Winter Wonders: Roasted Cauliflower with Black Sesame Recipe

Rich in nutrients, this flavorful side dish supports the lung, bone, joint, and kidney health.

As an Amazon Associate, Breathe Together Yoga earns from qualifying purchases.

Roasted cauliflower with spinach, raisin and nuts in a cast-iron pan. Light grey background. Copy space. Healthy vegan food.

The nights are still long and the mornings still slow and cold. We are at the leading edge of winter, moving deeper into its restorative womb over the next few months. Nature continues to draw her energies deeper inside and down into the roots. This inward pull is necessary for all of nature, a precious time to restore and reconnect to our essential healing strengths. In Ayurvedic philosophy, this is the season of kapha, dominated by the elements of water and earth. Its overall qualities are cold, wet, slow, dark, and heavy. This can lead to stagnation, respiratory issues, mood disorders (seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is prevalent in the northern latitudes), and fatigue. These issues tend to be exacerbated when we continue to push, strive, and overexert ourselves. 

Winter is the time to turn inward, get more rest, and slow down from the pace of summer and fall. It’s a time to hibernate, reflect, vision, and hold space for all the seeds you are planting for the new year. It’s also a time to deeply tend to our inner selves, the relationships most important to us, and a time to harness and tend the energy that will be needed in the year to come. 

According to Ayurveda, we want to bring balance to these overarching energies of winter; we want to bring more warmth, gentle stimulation, and light into our lives. This is why adopting seasonal routines and diets help us adapt to our environments. When we change our diets as the seasons change what is available to us, we consciously sync with our environments. We can gently coax our bodies back into equilibrium through our daily food and drink intake. 

Winter is the season that gives us the strongest digestion and inner fire to transform heavier foods and the experiences of the past year. Our bodies require more food to stay warm and to keep our immunity strong through the season. From an Ayurvedic perspective, we want to pacify kapha without aggravating either pitta (fire) or vata (air) dosha.

In general, we want to focus on warm, nourishing, and easy-to-digest foods, using plenty of culinary spices to aid digestion. Avoid cold drinks and foods as much as possible, and sip warming herbal teas throughout the day. The recipes in this winter guide are Ayurvedic-inspired and use seasonal produce available in most farmer’s markets and stores.

Roasted Cauliflower with Black Sesame Recipe (serves 6)

Cauliflower is thought to be good for the lungs, as it resembles the air sacs and is high in antioxidant-rich sulfur, which supports bone and joint health. Black sesame seeds are rich in calcium and, according to Chinese Medicine, support the kidneys. 

Ingredients 

  • 2-3 medium to large heads of cauliflower chopped
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp sea salt or kosher salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp black sesame seeds

Directions 

  1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. 
  2. Mix the cauliflower, oil, and spices in a large mixing bowl, reserving the zest and black sesame seeds for after roasting. 
  3. Lay the cauliflower on a lined baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until golden and soft. 
  4. Remove from the oven, and toss with the black sesame seeds and lemon zest. 
Picture of Jana Kilgore

Jana Kilgore

Jana Kilgore is an Ayurvedic practitioner, yoga teacher, private chef, and guide living in Hawaii after many years of practice and teaching in Michigan and the Bay Area. Since her teens, she has been using food, plants, and meditation as medicine, and has dedicated her life to empowering people to take back their health and happiness through the gifts of yoga, Ayurveda, and nature. She specializes in digestive issues, autoimmune disorders, hormonal health, mental health, trauma and recovery, and recently added postpartum support to her practice. Jana teaches Ayurveda for yoga teachers in various trainings and also yoga teacher trainings in Yosemite with Balanced Rock Foundation. When she isn't teaching, cooking, or working with clients, she is working on a book, slowly learning to surf, or out on a trail!

One reply on “Winter Wonders: Roasted Cauliflower with Black Sesame Recipe”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Shine Your Way to Firefly | Izumi Sato

We aim to improve the flexibility of hamstrings and shoulders, as well as the strength in the arms, thigh adductors, and the core. Variations are offered to develop the sense of balance on the arms. It is an exploration of your own expression in Firefly, whatever stage of life you’re in.

Introduction to the Buddhist Mudras | Izumi Sato

Mudras are highly stylized and symbolized as non-verbal communication. In this introduction to the Buddhist mudras, we will learn five Buddhist mudras and the mudras of the five wisdoms, or five Buddhas. After learning the forms and meanings of the mudras, it’s fun to observe the arts such as Buddha sculptures and paintings.

Chanting Gayatri Mantra With Mudras | Izumi Sato

In this mantra, the 24 Mudras are practiced while chanting the Gayatri Mantra which has 24 syllables. Gayatri Mantra is dedicated to Savitri, a Vedic sun deity. Among various translations of the mantra, I introduce the first line by Tias Little and the rest of the lines by Swami Vivekananda.

How Mindfulness Can Help You Navigate Social Media

Now that social media has become an extension of our own communities, a lot of negative perspectives and habits have made their way from the digital world to our real one. By becoming aware of your emotions and actions, you can get past the bad side of social media and enjoy the company of your social circle.