PAN-ROASTED SPICED CAULIFLOWER WITH PEAS

Pan-Roasted Spiced Cauliflower With Peas image

This dish is inspired by a trip to Curry Hill, a neighborhood in New York dotted with stores selling saris, Indian restaurants, Pakistani cafes and hole-in-the-wall spice shops. When I got home from my shopping spree, a cauliflower was screaming for Indian spices, garlic and ginger. Better still, I knew I could knock together a pan-roasted meal in about 20 minutes.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories dinner, easy, quick, weekday, main course, side dish

Time 20m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

3 tablespoons ghee, clarified butter or vegetable oil
1 small cauliflower about 1 1/2 pounds, cored, in 1/2-inch slices
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
2 teaspoons grated fresh turmeric or 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 to 3 makrut lime leaves (optional)
1 (1-inch) piece of ginger, peeled and slivered or finely grated
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 serrano chiles, finely chopped, or to taste
1 pound fresh English peas, shucked about 1 cup or frozen peas, or 1/2 pound snow peas or sugar snap peas, trimmed
2 to 3 scallions, slivered
Cilantro sprigs, for garnish
Lime wedges, for serving

Steps:

Heat a large sauté pan or cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Add the ghee or oil, and when it is hot, add the cauliflower. Stir until the cauliflower begins to color, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Continue stirring until the cauliflower is half-cooked, about 5 minutes, lowering the heat if necessary to keep it from browning too quickly.
Add the cumin, mustard seeds, turmeric and makrut lime leaves, if using. When they begin to sizzle, add the ginger, garlic and chilies. Stir well and add the peas, along with a sprinkle of salt. Cover to let the peas steam until tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with the slivered scallions and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 113, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 11 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 327 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams