Cauliflower Shawarma With Spicy Tahini

Cauliflower Shawarma With Spicy Tahini
Christopher Simpson for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
45 minutes
Rating
5(5,673)
Notes
Read community notes

In this vegetarian take on shawarma, the usual spiced lamb, chicken or turkey is replaced with cauliflower florets and onion wedges that have been tossed with a classic combination of cumin, paprika and coriander, then roasted until browned, fragrant and very tender. A hot sauce-spiked tahini served alongside lends creaminess and heat. To serve it, you can tuck everything into a pita or flatbread, or keep the bread on the side and let everyone assemble their own sandwiches at the table. Chopped cucumber, tomatoes and olives are optional, but they add a juicy brightness to contrast with the aromatic, roasted flavors. (Watch the video of Melissa Clark making cauliflower shawarma with spicy tahini here.)

Featured in: This Cauliflower Shawarma Reaches for Spring

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Ingredients

Yield:2 servings

    For the Cauliflower

    • 5tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
    • teaspoons ground cumin
    • teaspoons sweet paprika
    • ¾teaspoon fine sea or table salt, plus more as needed
    • 1teaspoon ground coriander
    • ¼teaspoon ground turmeric
    • ¼teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • Pinch of ground cayenne
    • 1large head cauliflower (about 2½ pounds), trimmed and cut into bite-size florets
    • 1large red onion, cut into ¼-inch wedges
    • Pita or flatbread, for serving
    • ¼cup coarsely chopped parsley, plus more for serving
    • Chopped tomato, cucumber and olives, for serving

    For the Spicy Tahini Sauce

    • 1tablespoon fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
    • 1 to 2teaspoons harissa paste or other hot sauce, or a large pinch of Urfa or Aleppo pepper, plus more to taste
    • 1fat garlic clove, finely grated, passed through a press or minced
    • ¼teaspoon fine sea or table salt
    • cup tahini
    • cup ice water, plus more as needed
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (2 servings)

835 calories; 60 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 35 grams monounsaturated fat; 14 grams polyunsaturated fat; 67 grams carbohydrates; 21 grams dietary fiber; 16 grams sugars; 23 grams protein; 1697 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Arrange racks in the upper and lower thirds of your oven. Heat oven to 425 degrees.

  2. Step 2

    Prepare the cauliflower: In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, cumin, paprika, salt, coriander, turmeric, black pepper and cayenne. Add cauliflower and onion, and toss until well coated. Spread mixture in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.

  3. Step 3

    Roast vegetables on the top oven rack until they are golden brown, slightly crisp and tender, 30 to 40 minutes, stirring once or twice. If the vegetables look dry as they roast, drizzle with a little more olive oil.

  4. Step 4

    As they cook, prepare the tahini sauce: Whisk together lemon juice, 1 teaspoon harissa, garlic and salt in a small bowl, and let sit for a minute or two to mellow the garlic. Whisk in tahini. Whisk in ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is smooth and thin enough to drizzle. You may not need all of the water or you may need to add a little more: Tahini brands vary a lot. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more harissa, lemon juice and salt if you like. The sauce should taste zippy and creamy.

  5. Step 5

    Warm the pitas or flatbread by placing them directly on the bottom oven rack during the last 5 minutes as the vegetables roast. (Or you can warm the bread on another baking pan if that’s easier for you.)

  6. Step 6

    Scatter parsley on top of the roasted vegetables and serve with warm pitas, tahini sauce, chopped tomato, cucumber and olives.

Ratings

5 out of 5
5,673 user ratings
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Cooking Notes

Have made this two more times since my initial review. Eating it while stoned is currently the main source of joy and self-fulfillment in my life.

We have been eating plant based for over 80% of our meals by choice for a couple of decades now and this recipe 'called our names' for a perfect dinner and it was that! Made per recipe for ingredients and technique except for swapping in fresh cilantro for the parsley in and instead of serving with pita or flatbread we served this with rice and the tahini sauce drizzled over all. The tomato (we used quartered cherry ones), cukes and olives for garnish were perfect finish.

Melissa Clark could make a phone book delicious.

I made this dish tonight for my husband and I. I am always looking for vegan side dishes to accompany the main meal. I have been married for 31 years, and my husband said this was the best dish I ever made. He gave it 12 stars out of 10. It was enjoyable, and very difficult to stop eating it.. I want more of your recipes.

So funny, I have been making this, almost exactly, for several days after my husband bought too much cauliflower. So delicious! Also good in corn tortillas. And I do the cauliflower in my air fryer. Crispy and easy clean up.

I suggest you sprinkle in a few capers if you don't have olives and cubed avocado pieces (not mushy ones!) - they go well with tomatoes and cucumbers.

This is SO delicious! I added a can of chickpeas, rinsed and patted dry, to the other vegetables, and subbed berbere for paprika because I prefer the flavor, but otherwise followed the directions. I plan to make this often. Great recipe! Thank you, Melissa.

This was one of the best recipes I’ve tried in a long time! I added a red bell pepper to the roasted veg, but otherwise followed the recipe. It’s key to mix the spices in the olive oil, then toss the veg very well to make sure it’s fully coated. Spicy tahini sauce was delicious. Tomato, cucumber, olives, and cilantro (or parsley) are mandatory. I also served with hummus— for those wanting some chickpeas/added protein.

In the absence of olives we added some crumbled feta on top - same salty briny-ness with the added benefit of being cheese, which is never a bad thing. Also used a pinch of Asafoetida (billed the 'Indian MSG') on the cauli and onions which gave them that good good savoury hit - delish.

I'd make this again. If you like the spices, try using extra. I find tahini to be bitter so I used salt, lime juice and extra harissa to balance its bitterness. A planning note: a 2-1/2 pound head of cauliflower makes closer to 5-6 servings when served inside pita.

I made a cucumber, red onion, cherry tomato, feta, and avocado salad with lemon juice and dill to throw on top kinda like a taco garnish and it was 👌🏻

Some feta or chickpeas would add a protein and make a complete meal.

Sprayed the veg with avocado oil and had no olives so subbed capers. Served with naan. A definite keeper!

Quite a delicious recipe! I had a container of firm tofu, which I drained, broke up by hand and added to the cauliflower and onion in the oil and spice mixture. The craggy edges held the spices beautifully and added some protein to this fabulous vegetarian dish. I’ll be making this again!

Made this tonight. It was a hit for the whole family. I also added some quick pickled (rice wine vinegar) carrot and cucumber matchsticks on top and used rice instead of pita. I had some ground turkey to use up, so I browned it and added a similar mix of spices shawarma spices. All of it together was wonderful with the sauce.

Excellent recipe! We added Trader Joe's Tapenade to the Tahini sauce... delicious! Will definitely make again!

This was delicious! I added sliced bell peppers and roasted with the cauliflower and onions. Instead of the tahini, I used store-bought tzatziki. Topped with the tomatoes and cucumbers, and rolled up in a warm lavash bread. My 11-year old complains about everything I cook. Her silence as she ate the whole thing spoke volumes.

Holy cow! I saw this and was intrigued, but nothing could prepare me for how amazing this was. Even my husband, who generally fully endorses anything I make and was skeptical here, was immediately converted. Try this, you will not regret it. I did add one cubed Russet potato, but it would be killer as written.

Add sumac and za’atar. Chefs kiss!

One of my all time favorite NYT Cooking recipes. Have made it multiple times as written, but I always also make a quick tzatziki to go with (since you already are using lemon and have a cucumber to dice to go with it, all you really need is some yogurt). The spicy tahini sauce is great, but I like both sauces/condiments. Whole family loves.

Round one with this dish yielded something pleasant but not exceptional (OK, I take that back, the tahini sauce was yummy, yes). I wanted a round two, though, and this time I rounded up all the spices, especially the ones supplying the heat and…bam! That was it! Fast, easy, delicious, and 100% satisfying.

Definitely needs more olive oil.

One teaspoon harissa

I didn’t have harissa on hand but this recipe photo called to me so I went off script and subbed in gochujang. Delicious. Husband asked for this to get added to our go-to meals. Except now I know to go ahead and double the cauliflower x spicy tahini bc you’re gonna want to eat this all week :)

It would really help if you listed in either the notes or ingredient list all the alternatives that Melissa proposes in her video.

Made with a shirazi salad (tomato, cucumber, onion, lime, oil, salt, parsley, mint, sumac) and served on a pita with some feta... so good.

Delicious, my whole family loved it, I've made it a couple of times, doubling the recipe both times.

This was a huge hit in our house, even with the kids. I would add pomegranate seeds next time for some added flavour and crunch.

As I didn’t have time to roast for 40 minutes, I cooked it in a pot. I sautéed the sliced onions and then added the cauliflower that had already been mixed with spices and oil. It only took 15-20 minutes. Not the same texture, but a nice side dish. The sauce is spicy! Of course with an air fryer the time issue would have been solved.

This was delicious and practically lick the plate worthy. I just wish I had made more of the tahini sauce

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