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:

  1. Prepare the whole cauliflower for cooking and soak in spiced warm water

  2. Blend Onion, Tomato, Poppy Seeds, Cahews, Ginger, Garlic, Chillies, Turmeric powder, Coriander powder, Cumin powder, Red Chilli Powder to a puree

  3. In a One Pot / Cooker of Choice fry Onion Seeds, add the puree

  4. Saute for sometime, add Cauliflower and cook for 2 mins, NPR 10 min

  5. After cooking Mix Yogurt, Cream and serve in your favorite deep dish.


You Awadhi Whole Cauliflower Musallam Is Ready !!!

Enjoy !!!

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