Whole Spice will be offering a 20% discount the last three days of October so you can stock up on all your favorite spices and herbs! In the meantime, try this delicious cauliflower frittata recipe, which can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner! The spice used is the so-called “French curry,” Vadouvan, believed to have come out of a French settlement in India.
Cauliflower Frittata with Caramelized Shallots & Vadouvan
Servings: 3
Ingredients:
1/2 cauliflower (cut into florets)
2 large shallots (chopped)
1 stick clarified Ghee butter
6 lightly beaten eggs (room temperature)
3 tsp Vadouvan powder 1/2 tsp Black Indian salt or fine ground sea salt
1/2 tsp black ground pepper
Ghee: In a heavy-bottomed vessel, melt the butter over medium heat. There will be lot of bubbling and gurgling. Don’t panic. Reduce the flame to low; in a few minutes this action will subside. Next, the butter will begin to develop foamon top. Simmer over low heat, uncovered and undisturbed, for 30 to 45 minutes, until the milk solids on the bottom of the vessel turn from white to beige-brown, and the butter on top becomes transparent, like clear water. This is the signal to turn off the heat. Please take caution not to burn the bottom part. That would lead to a scalded-milk smell, and the solids would stick to the pan. All the effort would be a waste, and you’d have to throw everything away. So never use high heat to make ghee. After turning off the heat, let the ghee stand uncovered for 10 minutes. With a spoon, remove any crust that rises to the surface. Strain with a coffee filter, discarding the milk solids at the bottom of the vessel.
Fritatta: Transfer the strained ghee, which should now be a light-brown color, into a pan. Add chopped shallots and saute over very low heat for about 20-25 minutes until shallots are caramelized. This is a very delicate process — please make sure not to burn the shallots or the butter. Once the shallots are caramelized, add the Vadouvan, salt and black pepper. Saute for few minutes, then add cauliflower florets. Mix them in and make sure the cauliflower is coated with shallots and spices. Cover your pan and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Do not add water. Once the cauliflower is soft, pour in the eggs and cook without stirring, until the bottom of the frittata is just set, about 2 minutes. Lift the edges of the frittata and tilt the pan to allow the uncooked egg mixture to seep underneath. Continue cooking the frittata until the bottom is golden and the top is just slightly runny, about 3 minutes. Serve over toasted French baguette (you can spread butter on the sliced baguette for extra flavor) and serve with fresh cherry tomatoes on the side.