Leftover Love: Ottolenghi's Cauliflower Cumin Fritters

I make a lot of fritters with leftovers, just seems like the right thing to do.

Every leftover veggie can be chopped and mixed w/ spices, herbs and eggs to create delicious pancakes, served with a fried egg on top for breakfast, as a first course made into little fritters, or along side fish for dinner.

I've done it with quinoa, broccoli, cheeses, you name it.

Think potato latke, only without the potato.

Here is another delicious recipe from one of my very favorite cookbooks Ottolenghi. These were originally made by Sami's Middle Eastern mother, and it is her recipe.

They are the best damn fritters we have tried so far. I think it's the cinnamon that sets them apart from other vegetable fritters I have made.

The original recipe wants you to boil the cauliflower, but since I always seem to have leftover roasted cauli, I used that.

Lime Yogurt Cilantro Sauce:

1 cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt (I used lowfat, no big deal)
2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Kosher salt & pepper

Mix all the ingredients for the dipping sauce. Can be made an hour ahead.

Cauliflower Fritters: (adapted from Ottolenghi)

1 small cauliflower, about 3/4 pound, cut into little florets
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley, plus whole leaves for garnish
2 shallots, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
4 large eggs, preferably organic (I used 3 extra large eggs)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
hot pepper flakes (optional, but I add them for a brighter taste)

Cook the cauliflower how you normally would. Roast it 30 minutes at 400F w/ olive oil and kosher salt, or boil it for 15 minutes (lots of bad memories about boiled cauliflower....thanks mom).

Mash it with a potato masher and add in the rest of the ingredients. Mix together.

Heat a big frying pan with vegetable, sunflower or coconut oil (about 2/3 inch of oil).

Fry the fritters in batches. You can make them as big or as small as you like.

About a minute and 30 seconds on each side.

Blot on paper towels and serve w/ the delicious lime yogurt dipping sauce.

These freeze well too........just take them out and thaw an hour before putting in the toaster oven to reheat.

A delicious bite!