Roasted Cauliflower with Almond Sauce (Ester Restaurant) Recipe

This roasted cauliflower is the signature dish from Ester Restaurant which is one among Sydney’s trendiest eating places. It’s not like me to order a head of cauliflower at a restaurant however I’m so glad I did as a result of it was sensational! So I used to be thrilled to seek out the chef’s recipe. And it’s SO simple to make!

Roasted Cauliflower

Ester Restaurant in Chippendale has been one of many hottest eating places in Sydney for a few years now. I went there not too long ago with low expectations, considering that it will be one other “stylish” restaurant that was massive on cool issue however mediocre on supply.

I love being proved improper! (Eerm, properly, for one thing like this!!) I used to be floored by how unbelievable it was. Fashionable western meals with a really refined Asian twist which appears applicable given the restauranteur, Mat Lindsay, is the previous head chef of Billy Kwong (Kylie Kwong’s restaurant). Each dish had a bit of sudden twist to it that gave it a “wow” issue. Nothing too drastic / try-hard / fancy, simply little issues. Like traditional chargrilled prawns with burnt butter (scrumptious, however bizarre) reworked into knock-your-socks-off unbelievable with the addition of a bit of tamari. I needed to lick the plate however settled for mopping it clear with bread. Thoughts blowingly scrumptious.

So this roasted cauliflower is from Ester Restaurant. It’s one among their signature dishes which I knew earlier than I went, in any other case I can inform you for certain that I by no means would have ordered a roasted head of cauliflower at a restaurant.

And I’m SO glad I did. It’s severely wonderful how char grilling a cauliflower can remodel a considerably drab recipe into one thing worthy of being served at a two-hat restaurant (Australia’s reply to michelin star scores).

I discovered the recipe on Connoisseur Traveller Australia and it’s the recipe from the restaurant. It’s very easy to make. The restaurant serves it with an almond sauce which is sort of wealthy, although you don’t use a lot. It’s like a mayonnaise made with almond meal. I’ve additionally made it with a yoghurt lemon sauce (weight-reduction plan meals that’s massive on flavour!) and a yoghurt tahini sauce (the creamy sesame flavour goes very well with the cauliflower) so I’ve offered these recipes as properly as a result of they’re options which are lighter in addition to quicker to make.

I don’t share a lot meat-free dishes. So once I do, you understand there’s a good motive for it!

Roasted Cauliflower with Almond Sauce (Ester Restaurant) Recipe

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Serves: 4 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes 15 minutes

Nutrition facts: 418 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 5.0/5

( 1 voted )

Ingredients

• 1 cup almond meal
• 2/3 cup water
• 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil , separated
• 2 tbsp brown rice vinegar (or rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
• Black pepper
• 1 large head of cauliflower (Note 1)
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 lemon , juice only
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup almonds , roughly chopped and lightly toasted in a dry frypan
• 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves (packed)

Instructions

1. Place the almond meal, water and 2 tbsp of olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat until the almond meal starts to swell - around 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Pour the almond mixture into a blender or small food processor and whiz until smooth. Add brown rice vinegar and salt and whizz to mix.
3. With the blender running, add the egg yolks then pour the oil in a thin stream. Keep whizzing while you pour and the sauce will become thick and creamy. Taste to check the salt and pepper, then set aside (keep at room temperature).
4. Cut the cauliflower into quarters (leaving most of the outer leaves on). Cut off a bit of the core, otherwise it won't cook through because it is thicker (see photo below).
5. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add the cauliflower, bring back to boil then boil for 3 minutes. (Alternatively you could steam it.)
6. Drain and leave the cauliflower to steam dry for 10 minutes. It also continues cooking.
7. Preheat the grill/broiler on high and place the rack around 20cm/8" from the heat source.
8. Drizzle the cauliflower with olive oil then place under the grill/broiler for 5 minutes until nicely charred, then turn the cauliflower and char the other side for a few minutes.
9. Remove the cauliflower from under the grill/broiler and drizzle with lemon juice and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
10. Spread about 3/4 cup of the Almond Sauce on a plate. Place the cauliflower on top, sprinkle over the almonds and mint.
11. This can be served warm or at room temperature.

Notes

1. The cauliflower I used was around 25cm / 10" in diameter.
2. This recipe makes more Almond Sauce than you need because it is hard to make a smaller amount. Reserve leftovers in the fridge and drizzle over roasted vegetables or meats.
3. The Almond Sauce is quite rich. So here are two other simple sauces that go really well with this that are lighter and faster / easier to make.
Lemon Yoghurt Sauce - a simple sauce alternative that matches superbly with roasted cauliflower. Mix together 1 cup of creamy plain yoghurt with 1/2 tsp salt, black pepper, 1 small garlic clove (minced), 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 to 2 tbsp of lemon juice. Place in the refrigerator for the flavours to develop for 20 minutes. Variation: Add 3/4 tsp cumin powder to give this dish a Middle Eastern twist.
Yoghurt Tahini Sauce - creamier than then Lemon Yoghurt Sauce but still much lighter than the Almond Sauce! Mix together 3/4 cup of creamy plain yoghurt with 2 tbsp of tahini, 1/2 tsp salt, black pepper and 2 tbsp of lemon juice. Place in the refrigerator until required.
4. Nutrition assuming 4 servings which is a fairly substantial serving (1/4 cabbage per person).