The next in a mid-winter series on how to turn the less popular veggies available at your local market or CSA box into real food, cooked simply that you would like to eat and your children or other picky family members may try as well (no guarantees). MCA staffer Kristina Bostick subscribes to a year-round CSA and shares how to cope when there is just too much ___. Find the other posts: Broccoli and Acorn Squash
First - let me say that the world seems to be coming around to cauliflower right now. Its having a bit of a moment, the way kale did a couple years back. One school of thought would be to say, "Back off Pinterest, you can't tell me what to eat!" But think of it this way, when a vegetable is popular, it just means that the top chefs, food bloggers and cookbook writers are all working on the best ways to work with it. That is to be celebrated, and you - mere mortal home cook who needs to get something on the table - benefit from that trendiness with the plethora of recipes and shortcuts that result. Cauliflower is not as strong a flavor as broccoli, it is more of a blank slate - but similarly, it will benefit from being roasted and never ever will taste good boiled till mush. Some things you can do:
| 1. Golden Soup or the soup Pinterest wants you to make tonight. It's all over the place. I made this, it was really easy, super satisfying but had zero appeal to children, at least my children. If turmeric is not something you are familiar with, fear not, it is not a strong flavor and it's anti-inflammatory properties are said to be great for you. Part of this recipe involves roasting chickpeas (also called Garbanzo beans), another very popular thing to do right now. This was a good primer on how to do this. This used so much of the cauliflower stash I had to wait a whole week to get more. 2. Cauliflower Cheese Tots - I have not usually had good luck with "veggie pancake" kinds of meals from kid food sites. That is why I had to eat a whole muffin tin of quinoa crusted baby quiches over a week by myself. It happened the same way here - made these with grilled cheeses and they got tried but not eaten. The grownups loved them. The deep flavor of the cauliflower makes these even better than potato tots. |  |
2. Roast the Whole Dang Thing I have not done this but find it very appealing as a family style meal that you slice into like a roast.
3. Cauliflower Rice Yet another on-trend use of Cauliflower. You can even find "pre-riced" cauliflower in grocery stores now. The earthines of the cauliflower is delightful in fried rice. If you are watching your carbs this is a great recipe for you.
