Til Waali Gobhi/ Cauliflower with Sesame Seeds…Indian avatar!!

Til Waali Gobhi (Cauliflower with Sesame Seeds)…this recipe had started off as an oven-baked cauliflower with sesame seeds and over the years has led to this Indian avatar…I love the flavor of ginger with sesame seeds so never use garlic in this recipe. You can add onion if you want as mentioned in the notes below. Keep the spices to a minimum and let the flavor of sesame seeds shine through and do their magic with ginger and green chillies!! J

Til Waali Gobhi (Cauliflower with Sesame Seeds)

Ingredients:

• Cauliflower, stalks removed and cut into even sized medium florets, 500 gms (was about 800 gms with stalks)
• Fresh Ginger, cut into thin long strips, about 2 inch long piece
• Fresh Green Chillies, slit into 2 vertically, 3-4 (remove seeds if you want) 
• Coriander leaves, finely chopped, a handful
• Oil, 2 tbsp

Masala powder:

• Sesame seeds, ¼ cup
• Turmeric powder, ½ tsp (optional)
• Salt, to taste

Instructions:

Par-boil the florets in salted water till about 50 percent done. Drain well and keep aside to cool.

Grind the sesame seeds to a coarse powder in a dry grinder using pulse action. Mix in salt and turmeric. Your masala powder is ready.

Heat the oil in a pan on high heat. Add green chillies and ginger strips, sauté for about 15-20 seconds.

Now add the par boiled cauliflower and fry for about 3-4 minutes till cauliflower florets start getting crisp on the edges.

Reduce the heat to low and sprinkle the masala powder on the cauliflower florets. 

Toss everything well together with a spatula so that the masala powder coats the cauliflower florets completely and also gets inside every nook and corner. Sprinkle a tablespoon or two of water into the pan to ensure the masala powder sticks to the cauliflower florets.

Cover and cook for 6-7 minutes or till cauliflower florets are fully cooked to your liking.

Switch off the heat, mix in the coriander leaves and let rest for an hour or two.

Gently reheat on low heat, without stirring too much before serving.

Notes/Options:

• Toss in finely sliced onions or shallots after the ginger and fry till pale golden brown. Add in the cauliflower and proceed as above. Increase the oil to 3 tbsp.

• Add in a teaspoon of sesame seed oil over the top before serving or along with the masala powder into the pan.