Flavors: Spicy Roasted Cauliflower (Zahra)
Ma’aleh is usually deep-fried cauliflower, served in a sandwich with raw vegetables and tarator.
Most Syrians eat cauliflower this way, but any vegetable can be made into ma’aleh—just deep-fry it and make a sandwich as described above. But in my opinion, my mother’s oven-roasted cauliflower is even better; it’s a perfect side dish or sandwich filling.
Preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius (425 degrees Fahrenheit).
On a large baking sheet, toss the cauliflower florets and its leaves with the olive oil, cumin, paprika and some salt. Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and just starting to char at the tips.
Take the cauliflower out of the oven, toss with the garlic, and bake for another 3 minutes.
Serve Zahra, street-food style, in a pita or flatbread sandwich, stuffed with fresh herbs and tarator, or as a snack or side dish with tarator dipping.
Reprinted with permission from
Sumac: Recipes and Stories from Syria
Anas Atassi.
Interlink Books, 2021.
interlinkbooks.com.
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