Cauliflower Cake

This is my version of a fabulous recipe by Yotam Ottolenghi, the renowned chef, restaurant owner, food columnist and author of several best-selling and award-winning cookbooks.

Although not a vegetarian himself, many of Ottolenghi’s recipes are vegetarian or vegan. I’ve adapted his Cauliflower Cake recipe for the Thermomix, thrown in a couple of cloves of garlic (‘cos our family loves it!) upped the quantity of rosemary and subbed oregano for basil (‘cos the herb garden is going wild with it!). I’ve also reduced the quantity of oil and given alternatives to make it dairy free and gluten free.

1000g water
450g (1 small) cauliflower, broken into 3cm florets
Melted butter or oil for brushing
1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
1 teaspoon nigella seeds
1 red onion
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1-2 teaspoons rosemary leaves
40g EVOO
7 eggs
½ cup fresh basil or oregano leaves
120g plain or GF flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
150g coarsely grated parmesan or 80g nutritional yeast flakes (‘nooch’)
Salt & Pepper to taste

Add water to TM bowl, place florets in Varoma and steam for 20 min/Varoma/speed 2 or until cauliflower is quite soft. Set aside to dry. Empty water from TM bowl.

Meanwhile line the base and sides of a 24cm springform cake tin with baking paper, brush with melted butter or oil and sprinkle in combined seeds so they stick to the sides.

Cut 4 slices, each 5mm thick, off the onion and set aside. Halve remainder of onion and place in TM bowl. Add garlic and rosemary. Chop 6 sec/speed 6, scrape down sides and repeat. Add oil and sauté 3 min/120°C/speed 1. Allow to cool and add eggs and basil or oregano. Mix 5 sec/speed 4.

Add flour, baking powder, turmeric, cheese or ‘nooch’, salt and pepper. Mix 5 sec/speed 4, scrape down sides and repeat. Add cauliflower and mix 10 sec/REVERSE speed 2. Pour mixture into prepared pan and arrange reserved onion rings on top.

Bake in centre of oven, preheated to 180°C, for 45 minutes, until golden and set. Make sure a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from oven and leave at least 20 minutes before serving either just warm or at room temperature.