Cauliflower with Nam Pla Minnow
Author Notes: Nam Pla Minnow (fish sauce and lime) is a sauce that flavors Thai home cooking-- from fried egg to a shredded green papaya salad. This recipe is part Momofuku (his roasted brussel sprouts), and part my own creation. - edamame2003 —edamame2003
Food52 Review: We loved the contrasting flavors and vibrancy of this Thai-inspired cauliflower dish, whose garlicky fish sauce and lime juice dressing really packs a punch. Don't worry if the panko falls off the cauliflower while cooking; think of them more as a breadcrumb topping rather than a batter. We added our dressing to the cauliflower while it was still in the pan, which helped mellow its assertiveness, but you can add it in the serving bowl as well. – Lauren —The Editors
Serves 2 or 4 as an appetizer
Nam Pla Minnow
- 2 garlic cloves
- 3 bird chili peppers (seeds removed)
- 1 tablespoon palm sugar (or regular sugar)
- 1/4 cup lime juice (minnow)
- 1/8 cup fish sauce (nam pla)
Cauliflower
- 1 cauliflower head (cut into florets)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 cup panko
- 2 tablespoons grape seed oil
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- Drop cauliflower in boiling water for 30 seconds and remove. Drain and let cool.
- Thinly coat the cauliflower with flour/black pepper, then through the beaten egg and dredge through the panko.
- Heat the oil in a pan and brown the cauliflower--about 8 minutes (until browned and crispy). Remove and set aside.
- For the sauce:
- In a mortar, pound the birds eye chili, garlic and palm sugar, until a paste-like texture.
- Add fish sauce and lime juice and dissolve the chili, garlic, sugar mixture.
- Toss the cauliflower with the sauce.
- Garnish with cilantro.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Cauliflower Recipe
More Great Recipes: Side Dishes|Vegetables|Cauliflower
almost 6 years ago Corrin
Sounds incredible. I can't wait to try it.