Roasted Cauliflower & Cannellini Pesto Mash

I wanted a new cauliflower dish to try and found this recipe, courtesy of Jamie Oliver.   I changed it slightly, as I was missing some ingredients, but rest assured this dish is divine, an absolute cracker.

1 onion thinly sliced
1 cauliflower
3 tbsp olive oil
400 g can cannellini beans
15 g almonds
50 g cooked spinach
Pinch of chilli powder
1 tsp lemon zest
Salt and pepper

Serves 2

Pre-heat the oven to 180°.   Remove all the leaves from the cauliflower and trim the stalk.   Cook the whole cauliflower in boiling water for 3 mins, drain and refresh in cold water.

Cut the cauliflower into 2 cm thick slices and place on a baking tray.   Some florets will fall off, but arrange them on the tray alongside the slices.   Mix 1 tbsp oil with the chilli powder and brush onto the cauliflower and cook in the oven, until browned and tender, when pierced with a knife.

Put 1 tbsp oil in a frying pan and cook the onion, until browned and crisp, then set aside on kitchen roll, to remove excess oil.

Toast the almonds in a dry pan until golden brown, being careful not to burn them.

Blitz the spinach, lemon zest, almonds, remaining oil and plenty salt and pepper, until you get a smooth green pesto.

Drain the cannellini beans, reserving 2 tbsp of their liquid, place in a pan and mash with a potato masher, then mix in the pesto and warm through.

Divide half the pesto mash onto two plates, top with the cauliflower, remaining pesto mash and the crispy onions.   I also added small baked potatoes and roasted carrots and it made a heavenly dinner.