Story : Avadhi Whole Cauliflower Musallam
Awadh Prant which is Uttar Pradesh region of todays India is home to several delicious Indian Cuisines.
The sultans and nawabs of Awadh allowed their cooks to explore new gourmet dishes using exclusive spices which were imported, these spices were the essence of the royal kitchen which decorated their Dastarkhwan with unique cuisines. Dastarkhwan literally translates to Table Cloth to English but it actually a status symbol of that era, as only the uber rich could afford eating on a table with a cloth on it. Since Mughals were partial to meat, poultry all these cuisines are predominantly non vegetarian. But why should vegetarians miss out experiencing these royal flavors.
Lets make a vegetarian version of this awadhi dish using whole cauliflower.
Cauliflower is a flower which normally has few takers, after all its not the rose of veggies but still has a crown.
It always needs a comrade to be complete. If you have watched Bend It Like Becham you for sure know what teenagers think about Aloo Gobi.
I am sure a question is now lingering your mind could a simple cauliflower crown become the center of a gourmet dish.
I made Whole Cauliflower Musallam which places the crown at The focal point of this gourmet dish in our very own one pot.
I do not know if everyone can bend it like Becham but I sure can tell you nothing tastes like a Cauliflower Musallam.
You must try this simple yet flavor rich dish to believe my words.
Preparing Cauliflower
Ingredients
One Whole Cauliflower
Weighing 500 to 600 grams
Turn the head over and cut around the toot.
Pry back the remaining thick leaves.
Cut around and remove the stump.
This is how it should look.
Soak Cauliflower in spices
Ingredients
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp Garam Masala
Enough warm water in a vessel to soak the whole Cauliflower
Salt
Add salt to a vessel of warm water
Note: In a vessel take warm water sufficient enough to soak the whole Cauliflower in spice mix.
Turmeric
Add turmeric to a vessel of warm water
Garam Masala
Add garam masala a vessel of warm water
Prepared Whole Cauliflower
Mix all the spices well in water, to this add the prepared whole Cauliflower.
Let the Cauliflower soak for 30 mins in seasoned water.
Preparing Spice mix
The two cake tiers will be made using two pans.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon Poppy seeds
2 tablespoons Cashew nuts broken to pieces
10 grams Ginger
6 flakes Garlic
2 whole Green chilies
2 large (300 grams ) Onions roughly chopped
2 medium ( 250 grams ) Tomatoes roughly chopped
1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 teaspoon Coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon Cumin powder
1 teaspoon Red chili powder
Poppy seeds and Cashew nuts
In a separate bowl add 2 to 3 tbsps of warm water.
To this add poppy seeds and cashew nuts.
Mix it well, keep it aside.
Roughly Chopped Onions
In a blender jar Add roughly chopped onions
Chopped Tomatoes
Add roughly chopped tomatoes
Add garlic cloves
Add ginger pieces
Add coriander powder
Add cumin powder
Add red chili powder
Add turmeric powder
Add salt to taste
Add soaked poppy seeds and cashew nuts along with water
Add 2 whole green chilies
Blend it in a grinder to form a smooth paste
Cooking in Electric Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
4 tablespoons cooking oil
1 tsp, Onion Seeds
1/4 cup Curd beaten
1 tablespoon Coriander leaves finely chopped to garnish
In hot inner pot of Electric Pressure Cooker
Add cooking oil, let it heat up
Once the oil is hot, add onion seeds
Once onion seeds sizzle, add the ready spice mix puree
Mix it well in oil
Note : Be careful the mixture may splatter in hot oil, you can adjust the sauté mode to low
simmer it in open pot for 2 to 3 mins
Close lid and cook it for 5 mins
Note : Cooking the spice mix in this way ensures that the raw onion and tomato mixture is cooked well in oil.
To the cooked spice mix add kasuri methi
Mix it well
Add half cup of water
Add the prepared seasoned whole cauliflower to the pot
Add prepared gravy all over cauliflower uniformly
Close the lid of the pot, set the cooker on HIGH PRESSURE for 2 mins, with the steam vent closed
Once the cook time is done, allow NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE for 10 mins
Note : NPR will let the evenly cooked cauliflower to soak up all good flavors of prepared gravy.
After 10 mins of NPR, release the remaining pressure
Open the lid of Electric Pressure Cooker
Take out the cauliflower in separate plate
Add 1/4 cup of curds to the gravy
Note : Curds is an important ingredient .Please do not skip adding curds, its gives the special unique flavor to this recipe
Ensure that curds is uniformly mixed in the gravy, we do not want any lumps formed in the gravy
Finally add 1 to 2 teaspoon of fresh cream
Note : Adding fresh cream is totally optional, you can totally skip it if you do not prefer it
This is the right consistency of the gravy
Serving Whole Cauliflower Mussalam
In a serving bowl place the whole cauliflower, pour the gravy all over the cauliflower
This is elegant rich gourmet dish on the dinner table
While serving cut the cauliflower in pieces, serve gravy with the cut pieces
Three Berry Topping
Ingredients
1/2 cup Water
1 large 500 to 600 grams Cauliflower stem removed and stump scored
1 tablespoon Poppy seeds
2 tablespoons Cashew nuts broken to pieces
10 grams Ginger
6 flakes Garlic
2 whole Green chilies
4 tablespoons cooking oil
2 large (300 grams ) Onions roughly chopped
2 medium ( 250 grams ) Tomatoes roughly chopped
1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 teaspoon Coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon Cumin powder
1 teaspoon Red chili powder
1/4 cup Curd beaten
1 tablespoon Coriander leaves finely chopped to garnish
Cheat Sheet:
Prepare the whole cauliflower for cooking and soak in spiced warm water
Blend Onion, Tomato, Poppy Seeds, Cahews, Ginger, Garlic, Chillies, Turmeric powder, Coriander powder, Cumin powder, Red Chilli Powder to a puree
In a One Pot / Cooker of Choice fry Onion Seeds, add the puree
Saute for sometime, add Cauliflower and cook for 2 mins, NPR 10 min
After cooking Mix Yogurt, Cream and serve in your favorite deep dish.
You Awadhi Whole Cauliflower Musallam Is Ready !!!
Enjoy !!!
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