Fried cauliflower Fried cauliflower Fried cauliflower, also known as zahra mekleyah (), is a Levantine vegetarian dish served cold or hot, consisting of fried cauliflower, often accompanied by tahini sauce, lettuce, parsley and tomatoes, served on pita bread or sliced bread, often grilled or toasted. Variations include curried and roasted cauliflower, bell peppers, or a garlic lemon vinaigrette. It can also be eaten as a sandwich using pita bread, sprinkled with cumin, salt, and lemon juice. A similar version called "Menazla zahra" made in Syria consists of fried cauliflower, garlic, ground beef, cilantro, cumin, and salt. Fried cauliflower can be prepared as
Parsley or curly leaf ("P. crispum crispum" group; syn. "P. crispum" var. "crispum"); and, Italian, or flat leaf ("P. crispum neapolitanum" group; syn. "P. crispum" var. "neapolitanum"). Of these, the "neapolitanum" group more closely resembles the natural wild species. Flat-leaved parsley is preferred by some gardeners as it is easier to cultivate, being more tolerant of both rain and sunshine, and is said to have a stronger flavor — although this is disputed — while curly leaf parsley is preferred by others because of its more decorative appearance in garnishing. A third type, sometimes grown in southern Italy, has thick leaf