1
medium head cauliflower, cut into small florets (about 2½ pounds)
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons
extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons
kosher salt
3 tablespoons
red wine vinegar
1
shallot, thinly sliced
1
lemon
¼ cup
slivered almonds
2 tablespoons
cumin seeds
2 tablespoons
sesame seeds
¼ cup
chopped fresh parsley
½ cup
dried cherries, halved
1
serrano pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
Method
Preheat the oven to 425°F with a rack in the center position.
Add the cauliflower to a rimmed sheet pan in a single layer. Toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and season with 1 teaspoon of the salt. Roast until golden, about 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the red wine vinegar, shallot, and remaining 1 teaspoon of salt.
Use a peeler to remove the zest from the lemon, making sure to just get the yellow peel, avoiding the white pith.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the remaining olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is glistening, add the lemon peel, almonds, cumin seeds, and sesame seeds and cook, stirring often, until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel lined-plate and let cool. Once cooled, roughly chop.
Add the remaining ¼ cup of olive oil, parsley, cherries, serrano peppers and cauliflower to bowl with the shallots. Add the chopped almond mixture and toss until combined.