Written by Jared Kent
Audited by Admin
🔍 79+ Products Analyzed
★ 18k Reviews Evaluated
This Middle Eastern-inspired paleo recipe uses cauliflower, a staple paleo ingredient, to create a delicious entre. A rub of harissa, a Middle Eastern paste of chili peppers and spices, gives the whole-roasted cauliflower a smoky, spicy flavor and a beautiful mahogany crust.
Tahini, which is ground sesame paste, is another great paleo ingredient as its minimally processed and adds a healthy dose of protein and fat to recipes. In this recipe, its used to make a tangy, nutty lemon tahini sauce.
Finally, a fresh cucumber salad with red onions, fresh mint and pistachio adds a bright, crunchy finish to this delicious paleo dish.
Paleo Harissa-Roasted Cauliflower with Lemon Tahini and Cucumber Salad
Rubbed with harissa, roasted whole, and served with protein-rich tahini, this paleo cauliflower is a delicious, satisfying entre.
Ingredients
- For the Whole Roasted Cauliflower:
- 1 medium head of cauliflower (rinsed)
- 3 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
- 1 red bell pepper (seeded and diced)
- 2 fresno chile peppers or red jalapenos (seeded and diced (keep the seeds in if you like spicier foods))
- 6 cloves garlic (whole)
- of a red onion (diced)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 4 tablespoons red wine or apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons whole coriander seeds
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground paprika
- cup olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- For the Cucumber Salad:
- 1 English cucumber (sliced into thin half moons)
- of a red onion (thinly sliced)
- 1 tablespoon red wine or apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- cup fresh mint (roughly chopped)
- cup pistachios or other nut
- salt and pepper to taste
- For the Lemon Tahini:
- cup tahini
- zest and juice of 1 lemon
- cup water
Directions
For the Harissa-Roasted Cauliflower:
- Preheat the oven to 400F and bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Begin making the harissa paste by heating the canola oil over medium-high heat. Add the bell peppers, chili peppers, garlic and onion to the pan.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, just until the vegetables start to get soft. Add the tomato paste, vinegar, cumin, coriander and paprika to the pan. Turn up the heat to high and cook for two more minutes, stirring constantly, just until most of the vinegar cooks out.
- Transfer the contents of the pan to a blender or food processor, add the olive oil to the blender and blend until a smooth paste forms. Remove the harissa paste from the blender and set aside.
- Cut the very bottom leafy end off the head of cauliflower, just enough so that it can sit flat. Once the water comes to a boil, put the cauliflower into the pot and boil for 4-5 minutes, just until soft. If you stick a small knife into the cauliflower, it should come out with no resistance. Strain out the water and place the cauliflower on a sheet pan.
- Use a brush to liberally slather the harissa paste all over the outside of the cauliflower. Make sure to get underneath any remaining leaves. The paste should be on in a thick, even layer. If you have some paste left over, you can serve it with the completed dish later.
- Place the cauliflower in the oven and roast for 10-15 minutes, just until the outside starts to darken. Turn the oven up to broil and broil for 2-3 minutes, just until the paste on the outside has a slight char. Remove the cauliflower from the oven and keep warm until ready to serve.
- Slice the cooked cauliflower into large chunks, serve with a healthy drizzle of the tahini sauce and the cucumber salad on the side.
For the Lemon Tahini Sauce:
- Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl and season to taste. It should be just slightly runny; add more water if needed. Serve with the harissa-roasted cauliflower and cucumber salad.
For the Cucumber Salad:
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and season to taste. Keep chilled until ready to serve. Serve with harissa-roasted cauliflower and tahini sauce.
View More in:
Why Trust Us?
Meet Our Kitchen Experts
At TableMatters.com, we’re committed to providing reliable, research-backed expert cooking tips and honest cookware reviews you can trust. Our content is created by trained chefs, experienced food writers and kitchen equipment experts who test recipes, compare tools and analyze ingredients with real-world accuracy.
Whether you’re searching for reliable vegetarian meal ideas, step-by-step cooking guides or detailed product comparisons, TableMatters.com provides expert-driven, easy-to-follow content designed to help every home cook cook smarter, eat healthier and enjoy better results.
