Whole roasted cauliflower with anchovy sauce

• large cauliflower↗1whole

  1whole

• olive oil↗

  for drizzling

• banana shallots↗2

  finely chopped

• garlic cloves↗3

  finely sliced

• dried chilli flakes↗good pinch

  good pinch

• salted anchovies↗8

  finely chopped

• tomatoes↗600g g

  finely chopped

• vegetable stock↗75ml ml
• double cream↗100ml ml
• salted butter↗50g g

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat oven to 200C/180C/gas 6. Remove the leaves from the cauliflower and set aside to use later. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and blanch the cauliflower for 4-5 mins. Drain well.

2. 2

   Put the cauliflower in a roasting tin and drizzle all over with olive oil. Season well and roast for 40-50 mins until tender and golden.

3. 3

   Meanwhile, make the sauce. Drizzle a little oil in a pan and gently fry the shallots for 10 mins until softened. Add half the garlic and the chilli flakes and cook for a minute more. Add the anchovies and let them dissolve, then add the tomatoes and stock.

4. 4

   Season and cook for 10-15 mins until the tomatoes have broken down. Add the cream and bubble for another minute.

5. 5

   Heat the butter in a separate pan with the rest of the garlic and fry the cauliflower leaves with plenty of seasoning. Serve the cauliflower on the buttery leaves, with the anchovy sauce spooned over the top.