Crispy Curried Cauliflower

Having on hand some cooked white cauliflower, and  being uninspired by the idea of  making soup, which of course would be a healthy alternative to cauliflower au gratin or deep fried florets, (mom's Italian recipe); I had a much needed epiphany.  Why not improvise and attempt baking them in the oven, as I do with my fish recipe?  I went a step further and opted for East Indian inspired flavours.  Much to my surprise this much healthier option turned out better than expected and the end result proved quite crispy and addictive.  Just like that old television commercial used to state, "I bet you can't just have one".  The cauliflower morsels  had all the crunchy texture of fried batter but were packed  with sensational flavours.  Once again panko breadcrumbs, (this time mixed with ordinary breadcrumbs), were the magic ingredient for the crispy coating.  So who needs fried food anyway, when you can have it all by adapting your favorite recipe?  Well mission accomplished, one more recipe in the fry-free zone.


Ingredients:
1 cauliflower cooked and cooled (broken into florets)
1 1/2 cup panko and regular breadcrumbs (half and half)
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1 garlic clove finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon turmeric
3 eggs
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
light olive oil

In a medium size bowl, add the breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic, coriander, cumin, turmeric and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir to combine the dry ingredients.  In a separate bowl add the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.  Set aside.  In a third bowl beat slightly  the three eggs.  Dip a couple of the cauliflower pieces in the egg, and then dredge the florets in the flour before coating them with the bread crumb mixture.  Place the prepared florets on a baking tray, lined with parchment paper.  Repeat the procedure until all the florets have been coated with the seasoned bread crumbs.  Drizzle the prepared cauliflower pieces with a generous amount of light olive oil (for crispy  golden result) and bake in a pre heated 375º F  oven for about 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.