curry baked broccoli and cauliflower

when i find a dish that works its way into my routine – popping up on my dinner plate at least once or twice a week – i feel obligated to share it here.  partly because it’s a recipe i’ve tested mutliple times and know works, but also because it is usually pretty simple and always satisfying.

while i had previously been pretty bored by broccoli and cauliflower, expecting only to toss them in a puréed soup or stir fry, i had been hearing a lot of buzz about baked, or roasted, broccoli.  when i googled the topic i found it pinned with the phrase “best broccoli of your life,” so i made it that night and both my boyfriend and i agreed.  light years better than steamed or sautéed broccoli, i’m tempted to say i never want it any other way.

curry baked broccoli and cauliflower
about 1 lb broccoli crown
about 1 lb cauliflower crown
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp coriander
2 tbsp cumin
2 tbsp turmeric
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

choose nice big broccoli and cauliflower crowns that weigh about 1 lb total, if you can’t find one big enough you can get two or three that weigh that much.

chop the tops off and slice them into small pieces, leaving the thick stems behind.  you can cut up the stems and roast them the same way (they take a few minutes less to roast), i just don’t prefer that part so i save it for making broth. toss the broccoli and cauliflower pieces with the olive oil in a large bowl and set aside.

mix all the spices together seperately, using whole coriander and/or cumin seeds that are freshly ground if you can, it makes a huge difference in flavor.  and only add cayenne pepper if you like a little spice.  here you’ve got your own homemade curry powder, and you can multiply the portions if you want to keep some extra on hand.  of course there are lots of different ways to make curry powder so you can play with the proportions you prefer, whether you like more spice or more of a subtle, earthy flavor.

slowly toss the curry powder in with the broccoli and cauliflower, to assure an even coating.  evenly spread them out on a baking tray and roast at 425F for about 20-25 minutes, taking out and tossing every 5 minutes.

it makes the perfect side, but many nights i just eat a big bowl of this alone.  enjoy!

yields 3-4 servings as a side