Roasted Cauliflower Lemon Lentil Tahini (Print)

Caramelized cauliflower served over zesty lemon lentils with creamy cumin tahini yogurt

# Components:

→ Roasted Cauliflower

01 - 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
04 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Lemon Lentils

06 - 1 cup green or brown lentils, rinsed
07 - 3 cups water
08 - 1 bay leaf
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - Zest and juice of 1 lemon
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
13 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

→ Cumin Tahini Yogurt

14 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt or dairy-free alternative
15 - 2 tablespoons tahini
16 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
17 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
18 - 1 garlic clove, finely grated
19 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

20 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
21 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
22 - Lemon wedges

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss cauliflower florets with olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread in a single layer on the baking sheet.
03 - Roast cauliflower for 25–30 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and tender.
04 - Combine lentils, water, bay leaf, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered for 18–20 minutes until lentils are tender but not mushy. Drain and discard bay leaf.
05 - While lentils are warm, stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, diced red onion, and parsley. Adjust seasoning to taste.
06 - Whisk together Greek yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, cumin, garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth.
07 - Spread the lemon lentils over a platter. Arrange roasted cauliflower on top. Drizzle generously with cumin tahini yogurt.
08 - Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and fresh herbs. Serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasted cauliflower gets these gorgeous crispy edges while staying tender inside, almost like eating vegetable popcorn
  • That creamy tahini yogurt ties everything together with this earthy, tangy richness that makes you forget youre eating something so healthy
  • It keeps beautifully for days, actually tasting better as the flavors settle into each other
02 -
  • Overcrowding the baking sheet is the fastest way to end up with steamed instead of roasted cauliflower, so give those florets some room
  • Lentils keep cooking even after you drain them, so pull them off the heat when they're slightly firmer than you want them to be
  • The yogurt sauce might seize up slightly when you first add the lemon juice, just keep whisking and it'll smooth out beautifully
03 -
  • Toast your spices in a dry pan for a minute before adding them to the cauliflower, it wakes up their essential oils
  • Let the roasted cauliflower rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes after it comes out of the oven, this helps the edges get even crispier
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