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Italian cauliflower salad

Published: 30 Jun 06
Updated: 18 Mar 24

A Riminati means ‘in the style of Rimini’, although the influences in this recipe are more Sicilian and North African. This is a wonderful fragrant dish, which presents the vegetable in a whole new light.

Easy
July 2006

Test kitchen approved

Serves 2
Ready in 25 min

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 634kcals
Fat: 52.4g (6.3g saturated)
Protein: 12.7g
Carbohydrates: 29.6g (26.6g sugar)
Salt: 0.1g

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Ingredients

1 medium cauliflower, leaves discarded, broken into small florets
Generous pinch of saffron
75ml olive oil or rapeseed oil
1 large red onion, thinly sliced
50g pine nuts
50g raisins
Extra-virgin olive oil, to dress
Small handful chopped fresh mint
Small handful chopped fresh flatleaf parsley

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Method

Heat a saucepan filled with a generous amount of salted water and, when it comes to a rolling boil, pop in the cauliflower and saffron. Cook for just 2-3 minutes, so that the cauliflower picks up a little colour from the saffron but stays very much al dente. Drain well and spread on a tray to cool quickly.
Meanwhile, put the oil in a frying pan over a high heat. When it’s just starting to show wisps of smoke, add the onion. Fry briskly for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to look crispy and caramelised. Add the pine nuts and raisins. Stir and cook for just a couple of minutes (the raisins will swell and the pine nuts should colour a little). Tip into a sieve to drain off the excess oil and transfer to a large bowl.
To serve, toss the cauliflower with the onions, nuts and raisins and season to taste. Drizzle generously with extra-virgin olive oil and scatter with the herbs. Some people like to serve this with shavings of a sheep’s cheese (Pecorino is perfect).