Roasted Cauliflower and Onion Savory Cake

“Green Eggs and Ham was the story of my life.  I wouldn’t eat a thing when I was a kid, but Dr. Seuss inspired me to try cauliflower!”

Jim Carrey

I have a reputation to live up to.  I was dubbed “The Cauliflower Queen” last year when I seemed to be making a lot of dishes with this cruciferous vegetable.  After a hiatus, I am back!!!  And I wonder if  Jim Carrey could be pursuaded to eat this interesting cauliflower cake?

The inspiration for this cake came from a recipe of Yotam Ottolenghi.  The original was made in a springform pan with boiled cauliflower florets.  I slow roasted the cauliflower with the sweet onion to bring out the flavors and develop some color.  I made mine in a rectangular pan as I was to serve it as an appetizer and wanted to cut it into bite sized pieces.   It  really was more like a dense frittata than a cake.  I added some classic salsa as a dip on the side.  

• Servings: 6 large or 30 appetizer size
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1 small cauliflower, outer leaves removed and cut in small flowerlets

1 sweet onion, peeled and chopped coarsely

1/2 t finely chopped fresh rosemary

4 T olive oil

7 large eggs

1/2 c basil leaves, chopped

1 c flour

1 1/2 t baking powder

1/3 t ground turmeric

5 oz of grated parmesan or other aged cheese

salt and pepper

1 T sesame seeds

1 t nigella(black sesame) seeds

melted butter to coat pan

Preheat oven to 350F   On a parchment lined baking sheet toss the cauliflower, rosemary and onion together with the oil and 1 teaspoon of salt.  Roast for about 30 minutes on the lower oven rack, stirring often to prevent burning, until the vegetables are soft.  Cool to room temperature.  Increase the oven temperature to 400F.

Prepare your baking dish by generously brushing the bottom and sides with butter and sprinkling with the sesame seeds.

In a large bowl beat the eggs with the chopped basil and 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper to taste.  Add the parmesan, flour, baking powder and turmeric to form a batter. Add the roasted cauliflower and onions to the batter.  Pour into your prepared pan and bake in the center of the oven for 30 minutes until golden.  Let rest at least 20 minutes before slicing.

Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

The buttered pan with the sesame seed coating.

The roasted cauliflower, onions and rosemary

The batter in the prepared pan.

The golden cake.

Luis Meléndez, 1715-1780, Spanish, Sill Life with Cauliflower. The NY Times called this painting the most beautiful head of cauliflower in the history of art. I have to agree!