I’m going to let you in on a little secret.
I don’t cook every single meal from scratch. I know, I know.
SPOILER ALERT: It’s a bit like finding out Santa Claus doesn’t exist and the Tooth Fairy is nothing more than a fabrication, albeit, a really weird deceit. Whoever came up with that idea clearly had issues. I mean seriously, a winged creature who sneaks into your wee ones bedrooms at night for the sole purpose of exchanging teeth for money. What does she do with all those teeth? Does she sell them on the black market? Does she have a little treasure trove of teeth in her fairy cave? Do fairies even live in caves or do they live in pink pleasure palaces surrounded by glitter? I digress.
Sometimes I take shortcuts when I cook, especially this time of year.
I work in an accounting department, and the month of December is like being an ER doc when there’s a full moon. It’s madness, I tell you, madness. Throw holiday preparations and shenanigans into the mix, and suddenly bare bones cooking isn’t my highest priority. Truly, I just want to survive the month with my health and sanity intact. I also kind of want to enjoy the holiday season, which I don’t think is asking too much. See, I have simple needs, the kind which don’t involve snatching up other people’s teeth and taking them back to my weird fetish lair; not that I have one of those.
Right now, I just want something easy for dinner; aside from the Hubby that is.
I want something titillating and tasty, without putting forth much effort to get it.
I want something which will leave me feeling satisfied and satiated.
I want something which will warm the cockles of my heart and maybe even my hands because they’re always cold this time of year.
I want something which requires no mental prowess to make.
I want something I can eat out of a bowl, so I can curl up on the couch while I inhale it.
I want something I can make once and have it feed me multiple times throughout the week.
I want something nutritious and packed with vitamins and minerals because it’s extra important I take care of myself this time of year.
Apparently, I have lot more wants than I realized.
The beauty of this slow cooker recipe though is it delivers on all counts. The store-bought Tikka Masala sauce packs a flavor punch, while the chickpeas bring the protein to the party. The only work behind this dish is chopping a handful of nutrient dense veggies, and I’ll be honest I didn’t even use a knife on the cauliflower. I simply ripped him apart with my bare hands. Hmm, maybe the Tooth Fairy isn’t the only one with issues.
- 1 head of Cauliflower, chopped
- 15 ounce can of Chickpeas, drained
- 2 Carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 Onion, chopped
- 3 cloves of Garlic, chopped
- 2 12 ounce jars of Tikka Masala sauce
- 1/2 cup Milk of choice, I used plain Almond Milk
- 1 tsp. Red Pepper flakes
- 1 tsp. Paprika
- Toss all ingredients into your slow cooker.
- Cook on high for the first hour, and then on low for an additional five to seven hours, depending on your texture preference.
- Serve on top a bed or rice, pasta, couscous or really any grain.
I LOVE this recipe! We put seasoned chicken in it too and it’s delicious! I think we have the ingredients for it now actually : ) thanks!!
That’s right. I shared this with you guys last year. I remember. It’s so delicious and it couldn’t be easier.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
I am making this on the weekend. It looks AMAZING!
Jessica recently posted…Christmas List for Runners
Oh goodie. If you make it, please report back and let me know what you think.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
This looks so wholesome and delicious! My little neighbor girl cried when her brother lost a tooth. She was afraid the fairy would swoop in and take her intact teeth instead of her brothers lost tooth. 🙂 It is weird.
Julie @ HostessAtHeart recently posted…Candy Bar Popcorn
Right. The whole Tooth Fairy concept is strange as hell.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
I love the looks of this recipe since I live on cauliflower and chick peas! I don’t have a slow cooker yet I think about getting one of the time.
meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles recently posted…One Of Those People
Oh my, you absolutely need a slow cooker in your life. Think of all the fabulous veggie filled stews and chilis you could make with it. Let the slow cooker do the work for you, and you can focus all your efforts on cookies. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
1) My parents kept all of mine and my brother’s baby teeth, which we found in a ring box one day (luckily post-believing-in-the-tooth-fairy-era). Talk about strange/horrifying.
2) Having worked in an ER, I can tell you the the full moon thing is actually true. Strange, but true.
3) Dump-and-go slow cooker recipes are da best. Bookmarked!
I would be 100% scarred to find a box of all my baby teeth. My god woman, I had no idea you had to endure this. How have you survived?
I have a month of full moons ahead of me. God help me.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
This is a very interesting recipe. 🙂
Thanks, I think. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
Titillating. Cockles. You’re killing me. I swear I’m not a 15 year old boy… or maybe…
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Turkey Goat Cheese Lasagna [Recipe]
Shenanigans, I know there’s a fifteen year old boy trapped in there somewhere.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
Of course this is my favorite dish at FF. I use prepared sauces too. Trader Joe’s has some great Indian sauces. No shame in that. 🙂
Tracey@Whatsfordinnerdoc recently posted…Shop ’til you drop …… and give me 10!
No shame at all. In fact the opposite really. Asking for help and taking it when offered is one of the most courageous things people can do.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
This is such a perfect December recipe…it’s near impossible to get home-cooked meal on the table every night during this crazy time of year. Slow-cooking seems perfectly sensible (and let me admit, I’ll likely resort to feeding my children Chipotle a few times a week to get through the month:) Love the flavor combinations… thanks so much for bringing it to Fiesta Friday!
MB @ Bourbon and Brown Sugar recently posted…Cranberry Mojitos
Chipotle a few times a week… can I be one of your children please. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
This IS cooking from scratch for me. Haha. I’m going to need to put this into my rotation because it sounds (and looks) amazing.
Ange @ Cowgirl Runs recently posted…How Can You Help a Blogger?
I like this version of cooking from scratch too, just as much as any other. I do hope you try it because it’s so simple and so delicious.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
It is the colour of the pic that first caught my eye at the Fiesta Friday. I like the way you have used chickpeas and cauliflower together. Happy Fiesta Friday!
Aruna recently posted…Tender Green Peppercorn Pickle in Lemon Juice – Kurumilagu Oorugai – Fiesta Friday #45
I think chickpeas and cauliflower belong together, much like Bert and Ernie or peanut butter and jelly. They just work. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
I just made chickpeas on the stove from dry…I stood over the pan and ate them.
WHY ARE YOU GIVING ME RECIPES YOU KNOW I’LL HAVE NO SELF-CONTROL WHEN FACED WITH.
I blame nargles.
Cat @ Breakfast to Bed recently posted…Holiday Gift Guide: Books to Gift in 2014
I’m trying to free you from the chains of your stove.
Break out the slow cooker and give yourself more time for holiday cheer, or book reading, or cookie baking or any of the above.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
I’m alllll over this bowl of tasty goodness. I want it sooooo badddddd.
Brittany recently posted…Fridays Fantastic Five
You’d love it, although we’d need to find you a vegan Masala sauce. I’m sure it can be done.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
Confession: I don’t own a slow cooker. Confession #2: I’ve been planning on buying one for 3 years but somehow never get around to it. I think my biggest problem is the fact that I feel like I need to cook so much if I use one, when I only really want a small portion because leftovers stress me out 😆 I know. Problems. Also… that think about hospitals and full moons is totally true — my mom complains about it every month.
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. my favourite green smoothie .
Leftovers are a gift from heaven. I can’t believe they stress you out. In fact, I try to cook more, simply so I can leftovers to work with. It makes the rest of my week easier. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
definitely bookmarking this recipe!!! thanks for this 🙂
kathy@vodka and soda recently posted…the past 2 weeks in gifs
Bookmark away.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
For some reason, I always imagined the tooth fairy to use the teeth as furniture… which is also really weird. Who knows what she (or he) does with them, I don’t think I want to know!
This slow cooker recipe definitely looks like a winner, and perfect for this time of year when most people don’t have a lot of free time on their hands!
Thanks so much for sharing it with us at Fiesta Friday!
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake recently posted…Bounty Coconut Chocolates
Furniture made entirely of teeth, and I thought my mind ran amok. Glad to see I’m in good company.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
Well well well … It looks like we shared a lot of the same needs. Which makes up for the fact we don’t agree on banana eating habits all the way.
Now the only thing I don’t understand is why the tooth fairy didn’t work her second job right. Which would be softly whispering in my ear to check your blog earlier. Because then this absolutely delicious-sounding dish could have become part of my Sunday meal prep. Disregard the fact I don’t own a slow cooker and we actually don’t seem to have these over here.
Miss Polkadot recently posted…Good good links #68
Confession: I’ve made this before without a slow cooker as well. Simply sauté the onions and carrots for a few minutes and then add cauliflower and cook until soft. Then add the masala sauce and your chickpeas and season as appropriate and you’re good to go. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
Now to find masala sauce. ..
Miss Polkadot recently posted…Good good links #68
oh good, i’m not alone. I have the same secret. And if i were your neighbor, i probably would cook less and hoard your fridge, kitchen, and well.. crockpot! YUM
You’re right. I need to dig into my deep freezer. It’s stuffed to the gills. Why am I not taking advantage of it? That changes this week. I’ll put out a table setting for you too.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
I’m now wondering if I could do the same sort of thing with a jar of curry sauce that I bought on a whim… this will have to be an experiment to come.
I’ve yet to use my slow cooker for anything except beans (so.many.beans.) and soups of all sorts, but it is good to be reminded that they do make other sorts of foods too 🙂
Yes you can absolutely do the same thing, and it’ll be fabulous I’m sure.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
Mmm, this looks great! Thanks for sharing. I love that it doesn’t have 10,000 ingredients.
Tiff @ Love, Sweat, & Beers recently posted…Thinking Out Loud
You and me both. I am not all about crazy ingredients. Life and cooking should be simple. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
This looks good and I LOVE finding new vegetarian crock pot recipes! I will definitely be trying this out soon.
AJ @ NutriFitMama recently posted…Call the Cops and Vegan Peppermint Mocha Bark
The Crockpot is one of my besties. I hope you make it and love it as much as me. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
The Indian in me is uber proud to see you tapping into some Indian recipes- this looks fab…far better than I could do despite the genes ;)! I’m with you about minimal hands-on prep lately! I’ve been resorting to toast far too much lately…I think it’s time to get into batch cooking/meal prep to some degree!
Khushboo recently posted…Egg White and Cheddar Quesadilla
I think I need to tap into my deep freezer and take advantage of all the goodies I’ve stockpiled away.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
1. your pictures are fabulous.
2. I love how you eat this with bread too.
3. Cauliflower. enough said.
4. Curry. enough said.
5. I’ll swap the chickpeas for the chicken and this will be made. I’d sacrifice the heat for it! (Weather, not taste).
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Sunday Sessions #3
Of course I eat this with bread. Are there other options? Ha.
Chicken would be great in here too. In fact, maybe next time I’ll toss some in for the Hubby. He’d appreciate that.
I appreciate the comment about the pictures. For the most part, I’m pleased with how these came out. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe
Okay I need to find some Tikka Masala and then this is going DOWN. I’ve never seen that brand before but I’m sure Whole Foods here should have something similar?? It looks so good.
Beautiful photos, BTW.
Christina @ The Athletarian recently posted…Marathon Monday: a different kind of long run
Yum! I definitely need to try this one. Never used masala sauce before.
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…Apple Cinnamon Muffins & Attracting All the Freaks
I like branching out into other food cultures. We can always learn a thing or two from those around us. I didn’t realize how many great vegetarian options were out there until I started looked into other cuisines. It’s a melting pot of deliciousness.
Meghan recently posted…Slow Cooker Cauliflower Masala Recipe