Can cauliflower NOT be boring??

lindeyrae1028
lindeyrae1028 Posts: 17
in Recipes
I have a head of cauliflower in the fridge and I want to do something flavorful but still low-cal with it. I see a lot of mac & cheese recipes using cauliflower but does anyone have any other ideas of how to use it creatively in a recipe?

I do have an 8 year old son so if it is semi kid friendly that's a bonus! :-D
«1

Replies

  • CTcutie
    CTcutie Posts: 649 Member
    Look for cauliflower pizza crust... A lot of people here seem to like it?!
  • jen3761
    jen3761 Posts: 7 Member
    Yes, cauliflower pizza is amazing!! SO GOOD! Even the hubby liked it! ;)
  • SquidVonBob
    SquidVonBob Posts: 290 Member
    I'm a fan of cauliflower buffalo wings.
  • aquarabbit
    aquarabbit Posts: 1,622 Member
    I make alfredo sauce with cauliflower and it's great. I follow this recipe:
    http://foodwishes.blogspot.com/2009/02/creamy-cauliflower-spaghetti-alfredo.html
    But there are tons out there. Cauliflower gratin, pizza crust, and soups are all really great go-to's as well. The pizza or alfredo sauce might be good for your son. Just don't tell him it's in there! Hide it! :wink:
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    http://gooddinnermom.com/cauliflower-buffalo-bites/
  • psychicmedium26
    psychicmedium26 Posts: 48
    I had a head the other day and did the following. I preheated the oven to 400 and sprayed a cookie sheet with pam. I cut the head into bite sized florets. I sprinkled with a little lemon juice and threw a bunch of wet minced garlic in there (You can use fresh or dried Im sure). I then drizzled it with olive oil lightly. Then sprinkled with salt and pepper. Roasted about 20 minutes they were SO good and crispy.
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    Boring? Cauliflower?

    You can magically substitute it for ANY other white food.

    Potatoes, bread, chicken... probably milk of you puree it.
  • csmccord
    csmccord Posts: 272 Member
    I have a head of cauliflower in the fridge and I want to do something flavorful but still low-cal with it. I see a lot of mac & cheese recipes using cauliflower but does anyone have any other ideas of how to use it creatively in a recipe?

    I do have an 8 year old son so if it is semi kid friendly that's a bonus! :-D

    I have the perfect thing for you. My three year old eats them too. Get ready for it....Cauliflower tots! Like tater tots, only cauliflower instead. We make these from SkinnyTaste all the time as a side to our sliders.

    http://www.skinnytaste.com/2013/11/cauliflower-tots.html
  • hellomanen
    hellomanen Posts: 96 Member
    oh... I thought you were being sarcastic :/
    google this:
    cauliflower pizza
    cauliflower brownies
    cauliflower muffins
    cauliflower cupcakes
    cauliflower stir fry
    :)
  • kyleprowland
    kyleprowland Posts: 7 Member
    I roast it. Chop it up, put olive/coconut oil on it, mix it with chopped carrots and maybe some onions, sprinkle with seasoned salt, and throw in the oven at 350-375 for 45 minutes to an hour depending on how much you have. OMG I can eat that all day long.
  • charlicee
    charlicee Posts: 53
    Mash it as a low carb replacement of mashed potatoes. Dice it and put it in pasta primavera. Grill it. :)
  • AKcanookie
    AKcanookie Posts: 230 Member
    i love love love cauiflour

    here's a good one (recipe that is) :flowerforyou:

    Spicy Whole Roasted Cauliflower (from purewow.com)

    1tb vegetable oil
    1 head cauliflower
    1.5c plain Greek yogurt
    1 lime, zested and juiced
    2tbs chili powder
    1tb cumin
    1tb garlic powder
    1tsp curry powder
    2tsp kosher salt
    1tsp black pepper

    Directions
    1. Pre-heat oven to 400* and lightly grease small baking sheet w/vegetable oil. Set aside
    2. Trim base of cauliflower. Remove green leaves and woody stem.
    3. In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt with the lime zest and juice, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, curry powder, salt and pepper.
    4. Dunk the cauliflower into the bowl and use a brush or your hands to smear the marinade evenly over its surface. (Excess marinade can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to three days and used with meat, fish or other veggies.)
    5. Place the cauliflower on the prepared baking sheet and roast until the surface is dry and lightly browned, 30-40 minutes. The marinade will make a crust on the surface of the cauliflower.
    6. Let the cauliflower cool for 10 minutes before cutting it into wedges and serving alongside a big green salad.


    You can also find recipes for Un-potato salad on Pinterest .. and you can use it to make a low carb pizza crust too :happy: enjoy!
  • RedneckChicana
    RedneckChicana Posts: 20
    I use cauliflower in place of any potato dish. Mashed, baked etc. Hell I put sour cream, green onions and cheese on some the other day (sour cream and chive baked potato) I was seriously missing the bacon bits here. I have also prepared it with chili and cheese. And then while flippin thru a magazine in the waiting room I found this...

    http://www.womansday.com/recipefinder/fettuccine-alfredo-recipe-wdy0214
    My prayers for a healthy way to eat my cream sauces!!

    Because it has little to no taste and the texture can be manipulated in so many ways it is a totally versatile food. Use in place of high carb foods like potatoes or creamy things.
  • lindeyrae1028
    lindeyrae1028 Posts: 17
    Oh my! Now I'm hungry!! ROFL!

    Love the idea of the buffalo... I'm a huge buffalo wing fan! And putting it in alfredo sauce or pizza crust... BRILLIANT! :-D
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    I love it raw, chopped up in salads.
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,519 Member
    I steam it; and mix it with an immersion blender and add a splash of broth; sprinkle with salt/pepper- it's kind of like mashed potatoes.
  • lindeyrae1028
    lindeyrae1028 Posts: 17
    oh... I thought you were being sarcastic :/
    google this:
    cauliflower pizza
    cauliflower brownies
    cauliflower muffins
    cauliflower cupcakes
    cauliflower stir fry
    :)

    HAHA! Nope :-) It has always seemed boring to me... maybe because I've never cooked with it!
  • GrindingSalt
    GrindingSalt Posts: 68 Member
    I second the roasted cauliflower. I cook mine in a hot oven, 400-450, then toss with lemon zest and chopped, toasted almonds when it comes out. Seriously, this is one of my favorite foods.
  • psychicmedium26
    psychicmedium26 Posts: 48
    I love it raw, chopped up in salads.

    Yum sounds like something to try. We often shred a head of broc in salads but I have oddly never experimented with cauliflower.
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    At White spot they have a tandoori salad. It's a vegetarian option. There is cauliflower with tandoori spices on it. It has red Quinoa, lots of yummy greens and veggies, grapes give a nice sweetness, and salad dressing.

    I think they have another tandoori vegetarian option with cauliflower. But, I only liked the salad.

    These were not low calorie or high protein options. They were vegetarian, but they had a good enough amount of protein from the red Quinoa.
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    I have made this several times:

    http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/baked-italian-style-cauliflower-50400000116797/

    And it is AMAZING! And only about 300 calories per serving (give or take depending on what you use).
  • ehensarling17
    ehensarling17 Posts: 95 Member
    Cauliflower is the best!! I'm roasting some as I type this post! :) I just toss the following in a bowl and then roast in the oven to desired done-ness:

    1 head of chopped cauliflower
    1/2 TBS of olive oil
    3 teaspoons of grated Parmesan cheese
    Seasoning (usually fresh salt and pepper but tonight, instead of salt, I'm using Mrs Dash)

    It comes in around 240-250 calories! :)
  • psychicmedium26
    psychicmedium26 Posts: 48
    I had a head the other day and did the following. I preheated the oven to 400 and sprayed a cookie sheet with pam. I cut the head into bite sized florets. I sprinkled with a little lemon juice and threw a bunch of wet minced garlic in there (You can use fresh or dried Im sure). I then drizzled it with olive oil lightly. Then sprinkled with salt and pepper. Roasted about 20 minutes they were SO good and crispy.

    I forgot the hubby sprinkled some grated parm on his you may try that as well as you remove them from the oven.
  • cuspofqueens
    cuspofqueens Posts: 9
    Do a cauliflower mash! Steam it until it's really really dead, then mash half and whip the other half. Add in garlic, vegetable (or chicken) broth, salt, pepper, cheese if you're into it...

    If you add in enough garlic/broth (I use the base so I can double the flavor without all the liquid, and yes, at that point I'll omit the salt)/seasonings, you won't need a gravy (my sister hates gravy, so if I want everyone to eat, this is how I usually make it). If you DO go for a gravy, may I suggest a mushroom one? It's totally double the veg!

    It wouldn't be unusual for me to eat this by itself (drowning in gravy if it's just for me!) in a bowl with some other steamed veggies, but if you wanted to get fancy, you could serve this over a pot pie filling, baked/broiled for a little bit until the cauliflower gets that brown/crispy look to it.
  • SugarLou57
    SugarLou57 Posts: 84 Member
    I like mine steamed slightly, then while that's going put a small amount of oil in a pan with some curry or grand masala, some onion, cilantro, cashews or other nut optional, and then finish it off with the juice of a lime. It's delicious.
  • knra_grl
    knra_grl Posts: 1,566 Member
    roasted is good - my niece did hers tossed with olive oil, spices of your choice and some parmesan cheese (it was yummy)

    I just like it steamed but it's also good in salads or how about a stirfry?
  • RachelBec
    RachelBec Posts: 52 Member
    Thai Cauliflower Shrimp Soup :flowerforyou:

    I uploaded my recipe to MFP, if you're inclined to make it & would like detailed instructions please do not hesitate to send me a message!
  • scuba8781
    scuba8781 Posts: 5 Member
    This is delicious - http://deadspin.com/how-to-make-mashed-cauliflower-because-it-goddamn-tast-1443732709 - but not healthy in the slightest.

    My go-to is olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika, roasted at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes. As others have said, this method is great for doing pretty much any vegetable.
  • ashleysarvi
    ashleysarvi Posts: 66
    i made "mashed potatoes" last night with mine. boiled it, added spices a bit of olive oil stuck it in the food processor until smooth...omg its so yummy.
  • Sunbrooke
    Sunbrooke Posts: 632 Member
    All You magazine has a great recipe for cauliflower cheddar soup. I use about half of the cheese they call for. It is a favorite treat for my mine year old son. We also eat it instead of rice, with curry.

Categories