ROASTED CAULIFLOWER PINE NUT AND POMEGRANATE SALAD

Adapted from Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. Without this book, your life has one less simple pleasure! The photos are splendid, the recipes are fantastic, and the book is quite an education on the Jewish and Muslim cuisines of Jerusalem.

Roasted Cauliflower Pine Nut and Pomegranate Salad

makes: 2-3 servings (as a side)

- 1 head cauliflower, broken into medium (2 in.) florets (1 lb or 1/2 kg total)
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large celery stalks, cut on the bias into 1/2 in. slices

- 1 medium white or red onion, cut into 1/4 in. sliced
- 5 tbsp. pine nuts, toasted
- 1/3 cup small flat-leaf parsley leaves, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (from about 1/2 medium pomegranate)
- generous 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
- generous 1/4 tsp. ground allspice
- 1-1/2 tbsp. balsamic or sherry vinegar
- 1-1/2 tsp maple syrup or honey
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

- a squeeze of lemon at the end

1. Preheat oven to 425 F/215 C.

2. Mix the cauliflower and sliced onions with 3 tbsp. of the olive oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt and some black pepper.

3. Spread out in a roasting pan and roast on the middle oven rack for 20 - 25 minutes, until the cauliflower is semi-crisp and parts of it have turned golden brown.

4. The onions will be done in this time, regardless of how they look. Transfer the cauliflower and onions to a large mixing bowl and set aside to cool.

5. Put the pine nuts in a cast iron or steel pan and toast until they start to turn light brown. Turn off the heat and shake them in the pan - the hot pan will continue to toast them. Remove as soon as they smell fragrant and are a slightly darker brown. The only time pine nuts are evenly brown is when they're burnt... don't wait for this to happen! 

6. After the nuts are cooled a bit, mix with the roasted vegetables and the remaining oil and the rest of the ingredients. Stir and season with salt, pepper, and a bit of lemon juice to taste.

7. Serve at room temperature.

Notes:
1. I had a sprouted white onion and the greens looked beautiful. They are edible, so I cut off the part with the greens before slicing and roasting the rest of the onion.
2. I chopped the greens like chives and added to the salad with the rest of the ingredients.

CRANBERRY ORANGE PINE NUT BISCUITS

Cranberry Orange Pine Nut Biscuits

makes: approx. 3 dozen

- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

- 3/4 cup sugar- 1 egg- 2 tsp vanilla extract- 2 1/2 cups flour
- a pinch of salt
- 1/2 - 3/4 tsp nutmeg- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup pine nuts
- zest of one medium orange- 2 cups (or more) Demerara sugar for rolling


1. Preheat the oven to 350 F/175 C.
2. Cream the butter and sugar. 
3. Add the egg and vanilla, mix until well combined.
4. Add the flour, salt, nutmeg, orange zest, dried cranberries, and pine nuts.
5. Roll the dough into two logs, about 1-1/2 inches in diameter.
6. Wrap the logs in wax paper and make sure the ends are covered.
7. Chill the dough in the freezer for at least 1 hour.
8. Remove from the freezer and unwrap the dough logs one at a time if necessary. The butter in the dough will melt as the dough sits outside so keep any dough not being immediately used wrapped and in the freezer.
9. Roll the logs in sugar, then slice into 1/4 inch discs.
10. Bake at 350 F/175 C for 15-20 minutes. Thinner slices will bake faster so keep an eye on the ones in the oven!

NOTES:

1. Toss the cranberries with enough flour to coat them. Chop the cranberries by hand or in 

a food processor.

2. I used pine nuts but walnuts, pecans, almonds, and macadamias would work equally well.
3. Before taking the dough out of the freezer, put a generous layer of Demerara sugar in a baking tray or other flat surface with enough room to roll the dough logs. See below...

4. The butter in the dough will start melting with the heat of your hands and make it harder to cut evenly, so work somewhat quickly! Prep your Demerara sugar, baking trays, etc. before taking the dough out of the freezer.