I recently wrote about the foods that I miss from my childhood home, Maui.  I decided not to mention an entire genre of delicious hippy cuisine, served up at potlucks, vegetarian and/ or vegan restaurants and health food store lunch counters.  This food is a gleeful mash up of vegetarian food from all over the world (but mostly Asia).  I’m talking about “samosas”  made with rice paper wrappers and baked instead of fried, Macaroni and Cheese with Hijiki Seaweed, and Pad Thai made with equal parts rice noodles and carrots cut into thin ribbons.

I decided not to include this kind of food, because I can certainly find delicious health food and the ingredients to make it on the mainland.  For example, there is no good reason to pine after Cauliflower Roasted with Curry and Cashew Butter, since it is so easy to make.  You’ll want to be sure to use a really delicious curry powder.  I like Vadouvan (a French/Indian curry powder that includes shallots and garlic) or Madras (spicy!) curry powder, but the stuff sold in any grocery store will work just fine as long as it has not been losing its flavour in the back of your spice cabinet for a few years.

CAULIFLOWER ROASTED WITH CURRY AND CASHEW BUTTER

• 1 large cauliflower, trimmed and slice into 1/2 inch pieces
• flaky salt to tasty
• 1/4 cup mild oil, divided in half
• 1/4 cup cashew butter
• 1/4 cup curry (I like Vadouvan or Madras)
• 3/4 cup chopped toasted cashews
• 1/4 cup fresh minced cilantro

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
2. In a large baking sheet, toss the sliced cauliflower with 2 Tablespoons of mild oil.  Arrange the cauliflower in a single layer and sprinkle with flaky salt.
3. Roast for 20 minutes, then turn the pieces and roast for another 15 minutes.
4. While the cauliflower is roasting, combine the remaining 2 Tablespoons of oil, the cashew butter and a tablespoon or so of the curry powder in a small bowl.  Whisk with a fork until it is smooth and then set it aside.
5. When the cauliflower has started to brown on the edges and is just starting to get tender, toss in the rest of the curry and the chopped cashews.  Drizzle the cauliflower  with the cashew butter mixture and roast it all for another 5 minutes.
6. Serve hot, garnished with chopped cilantro.  Leftovers make a nice room temperature lunch.

MORE CAULIFLOWER FOR YOU…

Whole Brined and Roasted Cauliflower with Romesco Sauce https://bigsislittledish.wordpress.com/2014/10/11/whole-roasted-cauliflower-with-romanesco-sauce-romanesco-sauce-with-everything/

Roasted Cauliflower with Dukkah https://bigsislittledish.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/roasted-cauliflower-salad-with-dukkah/

Roasted Cauliflower with Hazelnuts and Pickled Celeryhttps://bigsislittledish.wordpress.com/2012/12/07/roasted-cauliflower-with-hazelnuts-and-pickled-celery/

Cauliflower with lemon, Cumin and Sumac https://bigsislittledish.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/at-last-cauliflower-with-lemon-cumin-and-sumac/

Cauliflower Gratin with Horseradish https://bigsislittledish.wordpress.com/2013/03/15/cauliflower-gratin-with-horseradish-and-poppy-seeds/

Roasted Cauliflower with Gremolita Bread Crumbs (Gluten-Free) https://bigsislittledish.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/roasted-cauliflower-with-gremolata-bread-crumbs-gluten-free/

Cauliflower Fried in Aromatic Spices https://bigsislittledish.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/cauliflower-fried-with-aromatic-spices/

Pan Fried Cauliflower Kofta in Tomato Gravy https://bigsislittledish.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/cauliflower-kofta-in-creamy-tomato-gravy-pan-fried-instead-of-deep-fried/

Roasted Cauliflower and Caramelized Onion Tart (Gluten-Free) https://bigsislittledish.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/roasted-cauliflower-and-caramelized-onion-tart-gluten-free/