curried cauliflower

i'm starting to think of myself as a produce rescuer. this recipe managed to put 2 heads of cauliflower, a pack of carrots, and 2 sad looking tomatoes, all to good use.
it's a combination of two recipes, one of which my former roommate steffi was quite crazy about, the other which tim couldn't get enough of. how could i go wrong?

curried cauliflower:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (or additional oil instead, to make the recipe vegan)
2 medium yellow onions, diced
4-5 carrots, diced
2-3 tomatoes, diced
2 heads of cauliflower, cut into florets
1 29 oz can of chick peas, drained and rinsed
3 heaping tablespoons tomato paste
3 cups water
spices galore*
1/2 tablespoon sugar
salt and pepper, to taste
cilantro leaves for garnishing

in a large pot heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. when melted, add onions and carrots and saute for apx 5 minutes. lower flame to medium and add tomatoes, spices galore, sugar, salt, and pepper. allow to cook for apx 5 more minutes then add cauliflower, chick peas, tomato paste, and water. bring to a boil, then cover and return flame to medium. allow to simmer for apx 20-30 minutes or until cauliflower is tender. if the mixture is too soupy continue to cook uncovered on medium low, until the sauce has thickened to a desirable consistency.
serve hot, garnished with cilantro.

*my spices galore included the following, but feel free to use a curry blend you already have on hand, or any combo of spices that suites your tastes:

2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon coriander powder
1 tablespoon cumin powder
1 tsp chili flakes
1/4 tsp ground clove
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon whole mustard seeds
1 tsp fenugreek powder
1/4 tsp hing (asafoetida powder)


to steffi: it's not exactly that carrot magic i made you a couple years ago in bologna, but a lot of the flavors are the same and unless you hate tomato paste and cauliflower, i think you'll really like this. and who knows, maybe even if you think you hate them (like how you thought you hated eggplant), they'll turn into you're new best friend : )