Cauliflower Tikka Masala

I wish I could say that I have some logic or method for selecting recipes to try. But I don't, and I even boggle myself on why I decide to try something. Vegetarian Gastronomy's Cauliflower Tikka Masala recipe is one of those instances.

I like chicken tikka masala but have never been inspired to make it, even after I finally added a number of spices to my pantry that are used in Indian cooking. But for some reason, I saw the cauliflower version through PureWow's turmeric guide and got inspired. I think I was drawn to another way to cook cauliflower, the recipe looked very doable, and I already have most of the ingredients.

When I'm inspired to make a dish, I usually do a web search to compare recipes and try to find more authentic recipes. Not this time. So, I realized after I was in the middle of making this that it is actually a vegan recipe that uses coconut milk instead of heavy cream. Not a bad thing and I was pretty pleased with how it tasted.

One hesitation I had about this vegan recipe was that it includes red bell pepper, which I didn't see as a common ingredient in non-vegan tikka masala recipes. So I'm not sure what was behind using red bell pepper...texture, flavor, personal taste? Reason for my hesitation is because I dislike bell peppers, especially the green ones. I don't like their flavor and I think their taste lingers well after a meal. But, I don't avoid eating a dish that has them and will eat around the peppers if I have to. And if I actually eat them, I'd rather eat red or orange ones that are roasted or cooked down because they are slightly sweeter. I'm very happy to say that the bell pepper flavor was mild in this dish. Maybe because it was blended up.

I passed on the optional cashew cream. And I don't have mustard seeds and left that out because I hate buying spices for one dish. I also don't think it's necessary to grate the ginger since it goes into the blender anyway, so I just minced it to save time and have one less tool to wash. 

Blended sauce returned to pan with spices added

Cauliflower added in

I served this with yummy jasmine rice to mix with all that good sauce. Finishing the dish with fresh cilantro really finishes the dish. Overall, I liked this dish quite a bit and would make it again. It can be a main dish or a side. I'd probably try it with cream and leave out the bell pepper to see how the flavor of the dish changes.

Cauliflower tikka masala served over jasmine rice

My Rating (out of 5): 4

Cha Cha Matcha Review

Even though green tea became more known and popular in the U.S. a few years ago, it seems that matcha-centric cafes have been popping up recently. Or was I just oblivious in the past? I've been a long time fan of green tea/matcha since childhood so I was excited to find out about a matcha shop.

Cha Cha Matcha is a new matcha shop at the border of Nolita and Little Italy. I was nearby for an errand and took the opportunity to check the place out. There are a number of things about this new shop that charmed me.

They offer hot and cold matcha drinks (not just lattes) and matcha pastries. But they also have matcha & vanilla soft serve ice cream and matcha & yuzu lemonade slushies! I definitely had a hard time deciding what to try, but I settled on an iced coconut matcha latte and a soft serve swirl.

The latte wasn't bad. Neither the matcha nor coconut flavors were overwhelming. Unlike a matcha latte at Starbucks, I liked that this wasn't sweet so you can control how much sweetener to add. At $5, I didn't find it overpriced in this day and age, even in NYC, for a 16 oz. cup. They didn't charge more for ordering it iced which I've seen some coffee shops do.

The matcha vanilla swirl was definitely my favorite of the two. I mean, it's ice cream. The vanilla was just a tad too sweet for my preference but the matcha flavor was just right. The matcha ice cream was smooth with good green tea flavor without any bitterness. I couldn't resist the swirl because it looks pretty, but I'd just get matcha ice cream next time. It's a really good sized serving at $4, especially with artisan ice cream shops charging more for a small single scoop.

Their name is fun. Their website says the name is derived from the Japanese word for tea, ocha. But I love their play on words to create a bright, fun tropical design concept as a nod to the cha cha dance's origin.

They go the extra effort to have custom cups and cup sleeves with their logo and design. I think this is a nice touch of detail that adds to the fun vibe. The "I love you so matcha" cup sleeve is just cute.

There are a good number of tables and seating inside. Plenty of outdoor bench seating with an expandable awning for sun shade.

Plus, they have a punch card to get a free drink after purchasing 9 drinks. Even the card design is cute!

They only accept credit cards and use Square's payment processing. If you have an email on file with Square and get digital receipts, Cha Cha Matcha's receipts also award stars for each visit and offers 50% off your next purchase after 5 purchases. So this is another bonus on top of the frequent buyer punch card.

I'd definitely go back when I'm in the area to try other items. And if they decide to open up another shop or two, I wouldn't mind as long as they can keep their local, neighborhood feel.

11.1.2016 UPDATE: I've been back to Cha Cha Matcha a few more times and still enjoying the vibe and products. While match soft serve is always available, they have been changing up the second flavor on offer. Pink lemonade was available this summer and fit perfectly with their color theme (check out my Instagram post), and they recently replaced it with coconut soft serve.

My Rating (out of 5):  4

Cha Cha Matcha
373 Broome St.
New York, NY 10013
chachamatcha.com