Cookin’ Cauliflower

Many “white” foods get a bad rap, like white bread, white sugar, and white pasta with good reason. But when it comes to the vegetable world, don’t assume that white is bad. Many white plant based foods, like potato and cauliflower are very high in vitamins and minerals that we don’t normally associate with those foods.

Take cauliflower for example, just one cup at 28 calories can provide you with almost all the vitamin C you need each day. Cauliflower also contains compounds that can slow down the carcinogens responsible for cancer.

Having trouble getting your kids or spouse to eat veggies? When I worked as a private chef for families, I was in charge of getting nutritious food into kids without complaints – heck, my job depended on it!

When toddlers and even preteens go through that weird “all white” food phase, cauliflower could be your secret weapon. Mash it, blend it, add white cheese – you’ve got a white food that is literally bursting with vitamin C. They are usually mild tasting which means that we can blanket them with any flavor we like, from spices and chilies, to cheeses and salsas.

Fancy Smance

This cauliflower souffle is a healthy and beautiful center piece dish for your next get-together. Allison used purple cauliflower in her recipe, but you can use green or white in its place.

Golden Breadcrumbs

Cut a large head of cauliflower in half. Cut the stem out. Heat a large pot of water with an inch of water over high heat. Add the cauliflower and steam for 4 to 5 minutes until fork tender. Heat a larger skillet with one tablespoon of butter. Toss a handful of coarse breadcrumbs into the pan. Toast 1 to 2 minutes, stirring often.

Spice it Up

Want to add flavor and color to plain old steamed cauliflower? Drizzle with a teaspoon of olive oil and add chopped black olive, well rinsed capers, parsley, and fresh lemon juice for a flavorful Mediterranean inspired side dish.

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