Charred Oven baked Tangy Cauliflower

Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables. I love to eat it, I love to cook with it, I love to feed it to my guests and my husband loves it too. We have it almost everyday. It can be an entree, a main and a snack. This particular preparation can be served as an entree or a snack, accompanied by a mug of beer, especially if you are entertaining a vegetarian guest. It is super easy, not a lot of spice to it . It takes a little longer to cook because I cook it in the oven but you will realize that the wait is worth it. 

Technical points to remember :

1. Cooking time . This recipe takes about 40-50 mins in  the oven depending on your oven ( I have a large oven with hot spots). That sounds like a lot for a vegetable and yes it is. But it is important to cook the cauliflower in an indirect heat so as not to burn the marinade over it. Also, I like my vegetables with a little bit of bite to them. If you like yours well done then let them be in the oven for an extra 10 mins, it really depends on how you like it ( I served these to my mother and she basically accused me of serving her under cooked cauliflower ). Having said that, I recommend not overcooking these as not only it ruins the texture and flavor but it will also result in loss of those precious nutrients)
2. Marinating time . You can marinate this ahead of time or even leave it overnight in the fridge (place it in the coolest part of your fridge ) . Marinating at room temperature will take only an hour max, since room temperatures catalyse the marinating process. Also remember that this is not a meat. We are not looking to tenderize it. What we want is the flavor and seasonings to penetrate and 1 hour is enough for that.

Recipe : Charred Oven baked Tangy Cauliflower
Cuisine : Indian
Prep time : 1 hour 10 mins 
Cooking time : 40-50 mins 
Serves : 3-4  a

Ingredients :

• 1 medium cauliflower, separated into large florets (refer to video). Do not make the florets small. They will turn to mush when you cook them.
• 1/2 cup thick yogurt
• 1/8 cup of lime juice ( fresh is preferred but you can use bottled too)
• 1/2 tsp garlic paste
• 1/2 tsp tumeric powder
• 1/2 tsp of ground cumin.
• Salt to taste
• 1 tbsp finely chopped onion
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil 

Procedure :

1. Blanch the cauliflower in salted water for 3 minutes. Drain and let air dry.
2. In a mixing bowl, place  yogurt, tumeric, cumin , garlic , onion , salt and mix
3. Add cauliflower  and mix. Cover with foil and let it marinate at room temperature for 1 hour.
4. Preheat the oven at 200℃ . Place the florets on a baking sheet , brush with oil and bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the pan and bake another 10 minutes. Take it out, flip the florets and brush with oil. Bake for 10 minutes at the end of which rotate and bake for a final 10 minutes.

Serve hot.