CAULIFLOWER SHAWARMA WITH SPICY TAHINI

Cauliflower Shawarma With Spicy Tahini image

Provided by Melissa Clark

Time 45m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/4 teaspoons sweet paprika
3/4 teaspoon fine sea or table salt, plus more as needed
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch of ground cayenne
1 large head cauliflower (about 2 1/2 pounds), trimmed and cut into bite-size florets
1 large red onion, cut into 1/4-inch wedges
Pita or flatbread, for serving
1/4 cup coarsely chopped parsley, plus more for serving
Chopped tomato, cucumber and olives, for serving
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
1 to 2 teaspoons harissa paste or other hot sauce, or a large pinch of Urfa or Aleppo pepper, plus more to taste
1 fat garlic clove, finely grated, passed through a press or minced
1/4 teaspoon fine sea or table salt
1/3 cup tahini
1/3 cup ice water, plus more as needed

Steps:

Arrange racks in the upper and lower thirds of your oven. Heat oven to 425 degrees.
Prepare the cauliflower: In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, cumin, paprika, salt, coriander, turmeric, black pepper and cayenne. Add cauliflower and onion, and toss until well coated. Spread mixture in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.
Roast vegetables on the top oven rack until they are golden brown, slightly crisp and tender, 30 to 40 minutes, stirring once or twice. If the vegetables look dry as they roast, drizzle with a little more olive oil.
As they cook, prepare the tahini sauce: Whisk together lemon juice, 1 teaspoon harissa, garlic and salt in a small bowl, and let sit for a minute or two to mellow the garlic. Whisk in tahini. Whisk in ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is smooth and thin enough to drizzle. You may not need all of the water or you may need to add a little more: Tahini brands vary a lot. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more harissa, lemon juice and salt if you like. The sauce should taste zippy and creamy.
Warm the pitas or flatbread by placing them directly on the bottom oven rack during the last 5 minutes as the vegetables roast. (Or you can warm the bread on another baking pan if that's easier for you.)
Scatter parsley on top of the roasted vegetables and serve with warm pitas, tahini sauce, chopped tomato, cucumber and olives.