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Cauliflower Cake and the Magic of Kindness

[additional-authors]
October 31, 2018

To say that the shooting at the Pittsburgh synagogue on Oct. 27 was heartbreaking and frightening is a great understatement. Almost as scary were the myriad rage-filled reactions on Facebook and Twitter. In between heinous accusations and politically charged vitriol, the fear and outrage that played out over that weekend on social media were a sad reflection on the poor state of our societal discourse. Our new cultural norm of interaction: petty recriminations, needless blame, explosive anger, and extreme and unkind rhetoric. 

Our rage is understandable — our sanctuaries have been made to feel like danger zones. It’s no coincidence that in Israel, where citizens have no choice but to live with the constant stress of war, with rockets and suicide bombings in the background, there is an undeniable pressure-cooker intensity that imbues Israelis with a rather short fuse in their everyday interactions. It is when we are shaken to our core and feeling vulnerable that panic and hysteria take hold — a downward spiraling cycle of outrage that may feel cathartic at the time but inevitably does more harm than good.

How do we transform our rage and anger when we are faced with such a senseless act of depravity? When I was a teenager, my father came up with some ground rules for our family by instituting a policy that he called “our new family creed.” He named it the “make people happy” religion and if one of us was being unkind or discourteous to the other, my father would look at us and say, “Make people happy.” As incredibly annoying as it was at the time when we wanted to just get in a good zinger, only a few years later I realized that, in essence, this philosophy was a simple, almost magical path to greater happiness and contentment. At the core, it’s the basic tenants of courtesy and kindness that are at the very heart of the world’s great religions. In the Torah, chesed — the act of loving-kindness — is thought to be Judaism’s primary ethical virtue. 

In addition to acting out of love and kindness, in stressful times, I’m reminded of the healing powers of the Jewish ritual of shivah, when mourners are surrounded by family and friends, sharing stories and being fed meals of condolence by neighbors and relatives. This has a powerful healing effect on the mourners but also on the caregivers. Though it may seem simple, perhaps even to the point of insignificance, lighting a candle, cooking a meal for someone or simply being there to listen — these small acts embody humanity’s grandest and highest ideals. 

If you feel moved in the wake of the Pittsburgh shootings, as tempting as it may be to get on your social media platform of choice and shout your outrage from the rooftops of the virtual world, I have a suggestion that may make you feel better. What follows is a recipe for a cauliflower cake from the shining star of the Israeli culinary world, Yotam Ottolenghi. In keeping with the tradition of serving eggs and vegetables when sitting shivah, this quick casserole is soul-satisfying sustenance for anyone you make it for. It won’t take you but an hour to prepare, the ingredients are simple and straightforward, and it’s flavored not bold or sharp but just savory enough to be comforting. 

I made it after I lit a candle for the Pittsburgh victims and their families whose lives were shattered just by being at the right place at a very wrong time. I let it cool and brought a few pieces of it wrapped in a pretty box to my new next-door neighbors to welcome them to the neighborhood. I was received with such surprise and warmth that even now the thought of it brings a smile to my face. 

“In keeping with the tradition of serving eggs and vegetables when sitting shivah, this quick casserole is soul-satisfying sustenance for anyone you make it for.”

It prompted me to remember a quote from one of my favorite people who once remarked to me, “There is still beauty amidst the rubble here.” How fortunate we are that even the smallest gesture of kindness offered to a stranger, many miles away from where the families of this tragedy are sitting shivah, can remind us of that.

The recipe below is from Yotam Ottolenghi’s “Plenty More” cookbook.

Cauliflower Cake
1 lb. cauliflower, outer leaves removed, broken into small florets
1 medium red onion, peeled (6 ounces)
5 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary
7 Large eggs
1/2 cup basil leaves, chopped
1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 teaspoons ground turmeric
5 oz. coarsely grated Parmesan cheese (or other mature hard cheese)
1 teaspoon melted butter, for brushing
1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
1 teaspoon nigella seeds (optional)
2 teaspoons sea salt
Black pepper (to taste)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place cauliflower in a saucepan with 1 teaspoon salt, cover with water and simmer for 15 minutes or until florets are soft enough to break when pressed with a spoon. Drain and set aside in a colander to dry.

Cut 4 round slices, each 1/4-inch thick, off one end of the peeled onion and set aside for garnish. Coarsely chop the rest of the onion and place in a small pan with the oil and rosemary. Cook for 10 minutes over medium heat, stirring from time to time, until soft. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. 

Whisk the eggs and basil together. Add the flour, baking powder, turmeric, cheese, 1 teaspoon of salt and black pepper and whisk gently until no lumps of flour remain. Add the cooled onions and the cauliflower and mix without breaking the florets.

Line the base of a 9 1/2-inch cake pan (springform if you have it) with parchment paper and brush the sides with melted butter. Mix together the sesame and nigella seeds and toss them around inside the pan so they adhere to the sides. 

Pour the cauliflower–egg mixture into the pan, spreading it evenly, and then arrange the reserved onion rings on top. Place in the center of the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes, just until golden brown on top, and set. To test for doneness, insert a knife into the center of the cake; if it comes out clean, the cake is ready. Remove from oven and set aside for at least 20 minutes before serving. The cake is best served warm or even at room temperature. Serves 10

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