Eat Well: Cauliflower Power

The following post was written by my mom, WWW. Thanks, mom!
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Cauliflower is one of my favorite cole crop vegetables. I like it even better than broccoli for both its flavor and versatility. And it holds up so well when cooked in sauces or stews. It also can be added to pureed soups and is virtually undetected by picky eaters, like in the Mooswood’s cauliflower cheese soup which I posted here.
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It’s a cool season vegetable so chances are if you live in a hot climate, you won’t find a local source, but R and B are cauliflowers this week so cauliflower it is!

A reader asked if I could talk about grilling and this week provides a perfect opportunity! Grilling cauliflower brings out its flavor and actually caramelizes it, making it absolutely delicious and sweet like sugar. You can get two large cauliflower “steaks” out of one head and use the rest of the cauliflower for other recipes. Use several colors of cauliflower for a dramatic presentation.

Grilled Cauliflower
2 large, dense cauliflowers
olive oil
salt and pepper
(can use seasoned salt if you wish)

1. Trim off leaves of cauliflower but leave stem on.
2. Cut two ¾ inch “steaks” from the center of the cauliflower. The stem should hold them together.
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3. Brush both sides of steaks with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
4. Grill on medium high until brown.
5. Turn.
6. Serve with grated parmesan cheese on top. (Or add a favorite dipping sauce on top!)
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***

Cauliflower is a wonderful addition to any vegetable curry. For a really quick dinner, you can buy a jar of ready-made curry sauce and pour it over cooked cauliflower and potatoes. (I like Seeds of Change). Pour sauce over cooked cauliflower and potatoes (add some frozen peas, too), add some coconut milk and more curry powder to taste if you want a stronger flavor. Or make your curry from scratch. This curry recipe is really easy and, although not as quick as opening a jar of sauce, cooks in 30 minutes.

Cauliflower and Potato Curry
1 medium cauliflower
2 medium potatoes
3 T cooking oil
1 t cumin seeds
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, chopped
½ t cayenne pepper (or less if you don’t want it spicy)
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 t salt
1 medum-size tomato, chopped
3/4 cup good quality yogurt or coconut milk
2 T fresh cilantro, chopped

1. Wash and cut cauliflower into medium-size florets.
2. Peel and cut potatoes into ½ inch cubes.
3. Heat oil on medium heat in a nonstick frying pan.
4. Add cumin seeds to the hot oil and fry for a few seconds. Stir in ginger, chili powder, and turmeric powder.
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5. Reduce heat to medium-high. Add cauliflower, potatoes, and salt. Mix them well so the vegetables are coated with spices.
6. Cover and cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally. When cooked (potatoes should easily break with slight pressure), add tomatoes.
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7. Cook another 2 minutes or until tomatoes become soft and liquid is absorbed.
8. Add yogurt and warm through.
9. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve hot with basmati rice.
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Enjoy!
Love,
WWW

21 comments:

oh, jenny mae | 10:04 AM

roasted cauliflower is ridiculously good. and one of my favorite dishes of all time is gobi manchurian, a delicious indian cauliflower dish.

thanks, gooey!

Anonymous | 10:35 AM

Mmm, it all looks good. I think we'll have to try grilling some this week.

Jules | 11:05 AM

Thanks for the grill tip WWW looking forward to trying that one out!

Anonymous | 11:41 AM

WWW, you are my culinary hero! I am currently in Russia doing research + 20 weeks pregnant, and OH LORD THIS FOOD LOOKS ABSURDLY GOOD! I can't wait until I'm back in the US in two weeks and can try these recipes!

amy (mamascout) | 1:02 PM

yum! cauliflower is crack. i love it roasted and with a coconut curry sauce. it is one of my favorite snacks. thanks for another take on this!

Little Miss Moi | 4:32 PM

Cauliflower and curry = the perfect combination. YUM YUM.

Clandestine Road | 4:57 PM

If I could grab that delicious plate of food through my computer...

Thanks for sharing!

Rebecca | 5:14 PM

I just discovered cauliflower too! Here's another spectacular cauliflower recipe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OzKx4MRo7I

lynn | 6:00 PM

i really don't understand people who say they don't like cauliflower. it's so versatile and yummy!!!

NOELLE ALOUD | 6:28 PM

I find cauliflower is one of those vegetables that you can throw in to almost any dinner and it totally works. I love roasting it, or mashing it with cooked millet for a potato substitute. Now I have to try grilling cauliflower on my Foreman grill!

~ Noelle

Jmom | 6:33 PM

Love love love cauliflower! Thank you for these recipes and beautiful pictures!

Anonymous | 9:37 PM

My chance to further evangelize for cauliflower's goodness: Cook up a bunch, puree it in your food processor, add butter and milk. Tastes just like mashed potatoes, and FAR better for you (especially you low-carbers).

Lori | 11:50 PM

I love cauliflower in curry! It looks so yummy!!!

Unknown | 4:27 AM

These look so good! I sometimes steam it and puree with sour cream, parmesan, milk, salt, and pepper for a creamy mashed potato substitute.

http://prettyvintagefinds.blogspot.com

Abi | 9:09 AM

OMG. The curry looks soooo good! In the Philippines we cook curry with coconut milk and season it with fish sauce. I will have to try your version. I can't wait!

Sara | 9:55 AM

Does this mean that R&B are the size of cauliflowers this week? Man, those are big babies, if so!

Anonymous | 12:35 PM

Thank you, I love your recipes! I've made many of them. Just happen to have all the right ingredients in the house, so I'm going to make the Cauliflower & Potato Curry right now!

Clandestine Road | 6:21 PM

I made the curry tonight and it was amazing. Thank you for sharing!

Angela

Wendy Woolf | 10:15 PM

Yay, Clandestine Road! Glad it turned out. Thanks all of you for your lovely comments and recipe ideas. Cauliflower RULES!! :)

Anonymous | 12:05 AM

I just made that curry, and it was ridiculously delicious! It tastes exactly like aloo gobi I order from my fav curry joint! Thank you, WWW! Another staple dinner for my family! :)
I need to make it more saucy, I'm allergic to tomatoes so I replaced the tomatoes with water and lemon juice, and it just wasn't as saucy as yours in the photo. Have any better ideas?

Next time, I'll serve it with raita, and figure out a way to incorporate some chickpeas!!

Rebekah | 8:59 AM

I made the curry last night - so good, easy, and cheap!! Thanks for the recipe. I'm definitely going to keep it in the rotation.