Cauliflower Curry

Manami's Note:

A nice vegetarian recipe and if you have any left-overs they warm in the microwave nicely! Adventurous home cooks are looking to So Asia for inspiration. This is one of Raghavan Iyer's recipes; his cookbook "660 Curries" is scheduled to be out in March/2008. This curry draws it's flavors from cumin, coriander and hot green chile. F&W Magazine, from 100 Tastes to try in '08, January/2008

• Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 large red onion, diced
• 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 small jalapeno, thinly sliced
• 2 lbs cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets
• kosher salt
• 1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
• 2 tablespoons minced cilantro

Directions:

1. In a blender, puree half of the diced onion with the coriander and cumin seeds and 1/4 cup of the water.
2. In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil.
3. Add the remaining diced onion and the jalapeño slices. Cook the vegetables over moderately high heat, stirring a few times, until the onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes.
4. Scrape in the onion puree from the blender.
5. Pour 1/4 cup of the water into the blender; swirl it around, then pour it into the skillet.
6. Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion sauce begins to stick to the bottom of the skillet and turn brown, about 10 minutes.
7. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup of water, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
8. Stir in the cauliflower and season with salt.
9. Cover and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower is tender, about 30 minutes.
10. Stir in the diced tomato and the minced cilantro and cook until warmed through, about 1 minute.
11. Serve with wine, a peppery, fragrant Grüner Veltliner: 2005 Steininger Kabinett.