 Minutes. 

Take out your cilantro

Cut off the stems and chop. 

Remove the Cauliflower from the oven. 

Add the chopped Cilantro and stir.

Spoon into a bowl and serve. Make sure you get all the little black bits from the pan... thats what makes this dish nom nom nom, good. 

Curried Cauliflower

1 head of cauliflower

1 yellow onion

1/3 cup olive oil

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar (i used pomegranate infused but it doesn't matter) 

2 tsp tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

2 heaping teaspoons curry powder (Garam Masala if you have it)

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 cup cilantro leaves (more or less depending how much you love the stuff)

Preheat oven to 400' F. 

Place Cauliflower florets and onion in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, vinegars, tomato paste, curry powder, red pepper flakes, and salt. Pour dressing over vegetables, toss to coat. (If your bowl isn't big enough just pour onto baking sheet and toss there). Spread veggies into a single layer on a sheet pan. 

Roast veggies until tender. Stir occasionally. About 45 minutes. 

Mix in cilantro and Serve. 

Serves 4 (heaping servings) Calories: 178