roasted veggie pitas with avocado dip
Bleh. Do you just want to kick me sometimes?
There is only one reason that it is a Top O’ The Monday kind of morning, and it is not the fact that I’m battling a throat-attacking cold, or the fact that we are embarking on some travels in just a few days for which I still have no hotels reserved, or the fact that our second bedroom/office is currently door-less because of a home fix-up project gone bad. Anti-inspiring Monday Things, I hereby banish you to another day. Or another life. Be gonesies.
Today there’s a new kinda Monday in town today and it involves spicy roasted cauliflower, semi-crispy roasted chickpeas, and velvety-creamy avocado dip all wrapped up in a super soft whole wheat pita and dollop-ed with Greek yogurt like a champ.
Things are looking wayyyy up.
But then I remember that it’s currently zero degrees in Florida. Like, what? HOW. WHY. This is such a crime of nature.
Packing for the trip, which is already a personal struggle of mine, just went from Regular Bad all the way to Red Alert Overboard Zone Bad. Sandals, shorts, tanks, plus all my thickest sweaters and scarves. Maybe a blanket? Plus sunglasses and sunscreen, but don’t forget mittens.
Come ON, Florida.
The good news is that one of my most favorite things to do on vacation is EAT.
And you can do that in any temperature.
And you can especially do that in Charleston, which, as you’ve told me time and again, is a Foodie Paradise. Yes, friends, we officially made the decision that for our Florida-conference-weekend-travel-extension, we’re going to drive north to spend a few days in Charleston. Ugh. This is all your fault. THANKS A LOT.
I’m not telling you because I’m expecting you to comment with your detailed restaurant recommendations so we can eat the best of the best of the best while in Charleston, buuuut if that happened, I wouldn’t be mad about it.
Vacation fantasy world aside – in my real life, it’s Monday. It’s a meatless kind of Monday that requires something zippy and wholesome and super totally delicious.
And we, in our two person family, are meeting this need with simple, thirty minute, veg-friendly Roasted Veggie Pitas with Avocado Dip, and hi –> in case you missed it the first time, I just said AVOCADO DIP.
Seriously get moving already.
for the avocado dip
- 2 ripe avocados
- 1-2 cloves garlic (go for one clove or less if you’re sensitive to strong garlic tastes)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons water (more as needed)
- a handful of cilantro
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- half of a Serrano pepper (more or less depending on how much heat you want)
- juice of one lime
- for the roasted veggies
- 2 heads cauliflower, cut into small florets
- 2 14-ounce cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1-2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1-2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper if you want spicy
- oil oil for drizzling
- salt and pepper to taste
- 8 small whole wheat pitas
- Greek yogurt for topping
- Veggies: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Pat the cauliflower and chickpeas dry with paper towels. Arrange in a single layer on one large baking sheet or two baking sheets. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with spices. Give the pan a gentle shake to sort of mix things around. Roast for 15-20 minutes, stir, and roast for an additional 15-20 minutes. The cauliflower and chickpeas should be golden brown and the chickpeas will be semi-crunchy.
- Avocado Dip: While the veggies are roasting, puree the avocado dip ingredients in a food processor. Set aside.
- Assembly: Spread each pita with a spoonful of avocado dip and top with roasted veggies. Sprinkle with extra salt, pepper, cilantro, and a dollop of Greek yogurt.
