Thomasina Miers’ recipe for baked cauliflower with roast almond and prune mole | Food items

Mole, pronounced “moll-ay”, is from the Nahuatl phrase molli, meaning “sauce”, consequently guacamole is an avocado salsa. The Uk has experienced an remarkable meals renaissance above the past 15 decades, and so, also, has Mexico, with its cooks producing all types of contemporary interpretations of moles using diverse nuts, herbs, veggies and fruits. Today’s velvety 1 is straightforward by mole requirements, but it has a abundant, sophisticated flavour that adds authentic oomph to the golden roast cauliflower.

Baked cauliflower with roast almond and prune mole

If you can not get hold of pasilla chillies, use two ancho chillies alternatively. A effective blender will support make your sauce silky-clean.

Prep 15 min
Prepare dinner 50 min
Serves 4

120g pores and skin-on almonds
1 substantial cauliflower, leaves taken off (help save them for a further dish)
3 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper
2 pasilla chillies (25g), or 2 ancho chillies, stems and seeds eliminated, flesh torn into a couple parts
60g prunes
1 medium onion, peeled and minimize into 6 wedges
2 garlic cloves, unpeeled
2-3 tomatoes (200g)
¼ tsp floor allspice
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
1-2 tbsp sherry vinegar
30g butter or lard

For the crispy capers
2 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp capers, drained

Warmth the oven to 180C (160C admirer)/375F/gasoline 4. Lay out the nuts on a baking tray, toast in the oven for 10-15 minutes, right up until golden, then go away to amazing.

Switch up the oven to 220C (200C admirer)/425F/fuel 7. Reduce absent the stem of the cauliflower, leaving the core, and steam for five minutes, right until tender in the centre (or microwave for five minutes). Set on an oven tray, rub all in excess of with the olive oil, time and roast for 30-35 minutes, right up until dim golden.

In the meantime, warmth a dry frying pan on a medium warmth, toast the chillies for 20-30 seconds, right until fragrant, then transfer to a compact bowl, cover with boiling h2o and set aside for 10-15 minutes. Plump up the prunes by covering them with boiling drinking water, as well. Put the onions, garlic and tomatoes in the chilli pan, and dry toast, turning regularly, for 5 to six minutes for the garlic and 8 to 10 minutes for the onions and tomatoes, until finally charred all above and the garlic is tender.

Set 70g of the cooled nuts in a strong blender with the onions, garlic, tomatoes, drained chillies and prunes. Incorporate the spices and vinegar, then operate the motor, pouring in 150ml drinking water minor by very little and halting often to scrape down the sides. Period with a teaspoon of sea salt and continue on to blitz, adding more than enough added water to build a sauce the regularity of double product.

Heat the butter/lard in a saucepan, then pour in the sauce and fry for 10 minutes, to prepare dinner it out and give the components a possibility to meld. Regulate the seasoning to flavor.

Place a little frying pan on a medium heat, increase the two tablespoons of oil, fry the capers until crisp, then use a slotted spoon to transfer to kitchen area paper to drain.

When the cauliflower is cooked, slash it into quarters and place every single piece on a mattress of the mole. Sprinkle the capers and remaining almonds on major ahead of serving with rice and soured cream.

The uncomplicated flex …

Consider utilizing hen inventory instead of drinking water for more flavour. The mole is also tasty with pan-fried venison, or garnish the cauliflower with sauteed lardons as well as capers.