7 Essential Cauliflower Recipes Everyone Should Know (2024)

The Winter Warmer You Can Dress Up (Or Down)

7 Essential Cauliflower Recipes Everyone Should Know (1)

Victoria Pearson

Cauliflower seems to lend itself to pureed soups better than almost any other vegetable, and, this winning take on the dish is one of the best we've tried. It's thickened with potatoes and just a splash of cream, so it tastes silky without being overwhelmingly rich. The all-occasion soup works well served with some crusty bread as the first course at a dinner party—or the main on a casual night. You can even serve it ladled onto a plate and topped with fish or shellfish.

Get the recipe: Creamed Cauliflower Soup

A Treat You'll Look Forward To As Much As Dessert

7 Essential Cauliflower Recipes Everyone Should Know (2)

Marcus Nilsson

We know: Putting the words "cauliflower" and "cake" together seems like it could lead to an enormous letdown. But trust us on this one. Grated Parmesan, onion, herbs and eggs come together nicely in this recipe in a frittata-like creation that's bursting with flavor (and tastes even better the next day). It's great fresh, served cold or at room temperature. And it's appropriate for any meal.

Get the recipe: Cauliflower Cake

Another Reason To Love Indian Food

7 Essential Cauliflower Recipes Everyone Should Know (3)

Jonny Valiant

Indian cuisine can work wonders with vegetables, and cauliflower is no exception. In this nutritious side, the potentially bland-tasting veg gets a major boost from chili powder, turmeric, garam masala and cayenne pepper. You cook everything on the stove together, then top the dish with chopped, toasted walnuts.

Get the recipe: Indian Spiced Cauliflower

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The Grain-Free Way To Eat Rice

7 Essential Cauliflower Recipes Everyone Should Know (4)

Carrie Vitt

Just as you can turn zucchini into "pasta," it's a snap to transform cauliflower into "rice." All you need is a grater; it does a speedy job of shredding the florets into grain-like bits, which you can then sauté or steam. The bits will cook more quickly than their carb-y counterpart and their mild flavor goes with almost anything you'd serve with rice. This simple recipe pairs the cauliflower with fresh herbs, lemon, apricots and walnuts; but, you can easily swap in alternatives, such as dried cranberries and pistachios.

Get the recipe: Cauliflower "Rice" Salad with Herbs and Dried Fruit

A Convincing Stand-In For Mashed Potatoes

7 Essential Cauliflower Recipes Everyone Should Know (5)

Юлия Атаева/iStock/Thinkstock

Traditional pureed potatoes are delicious. But pureed cauliflower is even better. When you whip the cruciferous vegetable, it retains some of its texture, but since cauliflower doesn't have as much starch as potatoes do, there's none of the gumminess that sometimes results with overcooked potatoes.

Get the recipe: Whipped Cauliflower

A Crispy Pasta Topper

7 Essential Cauliflower Recipes Everyone Should Know (6)

William Meppem

We had no idea cauliflower could be so crunchy until we learned this cooking technique. You put the raw florets into a food processor, along with a handful of pine nuts, and pulse until the mixture is finely chopped. Then, sauté the ingredients with oil and some seasonings for 15 minutes, until golden. Toss the deep-brown crumbs with cooked pasta for a unique and delicious meal.

Get the recipe: Crispy Cauliflower Pasta

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A Secret Ingredient In The Classic Dinner Everyone Loves

7 Essential Cauliflower Recipes Everyone Should Know (7)

Matt Armendariz

Cauliflower has one more trick up its sleeve: It makes a surprisingly brilliant substitute for cheese in baked pastas. When you puree it, it binds the various elements of the dish together with a subtle flavor that goes nicely with shells, or noodles, and peas.

Get the recipe: Baked Macaroni and Peas

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7 Essential Cauliflower Recipes Everyone Should Know (8)

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7 Essential Cauliflower Recipes Everyone Should Know (2024)

FAQs

What are 3 ways you can eat cauliflower? ›

  • Many people claim they don't enjoy the taste of cauliflower — that it's too bland or too crumbly, especially when served raw. If you've only encountered the firm white bundles as a component on a crudite platter, we can't argue with you there. ...
  • Roast It. ...
  • Coat It. ...
  • Mash It. ...
  • Puree It. ...
  • Turn It Into Tots.

What results when cauliflower is cooked with some vinegar or lemon juice added to the water? ›

To prevent the smellproduced by cauliflower when it is being cooked, you can add 2 tablespoons oflemon juice or vinegar during cooking and just cook it until is soft and “aldente”.

How do you pick a good cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower is available all year round but is in peak during the cooler months. When selecting, ensure that the florets are tightly packed together, firm to touch, and there is no greyish tinge to the florets. A good indicator of freshness is to look for leaves that are lively rather than wilted or floppy.

What part of cauliflower is not edible? ›

Cauliflower heads can be roasted, grilled, boiled, fried, steamed, pickled, or eaten raw. When cooking, the outer leaves and thick stalks are typically removed, leaving only the florets (the edible "curd" or "head"). The leaves are also edible but are often discarded.

What organ is cauliflower good for? ›

Cauliflower is a heart-friendly vegetable thanks to a plant compound called sulforaphane. Acting as an antioxidant, sulforaphane reduces the inflammatory damage caused by oxidative stress, a process which plays a central role in the development of heart disease.

What does baking soda do to cauliflower? ›

Baking soda is often used as a natural cleaning agent, and it can be used to brighten up your veggies too. Sprinkle a little in the water before boiling to prevent cauliflower from yellowing and make corn look more vibrant.

What does adding lemon juice to cauliflower do? ›

Cauliflower should be cooked quartered, or cut into florets at the base of the stem. In kitchen lore, lemon juice, milk, flour and vinegar have all been recommended as additions to cauliflower cooking water, presumably to keep it white.

Why do I feel weird after eating cauliflower? ›

While cauliflower is a nutritious vegetable, consuming excessive amounts may lead to digestive issues like bloating or gas due to its fiber content. Additionally, some individuals may be sensitive to compounds in cruciferous vegetables, causing discomfort.

What brings out the Flavour of cauliflower? ›

This is true of any vegetable — boiling it will give you a flavor closer to the raw flavor, which means more bitterness and more astringency. Caramelizing it will bring out its hidden sweetness. This light, vibrant roasted cauliflower salad is a recipe I developed for the fall menu at Duo.

What does cauliflower do to your gut? ›

As a cruciferous vegetable, cauliflower is an excellent source of fiber. Fiber helps maintain healthy digestion, reducing your risk of digestive disorders. It also promotes the growth of good bacteria in your gut.

What to avoid when buying cauliflower? ›

Look for a clean, compact head with tightly closed bud clusters. Avoid heads with loose or crumbly florets, brown spots or dull color. The leaves should look fresh and green. When buying pre-cut cauliflower, choose firm pieces with no discoloration.

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

This process – which should last 10-20 minutes - destroys several microbes and large parasites. As cauliflower is highly susceptible to microbial attacks, it should be washed once again. This time, boil some water and put the cauliflower florets in it. Keep for five minutes and remove from the hot water.

What are some fun facts about cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower is rich in vitamin C which is good for skin, healing, and gum health. It is a cruciferous vegetable which helps prevent colon cancer. Cauliflower means “cabbage flower” because it is a flower that has not fully developed. Cauliflower is related to broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and cabbage.

How do we eat cauliflower? ›

This versatile veggie can be eaten raw, cooked, roasted, grilled, baked into a pizza crust, or cooked and mashed as a substitute for mashed potatoes. You can even rice cauliflower and serve it in place of white rice.

What are three ways vegetables can be eaten? ›

Vegetables may be raw or cooked and can be fresh, frozen, canned, or dried.

What three ways can vegetables be served eaten? ›

Vegetables can be eaten raw or cooked and are available fresh, frozen, canned, or dried/dehydrated. They can be eaten whole, cut up, or mashed.

How to eat cauliflower for diet? ›

Easy to add to your diet. Not only is cauliflower versatile, but it's also very easy to add to your diet. To begin with, you can consume it raw, which requires very little preparation. You can enjoy raw cauliflower florets as a snack dipped in hummus or another healthy vegetable dip.

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