Cauliflower Curry

Cauliflower curry is prepared by cooking the florets of the cauliflower with spices to form a gravy-like dish. The curried form of cauliflower is extremely popular across the Indian subcontinent and neighboring regions of Asia. The florets are often sautéed lightly or roasted before being added to the curry. Potatoes and peas are common additions to the dish, which is served with hot steamed rice or  Indian flatbreads. Chutney is the usual condiment served with the dish.

Apart from the usual spices like coriander, cumin, turmeric, and chili powder, garam masala is added to the dish to make it aromatic as well. Tomatoes are often added to the curry which is usually prepared with vegetable oil or ghee, a form of clarified butter.

The curried dish is also popular with the vegetarians and the vegans although it is occasionally prepared with chicken broth in America and UK. A baked dish prepared with cauliflower florets and Cheddar cheese, marinated with curry powder, is a popular variant of the curry in the Western world.

Overview of Cauliflower Curry Recipes 

The simplest form of the curry involves frying the cauliflower florets lightly and removing them from heat. The curry powder can also be lightly sautéed and coated with the florets, although the traditional Indian cooking methods recommend frying the spices separately after the florets have been removed from oil. Bay leaf and garam masala powder are added to enhance the aroma of the dish which can also be cooked with potato and green peas sautéed in oil along with the cauliflower. The fried spices are brought to a boil by adding a cup of water and the vegetables are immersed into the bubbling curry to complete the final part of cooking. The dish is usually cooked until the vegetables become tender without turning mushy and is served hot with a garnish of fresh coriander leaves.

Popular Variations of Cauliflower Curry Recipes

The most popular variations of the curried cauliflower includes:-
 

• Cauliflower Casserole Curry- This is a popular dish in UK, prepared by adding a mixture of cheese, mayonnaise and curry powder to a medium sized cauliflower head and baking it in a casserole.
   
• Curried Cauliflower Broccoli- This is a colorful variant of the traditional curry that is prepared by stewing the florets in a mixture of condensed mushroom soup, milk, cheese and curry powder. It is served with a garnish of nuts.
   
• Cauliflower and lentils Curry- This is a hearty dish prepared with the head of a cauliflower and lentils boiled together with curry powder and served with a dash of lemon juice.

Trivia

Cauliflower curry can be substituted for potato curries in low carbohydrate diets as both the dishes share a similar texture and feel.