St Sidwell's Community Centre

Dal and tandoori style cauliflower

Have a go at making tarka dal and tandoori style cauliflower by following the video below. Download the recipe here or view it below the video.

Tarka Dal and Tandoori style Cauliflower

Serves 4

Tarka Dal
Ingredients

Dal
180g yellow split chana dal
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
4 garlic cloves crushed
1 thumb ginger crushed
1.2 litres water

Tarka
3 tbsp ghee or veg oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 dried red chilli
3 garlic cloves chopped or crushed
1 small onion finely chopped
1- 2 medium tomato diced
1/2 tsp mild chilli powder
70 grams spinach roughly chopped
Pinch of sugar
Salt to taste

Method
  • In a large saucepan add the water, lentils, garlic and ginger. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 50 minutes until the lentils are very soft and creamy looking.
  • To make the tarka, heat the oil in a frying pan on a medium flame and add the cumin seeds and dried chillis, fry for a few seconds until they sizzle.
  • Now add the onions and garlic and fry, stirring well, for 5 minutes.
  • Add the tomato and let it cook down to become a sauce.
  • Add the chilli powder.
  • Once the dal is ready add the tarka to the dal and cook together for 5 minutes.
  • Finish with salt, sugar and spinach and if the dal is thick add a little hot water to loosen.

Serve with marinated cauliflower (see below) and, if you have used it, extra ghee on top

Tandoori Cauliflower Tikka
Ingredients

450g cauliflower
2 tbsp thick greek yoghurt
2 tsp flour
4 cloves garlic
1 inch piece of ginger peeled
1 green chilli
1 tsp mild paprika
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
1 tsp coriander powder
Salt
Butter for basting
Juice of half a lemon

Method
  • Add the ginger, garlic and chilli to a hand blender or pestle and mortar and blitz or pound together to form a smooth paste.
  • Mix the yoghurt with the flour in a bowl to form a thick paste.
  • Add all of the spices to the yoghurt and the garlic/ ginger paste, plus a teaspoon of salt.
  • Stir well, tip in the cauliflower pieces and make sure every piece of cauliflower is coated well in the marinade.
  • Line a baking tray with baking parchment and roast the cauliflower pieces in the oven for 15 minutes.