Would you like to see more middle eastern recipes on chef in disguise?
I posed this question on my facebook page and now I am asking you, my dear readers.
As you may or may not know I live in Jordan, one of the levant countries (countries bordering on the eastern Mediterranean Sea). That is why you may have noticed that I use a lot of olive oil, fresh herbs,vegetables and spices in my cooking.
The middle eastern cuisine is rich and diverse and though some recipes like hummus, baklava,shawerma and tabbouleh have become known worldwide, there are still many wonderful recipes worth trying and exploring.
I’m not suggesting that from now on I will only blog about middle eastern food, I am just asking if you would be interested in seeing some more middle eastern recipes here…maybe like once a week or every other week?
These cauliflower fritters are high on my favorite list. I know what you are thinking..cauliflower! you have to be kidding! You were just talking about exciting and refreshing recipes why start with good old boring cauliflower?
Well the answer is simple, this is an example of how a recipe can transform an ingredient from boring to sensational. These fritters hide under their golden crust a feast of flavors. The batter contains mint, parsley, cumin, cardamom, all spice, cinnamon, onions and green onions.. together they form a true symphony of flavors that will cause your taste buds to dance. Don’t believe me?
Try making these, at first you will skeptically try one, pleasantly surprised yet still curious comes another, then another and before you know it the plate will be empty 
Cauliflower fritters
One small head of cauliflower or half a large one
6 eggs
2 tablespoons of powdered milk (optional)
1 punch of parsley (around 1 lightly packed cup)
Handful of mint
one medium onion
one green onion
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon all spice
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup of flour (the amount may vary according to the size of the eggs.You need to add enough flour to get a thick batter)
1 teaspoon baking powder
Cut the cauliflower into flowerets and place them in a pot filled with water, bring them to a boil and cook until you can insert a fork in them (You don’t want to over cook them or they will become soggy and the fritters won’t have texture in them)
Drain,set aside (you can do this a day or two in advance and store them in the fridge)
In the food processor beat the eggs untill pale
Add the mint, parsley, onions (white and green) and pulse untill the herbs and onions are finely chopped.
Add the spices, salt, flour and the powdered milk beat untill combined.
Break your flowerets into small pieces and stir them into the batter
Heat about an inch (2.5 cm) of vegetable oil in a pan.
When the oil is hot drop dollops of 1-2 tablespoon of your cauliflower batter in the hot oil.
Keep your fritters a little apart because they will spread slightly and you don’t want them to fuse together (until you are aiming to make a giant fritter)
using a spoon take some of the oil and pour it on top of the fritters (This will start cooking the tops of the fritters and that prevents them from spreading too much)
When the bottom becomes golden brown flip the fritters and cook them on the other side (as you can see I like mine deep golden brown but feel free to cook them to your desired color)
Serve with a squeeze of lemon. Enjoy!
Note as with all fried food you don’t want the oil to be too hot because that will cook the outside of the fritter too quickly and the centers will still be undercooked. Keep the oil on medium high heat and once you flip the fritters lower the heat a little to give them a chance to cook all the way through.
narf77
/ February 20, 2013I love fritters of all forms especially thin sliced veggies or grated veggies. These look delicious
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ February 22, 2013I do too and this is one of my favorites. I hope you will enjoy it too
hotlyspiced
/ August 15, 2012I know people say cauliflower is boring but I actually like it. I love how you’ve used it in this fritters. These would have sensational flavour. And yes, I would love to see more recipes from your part of the world xx
Sarah @ Homestyle Cooking Around The World
/ March 1, 2012These are amazing! I saved and pinned this to try soon! I love Middle Eastern cuisine and love what you have here.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ March 2, 2012Thank you so much Sarah for stopping by, the comment and the pin
Hope you’ll stop by here again and again
Choc Chip Uru
/ February 25, 2012These are so tasty!!! I bet would be wonderful with some sweet chilli sauce
Great post!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Latest: Two Twix Fudgy ‘Whities’
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ February 26, 2012Thank you, glad you like it
kathryningrid
/ December 21, 2011I absolutely love cauliflower, and my husband thinks he doesn’t like it. But I’ll bet if he had some of these fritters he would get a big surprise and discover how good it is! They look delicious!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ December 21, 2011I love cauliflower too and this recipe is indeed a great way to convert people who think they don’t love cauliflower
zeki
/ October 25, 2011truly delicious..thank you again!
the only thing I didnt do was add the milk as it was optional, whats the difference in adding it? I know some people thin the batter if needed with water.
thefooddoctor
/ October 26, 2011The milk adds flavor,adds to the nutritional value and makes it more fluffy
Thank you again for your kind comment
zeki
/ October 23, 2011wow, these were utterly delicious,I followed your recipe , truly the best mshat I ever had!!!,perfect texture and crunch,fluffy,not greasy,aromatic and full of flavor,..thank you so much for posting this exquisite Palestinian/Jordanian specialty
thefooddoctor
/ October 24, 2011Glad you liked it Zeki
This is my mum’s recipe and I wouldn’t try it any other way
Cory
/ July 26, 2011J’aime vraiment votre article. J’ai essaye de trouver de nombreux en ligne et trouver le v?tre pour être la meilleure de toutes.
Mon francais n’est pas tres bon, je suis de l’Allemagne.
Mon blog:
regroupement de credit ou sos Rachat de credit
Kevin (Closet Cooking)
/ July 24, 2011Those cauliflower fritters look amazing!
thefooddoctor
/ July 25, 2011Thank you kindly
Dua
/ July 17, 2011made it today! never used baking powder before!made a difference,also adding more flour,thanks for the tip,it is perfect!
thefooddoctor
/ July 17, 2011Thank you so much for the feedback Dua..
this is the way my mum makes it..
the baking powder makes it light on the inside and crispy on the outside
Liz
/ July 2, 2011Oh, these look incredible! I love zucchini fritters and corn fritters, so why not? This sounds so wonderful and full of flavor…I can’t resist these beauties!
thefooddoctor
/ July 3, 2011Thank you Liz..never tried corn fritters..will give it a try soon
Hannah (BitterSweet)
/ July 1, 2011Yes, I love middle eastern flavors!
These look great- And I just fried up a batch of cauliflower myself, too. Very different spicing though, so I could always go for more…
thefooddoctor
/ July 2, 2011Thank you Hannah..
would love to check out your recipe for cauliflower..I bet it is amazing
foodblogandthedog
/ July 1, 2011I would definitely love more Middle Eastern recipes. These cauliflower fritters are similar to ones I made last week from my new favourite cookbook, Ottolenghi! I think that the Middle East has some of the best vegetarian recipes in the world, every one I have tried I have loved, so keep them coming!!
thefooddoctor
/ July 2, 2011Thank you so much for the encouragment..there are ALOT of middle eastern vegeteranian dishes..there is a whole category called olive oil dishes..I hope you’ll like the coming recipes
kitchenbelleicious
/ July 1, 2011I love that fritters are supposed to look mishaped and not perfect! That is what makes them fritters. These are the BOMB! I love anything fried (of course) but cauliflower? It sounds too good to be true! I can’t wait to try them out
thefooddoctor
/ July 1, 2011Yes! no pressure to get perfect little bites..their beauty is in their mishape..
thank you so much for your comment and follow up
Manu
/ July 1, 2011I LOVE cauliflower fritters! My mom used to make something similar (but with different herbs/spices) when I was a child and I used to LOVE them. I enjoy so much reading middle eastern recipes… the remind me of the Mediterranean area and I think many recipes/ingredients have a connection with Southern Italy! So bring it on, I’d love to learn more!!!
thefooddoctor
/ July 1, 2011Thank you so much Manu..I can’t wait to hear your particular feed back about the coming recipes
Nami @ Just One Cookbook
/ July 1, 2011I didn’t know cauliflowers are not that popular until I start reading other blogs. That’s one of my favorite veggie… maybe I’m strange? But your fritters look DELICIOUS! I always appreciate more cauliflower recipes (maybe not popular so I don’t see many). So big thanks to you. As for the Mediterranean food, I’d love it if you featured more. It’s always fun to know what you are eating, and it’s going to be even more fun if you cook and showed us (instead of finding it out at a restaurant etc). So please, please show more!
thefooddoctor
/ July 1, 2011Thank you so much Nami, I like cauliflower too and cook it in many many ways..I really hope you’ll like and maybe try some mediteranian recipes..looking forward to your feedback
divz27@gmail.com
/ July 1, 2011These fritters look amazing. I actually grew up in Saudi Arabia and I miss the food, so I would definitely look forward to more Middle Eastern recipes.
thefooddoctor
/ July 1, 2011Glad you like the idea of more middle eastern recipes…I hope you’ll like what’s coming
kankana
/ July 1, 2011oh wow .. i love cauliflower fritters .. They make cauliflower a star !
thefooddoctor
/ July 1, 2011They do …don’t they
Thank you Kankana
Holly
/ July 1, 2011and yes – more middle eastern recipes – would love it! middle eastern food is wonderful!
thefooddoctor
/ July 1, 2011hope you like what’s coming then
Holly
/ July 1, 2011No – I did not know you live in Jordan. I am SOOO glad i do now. I would love to visit. Please keep telling us more!
thefooddoctor
/ July 1, 2011Thank you so much Holly..
What do you want to know about Jordan?
didta
/ June 30, 2011aw it makes me humgry
thefooddoctor
/ July 1, 2011Caroline
/ June 30, 2011I would love to see more middle eastern recipes, as they’re always so unique! They inspire me to step outside of my comfort zone. These fried fritters look amazing. But, what’s not to love about fried food?
thefooddoctor
/ July 1, 2011thank you for the encouragement Caroline
tanja@tanjascookingcorner
/ June 30, 2011I told you already on FB, but will do it again here: I would love to learn more about Middle Eastern recipes! Beside Hummus, Tabbouleh & Baklava there are not so many dishes I had the chance to taste (yet
). So, I am really looking forward to your recipes!!! The cauliflower fritters look so tasty, I can imagine that the combination of mint, parsley, onions and various spices causes a taste explosion! 
thefooddoctor
/ June 30, 2011Thank you so much Tanja..You are always too kind..
There is so much more than hummus and Tabbouleh…stay tuned and I rally hope you will like what is to come
chicaandaluza
/ June 30, 2011Yes pleases, yes please!! And I love cauliflower fritters. have never done them exactly like this, but they look amazing and I know I´ll enjoy them.
thefooddoctor
/ June 30, 2011You are too kind Tanya
thank you
Maureen
/ June 30, 2011I love Middleastern food! It tastes so good and it’s good for us. I vote yes.
thefooddoctor
/ June 30, 2011Thank you Maureen..it is really good becuase of all of the healthy ingredients
fatisrecipes
/ June 30, 2011Truth is I realllly don’t like fried cauliflower….you probably know the “maqaalee” days they have, fried eggplant, fried cauliflower, fried potato, lots of garlic, lots of salad, and lots of sandwich making…. It’s those days that I really don’t like…
Battering the cauliflower might just be the hidden secret for my unhappy maqaalee days to turn into one I look forward to. Thanks for sharing this, really want to try it when the maqaalee thing pops up again…
thefooddoctor
/ June 30, 2011Hello Fati…I know what you mean…but I promise this is entirely different…give it a try and I really hope it will change your mind
ChefMom
/ June 30, 2011I would love some more Middle Eastern recipes! We’ve covered Egypt and Libya so far on our cooking adventures and both were a hit. My best friend recently vacationed in Jordan and brought us back a bottle of wine to have when we make it our international pick. I’m so excited to know that’s where you are…now I know who to consult for recipes!
thefooddoctor
/ June 30, 2011It would be my pleasure to help you with anything you need..
Thank you for your support for the idea of more middle eastern dishes..I really hope you’ll like what’s coming
Kelly
/ June 30, 2011Wow these look incredible! I love cauliflower and your use of herbs and spices go so well together, I bet this tasted amazing
thefooddoctor
/ June 30, 2011Thank you Kelly…it is the herbs and spices that make all the difference..
Thank you for stopping by my blog
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
/ June 30, 2011All for any recipes you want to give. Love reading and trying all sorts of new food. These look great!
thefooddoctor
/ June 30, 2011Thank you Erin..that is the fun part about blogging…trying new stuff all the time
Desserts In My Kitchen
/ June 30, 2011Very nice. I say you transformed cauliflower into a master piece. I can see how all the flavors can combine nicely. Yummy!
thefooddoctor
/ June 30, 2011Thank you so much for your kind comment…
I really appreciate it
The Culinary Lens
/ June 30, 2011I have made deep fried cauliflower fritters before but very plainly seasoned. I love the blend of seasoning in this. I would love to see more cuisine from your part of the world.
thefooddoctor
/ June 30, 2011Thank you for your kind reply…as for the fritters, cauliflower is somewhat bland and it needs some spicing up
Maris (In Good Taste)
/ June 30, 2011I love to read about food from different cultures. You have a wonderful blog and I enjoy reading all your posts
thefooddoctor
/ June 30, 2011That means so much coming from you Maris..you are too kind
ovenhaven
/ June 30, 2011Oh wow, I would’ve never thought of cauliflower fritters! With all the spices that go into them, they sound really flavourful and delish
thefooddoctor
/ July 1, 2011Thank you so much..the spices and herbs are the stars of the dish..
thank you for stopping by
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide
/ June 30, 2011Yes, I would! Pretty please. I’m not as familiar with the cuisine so it’ll help me broaden my culinary horizons. Great fritters.
thefooddoctor
/ July 1, 2011It would be my pleasure then