Harvest Chicken and Cauliflower Bowl

This is the sort of lunch I make when the fridge has a bit of leftover chicken thigh and half a head of cauliflower looking for a job. Cauliflower has a mild, nutty sweetness that gets stronger the longer it sits in a warm oven, but here we keep it gentle by steaming. Steamed cauliflower stays soft and a little wet, which is exactly what you want when it's tossed with cold lettuce. The one thing I always do is drain it well and let it sit on a clean towel for a few minutes. Any water left on the florets will thin out the dressing and leave you with a puddle at the bottom of the bowl.

The dressing is where this bowl earns its name. Tahini is ground sesame, and it has a deep, slightly bitter richness that stands up to lemon in a way olive oil alone never could. When you whisk it with the lemon juice, it looks like it's seizing up and going grainy at first. Keep whisking, and a splash of water will loosen it into something creamy and pourable. Taste it before it goes on the salad, because tahini brands vary a lot in how bitter or thick they are, and a little extra lemon can bring it back into balance.

Chickpeas from a can are one of the most useful pantry staples I know. Rinsing them under cold water washes away the starchy canning liquid and helps them taste fresher. If you have a few extra, keep them in a jar in the fridge, covered in fresh water, for up to four or five days, and change the water each day. They make a good snack straight from the jar, or you can mash them with lemon and garlic for a quick spread.

For leftovers, store the salad components separately if you can. Keep the dressing in a small jar, the lettuce dry in a container lined with paper towel, and the warm-ish cauliflower and chicken in their own box. Pack it all together only when you're ready to eat. Dressed lettuce wilts quickly, and nobody wants a sad lunch by the second day.

If you want something to serve alongside, a bowl of warm flatbread or a simple cucumber and herb salad fits nicely. A spoonful of Creamy Garlic and Lemon Hommus on the side is a good idea if you want more of that lemon and sesame flavour. For a warm version of the vegetables, try Oven Roasted Cauliflower with Rosemary next time you have a whole head to use up.