Dishing Up the Dirt

Za’atar Roasted Cauliflower Bowls with Sumac Tahini Sauce

It’s been a while since we’ve had a good “bowl” meal and this roasted veggie dish is on point. The za’atar roasted cauliflower is so darn flavorful it was hard resisting eating the whole sheet pan before we actually sat down to eat. We tossed the crispy cauliflower with some cooked lentils, quinoa and drizzled everything in a zesty sumac tahini sauce. I recently ordered another jar of sumac from my favorite spice shop (Savory Spice) and have been loving having it on hand to sprinkle all all my roasted veggie dishes. Sumac is a key ingredient in the spice mix za’atar and this refreshingly bright dressing was a perfect topper for our grain bowls.

If you precook your quinoa and lentils at the beginning of the week this meal comes together in a flash. Pour a glass of wine and dig in!

Cheers from Tumbleweed Farm

 

Za'atar Roasted Cauliflower Bowls with Sumac Tahini Sauce

Prep Time: 20 minutes    Cook Time: 35-45 minutes    Serves: 4

Veggie Bowl
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large head of cauliflower, broken into florets
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons za'atar
  • 2 cups cooked green lentils
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1/4 cup almonds
  • 1/2 cup minced parsley
Sumac Tahini Sauce
  • 1/4 cup tahini
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon sumac
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup water

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 425F. Toss the cauliflower with the olive oil and za'atar and place in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast in the oven until the cauliflower is tender and browned on all sides, about 30 minutes. Toss the cauliflower halfway through cooking.
  2. Divide the lentils and quinoa between four bowls and set aside.
  3. In a small dry skillet toast the almonds until golden brown and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Shake the pan a few times while toasting. Remove from the heat and when cool enough to handle roughly chop.
  4. Prepare the sauce by whisking together all the ingredients until smooth and creamy. This works best with an immersion blender or small food processor. Taste test and adjust seasonings as needed. If the sauce is too thick add a touch  more water to thin.
  5. Divide the cauliflower between the prepped veggie bowls and drizzle with the sauce. Sprinkle with the toasted almonds and minced parsley and serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

*Use this recipe as a guide *Adjust measurements and ingredients as necessary *Taste test as you go *Cooking times will vary from kitchen to kitchen


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5 thoughts on “Za’atar Roasted Cauliflower Bowls with Sumac Tahini Sauce

  1. Lindsey says:

    Thus sounds great! I do something similar & live the Midfle Eastern mix of spices which really go well with cauliflower

  2. Rebecca Wellman says:

    Where do you buy your za’atar? There’s a few ethnic spices that I love to have in my pantry (kafir lime leaves, garam masala, za’atar thanks to you) but haven’t found a place to buy them aside from ethnic groceries in portland, which I can’t justify traveling to with two kids in tow! I haven’t even checked Rosauers, though, cuz I rarely go there 🙂
    <3 lovin your recipes, lady!

    1. Andrea says:

      savory spice in portland or online is a great place to go!

    2. Carmine says:

      Penzeys Spices out of Wisconsin is a great resource!

  3. Barbara K. says:

    This looks fabulous and I can’t wait to try it. Do you ever use millet or barley in your bowls? These fabulous grains don’t get enough loving in the US (I’m from central Europe where they are a staple), and I would love to see more recipes featuring them (I’ll probably go with barley in this one; I’ve already been using millet in place of grits in the asparagus, bacon & poached egg recipe from the cookbook).

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