Harissa Cauliflower Traybake Recipes

HARISSA CAULIFLOWER TRAYBAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/gas 7.
• Click off and discard only the tatty outer leaves from the cauliflower, then cut it into quarters. Quarter the peppers and halve the tomatoes, removing and discarding the seeds. Break the unpeeled garlic bulb into cloves. Mix it all in a large sturdy roasting tray with 2 tablespoons each of olive oil and red wine vinegar, the harissa, a pinch of sea salt and black pepper and a good splash of water.
• Cover the tray tightly with tin foil, put it on a medium heat on the hob, and when it starts to sizzle, transfer it to the oven for 40 minutes.
• Get the tray out of the oven, remove the foil, tilt the tray and spoon all the delicious juices into a little jug for later. Return the tray to the oven for 20 minutes, to get golden.
• Place the couscous in a bowl, add a pinch of salt and pepper, then just cover with boiling kettle water, and cover.
• Pick most of the mint leaves into a blender, blitz with 6 tablespoons of yoghurt until smooth, then ripple it back through the remaining yoghurt.
• Fluff up the couscous. Warm the reserved juices. Squeeze the soft garlic out of the skin. Serve it all together, sprinkled with mint leaves.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER SALAD WITH HARISSA CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 (220 C) degrees.
• Spread the cauliflower out on a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons of the oil, ½ teaspoon salt and the cumin seeds. Roast 25 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender and golden. Add the chickpeas and roast an additional 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon oil in medium (8-10-inch) sauté pan. Add the onions and a pinch of salt. Cover the pan and cook over medium-low heat until the onions are very soft, 10-12 minutes. Stir in the garlic and harissa along with 2-3 tablespoons water and stir until blended and saucy. Pour over the cauliflower on the sheet pan.
• Tear the parsley and cilantro into rough pieces and toss them over the chickpeas. Squeeze the lemon over, add the feta and gently mix together.
• Transfer to a serving bowl and serve.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH HARISSA & CHICKPEA SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the marinade by combining all the ingredients with 1½ tsp sea salt in a mixing bowl and stirring until well combined. Remove any leaves from the cauliflower and slice them lengthways. Put the cauliflower leaf slices in a bowl with a pinch of salt. Set aside for later.
• Cut the cauliflower into thick slices about 1½cm-2cm thick - don't worry if some of the florets break off, it's all being roasted. Oil a large roasting tray and tip in the cauliflower slices and florets. Pour over the marinade and stir to coat, then cover with foil and marinate for at least 2 hrs, but you could leave it in the fridge all day or overnight if you wanted.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roast the cauliflower covered with foil for 40-45 mins. Meanwhile, make the sauce. Heat the olive oil with the cumin seeds in a heavy-bottomed frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and fry, stirring, for 8-10 mins until starting to caramelise. Tip in the chopped tomatoes and some seasoning. Turn the heat up slightly and cook, continuing to stir, for 6-8 mins until reduced, then add in the garlic, harissa and butter, and stir to combine. Blitz in a food processor until smooth, then pour back into the pan, add the chickpeas and cauliflower leaves, and warm through for a minute or two.
• Remove the foil from the cauliflower and return the tray to the oven for 10 mins to caramelise. Stir the tahini and olive oil into the yogurt in a bowl and season. Once the cauliflower is ready, divide the warm sauce between plates, then top with the cauliflower slices and tahini yogurt. Scatter over the almonds. Serve with a well-dressed salad of crunchy leaves.

HARISSA CAULIFLOWER PILAF

Steps:

• Wash the rice really well, then leave to soak in cold water for 1 hr. Put the onion in a small bowl and toss with the lemon juice, the sugar and a pinch of salt. Leave to pickle while you make the pilaf.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Whisk 2 tbsp harissa, the garlic and oil in a large bowl, then add the cauliflower and toss to coat in the sauce. Season, then tip into a roasting tin and roast for 30 mins until tender and golden.
• Meanwhile, mix the saffron, bay leaves, stock and 2 tbsp harissa in a pan over a very low heat to keep warm while the cauli roasts.
• Remove the cauli from the oven, tip into a dish and squeeze over the juice from one of the lemon wedges. Drain the rice and tip into the roasting tin. Pour over the infused stock, and mix well. Stir in the sultanas, half the almonds, the dill, chickpeas, and half the cauliflower. Cover the tin with a double layer of foil, sealing well, then bake for 30 mins until the rice is tender and stock is absorbed.
• Fluff up the rice with a fork, then fold in the remaining cauliflower (this creates a contrast of cauli textures). Scatter over the extra dill, the remaining almonds, the pomegranate seeds, if using, the pickled red onions and remaining lemon wedges to squeeze over.

HARISSA CHICKEN TRAYBAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4.
• Deseed the peppers and tear into big chunks, peel and quarter the onions and break apart into petals, then place it all in a 30cm x 40cm roasting tray.
• Use a large sharp knife to carefully cut down the back of the chicken, so you can open it out flat, then score the legs. Add to the tray with the harissa, and a little sea salt, black pepper and red wine vinegar. Toss well, making sure you get into all the nooks and crannies of the chicken.
• Sit the chicken flat on top of the veg, skin side up, and roast it all for 50 minutes, or until gnarly and cooked through. Pick over the mint leaves before dishing up.

HARISSA-ROASTED CAULIFLOWER STEAKS

Steps:

• To make the harissa, place all the ingredients into a food processor with a pinch of salt and blend, or use a pestle and mortar to grind until smooth.
• Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
• Rub the garlic cloves over the cauliflower steaks, then rub a teaspoon of the harissa you made and a pinch of salt over each steak, ensuring the entire steak is covered. Drizzle 1 teaspoon of the olive oil over a baking tray. Place the cauliflower on the baking tray and bake for 20 minutes. Turn over and bake for another 15 minutes (or 20-23 minutes if you like a slightly crispier texture).
• Oil another baking tray. Wash the reserved leaves and remove any tough stalks. Put the leaves in a bowl along with 1 teaspoon of harissa and ¼ teaspoon of salt then rub the leaves to coat them in harissa. Place on the baking tray. Bake for 15 minutes, or until crisp.
• To serve, divide the hummus between two plates and top with the cauliflower steaks. Add the crispy leaves around the plate and finish with a sprinkling of toasted pine nuts and a drizzle of harissa.

MOROCCAN HARISSA ROAST CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Tear open the New Mexico and guajillo chiles and discard the seeds and stems. (You may leave the seeds in if you prefer a spicy harissa.) Tear the chiles into large pieces and place them in a medium bowl. Pour 2 cups boiling water over the chiles and let stand until softened, about 20 minutes.
• Put the coriander and cumin seeds in a small skillet and cook, swirling often, over medium heat, until the seeds are fragrant and lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the spices to a blender and add the oil, garlic, lemon juice and 2 teaspoons kosher salt, then puree until smooth. Using tongs, add the chiles to the blender along with 1/2 cup of their soaking liquid (discard the rest) and puree until very smooth, about 2 minutes on high. Season the harissa with pepper and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower with 3/4 cup of the harissa until each floret is evenly coated. Spread the cauliflower onto a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with a little more vegetable oil. Roast, tossing halfway through, until the cauliflower is tender and the harissa has begun to caramelize, about 40 minutes.
• Transfer the cauliflower to a serving platter and sprinkle with the cilantro. Serve with the remaining 1/4 cup harissa on the side for dipping.