Name: Warm cauliflower, chickpea and beetroot salad
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 75 min
Total time: 105 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 300 gm dried chickpeas, soaked in cold water overnight, drained; ½ onion, coarsely chopped; 1 fresh bay leaf; 4 garlic cloves; 2 beetroot (about 300gm); 100 ml (1/3 cup) extra-virgin olive oil; 2 tbsp thyme leaves; 100 gm coarse sourdough breadcrumbs; 15 (20gm) seedless raisins, coarsely chopped; For deep-frying: vegetable oil; 200 gm cauliflower, broken into florets; 1 Spanish onion, thinly sliced; 300 gm silverbeet, leaves coarsely torn, stems coarsely chopped; ½ tsp fennel seeds; ½ lemon, juice only; 5 (10gm) blanched almonds, finely chopped or grated; Cauliflower purée; 300 gm cauliflower, broken into florets, stem coarsely chopped; 75 ml milk; 2 tbsp olive oil; Wholegrain mustard dressing; 1 tsp wholegrain mustard; 50 ml extra-virgin olive oil; 2 tsp red wine vinegar; 1 tsp muscatel vinegar (see note)

“The salad of chickpeas, cauliflower and roast beetroot at Cru 54 in Sydney’s Surry Hills makes the vegetarian in me jump for joy. Would you please publish the recipe?”

Jason Grant, Dulwich Hill, NSW

To request a recipe, write to Fare Exchange, , GPO Box 4088, Sydney, NSW 2001, or email us. All requests should include the restaurant’s name and address or business card, as well as your name and address.

You’ll need to begin this recipe a day ahead.

Ingredients

300 gm dried chickpeas, soaked in cold water overnight, drained

½ onion, coarsely chopped

1 fresh bay leaf

4 garlic cloves

2 beetroot (about 300gm)

100 ml (1/3 cup) extra-virgin olive oil

2 tbsp thyme leaves

100 gm coarse sourdough breadcrumbs

15 (20gm) seedless raisins, coarsely chopped

For deep-frying: vegetable oil

200 gm cauliflower, broken into florets

1 Spanish onion, thinly sliced

300 gm silverbeet, leaves coarsely torn, stems coarsely chopped

½ tsp fennel seeds

½ lemon, juice only

5 (10gm) blanched almonds, finely chopped or grated

Cauliflower purée

300 gm cauliflower, broken into florets, stem coarsely chopped

75 ml milk

2 tbsp olive oil

Wholegrain mustard dressing

1 tsp wholegrain mustard

50 ml extra-virgin olive oil

2 tsp red wine vinegar

1 tsp muscatel vinegar (see note)

Method

Main

1.Heat oven to 180C. Combine chickpeas in a saucepan with onion, bay leaf and a chopped garlic clove, cover with water, bring to a simmer over medium heat, simmer until tender (at least 1 hour), drain, keep warm.

2.Meanwhile, chop remaining garlic, combine with beetroot, 40ml oil and half the thyme in a small roasting tray, cover with foil and roast until tender (50 minutes-1 hour). Peel, cut into wedges, set aside.

3. Meanwhile, for cauliflower purée, combine cauliflower and milk in a small saucepan, bring to a simmer over medium heat, simmer until tender (10-15 minutes). Cool slightly, process in a blender with oil until smooth, season to taste, set aside, keep warm.

4.Combine breadcrumbs, raisins, remaining thyme and 40ml oil in a bowl, season to taste, spread in an even layer on a tray lined with baking paper and bake, stirring occasionally, until golden (5-7 minutes). Set aside.

5.Meanwhile, heat oil in a deep-fryer or deep-sided saucepan to 180C. Fry cauliflower florets in batches until golden (1-2 minutes; be careful, oil may spit). Drain on absorbent paper, season to taste, keep warm.

6.For wholegrain mustard dressing, whisk ingredients in a bowl to combine and set aside.

7.Heat a large frying pan over medium heat, add remaining oil, Spanish onion, silverbeet stems and fennel seeds and sauté until onion is tender (5-7 minutes). Add chickpeas, beetroot and dressing, season to taste, add silverbeet leaves and toss until just wilted (2-3 minutes). Add lemon juice, scatter with cauliflower florets, almonds and breadcrumb mixture and serve warm with purée on the side.

Muscatel vinegar is a mild, slightly sweet vinegar, available from select delicatessens. If unavailable, substitute sherry vinegar.
This recipe is from the October 2009 issue of
.
Notes

The Gourmet Traveller Team

Gourmet Traveller is Australia’s trusted authority on food, travel and luxury lifestyle, bringing the latest news and trends to life through quality journalism, enticing recipes and evocative photography. For more than 55 years, it has been inspiring and informing Australians with the best in cooking, dining, travelling and shopping. Our critics bring the expertise of years of critical eating, drinking and writing to the table. Plus, as the country’s leading title in the luxury sector, Gourmet Traveller works closely with Australia’s leaders in the travel and hospitality industries to give our readers exclusive access. The Gourmet Traveller legacy is one of trust, prestige and relevance.

Styling by Geraldine Muñoz