Cauliflower: The Surprisingly Versatile Vegetable

Cauliflower: The Surprisingly Versatile Vegetable

While cauliflower has steadily been gaining popularity, it is still horribly underestimated. It is so incredibly versatile! It is not being used to its full potential, because there is so much that cauliflower can do. 


Cauliflower is a fairly common vegetable. While it looks like a white broccoli, the flavor is very different. When eaten raw, cauliflower is crunchy, and it has a mild, fresh flavor. This makes it very easy to season or flavor any way you like! It is also a well of nutritional benefits. Cauliflower has only 25 calories per cup, and it contains Vitamin C, folate, and potassium among other nutrients. It also contains fiber to support healthy digestion.


Many people may brush cauliflower off as bland or something only to be pushed around your plate. But there is so much you can do! Because of its mild flavor, you can hide it in foods easily. For example, throw some cooked cauliflower into a soup and blend it to give it a thick, creamy consistency without the use of dairy. Or, take some frozen cauliflower and blend it into a smoothie for a thick texture like ice cream! That’s right, cauliflower can be sweet!


You can also disguise cauliflower as other foods. Cooked cauliflower can be used in place of potatoes in your mash for a lower carb alternative! By cooking cauliflower and mashing them just like you would potatoes, you can create a delicious and creamy mashed potato replacement. Or you can put them through a ricer and create a low-carb rice substitute. And that rice can be flavored in any way, for mexican rice or a delicious curry!


You can even take disguising cauliflower a step farther and disguise as traditionally “junk” foods. Even restaurants are jumping on the cauliflower trend. You can get pizza with low-carb, gluten-free crust made from cauliflower. Or if you’re vegetarian, you can get faux chicken wings made from cauliflower! Whether breaded or not, cauliflower wings can be delicious! Coat them in any sauce you would put on regular wings. Spicy or sweet, they’ll be delicious!


And of course, you can use cauliflower a bit more traditionally. Steamed cauliflower is a staple side dish, and roasted cauliflower can imbue some delicious flavor into a possibly bland vegetable. You could even cut it into larger slabs as a replacement for steak. And depending on your choice of seasoning, cauliflower can carry just about any flavor you like.


With a little creativity, and possibly some scrolling through Pinterest, cauliflower can be a delicious and versatile staple in your fridge. You can make just about anything with cauliflower, and your body will thank you. It’s nutrient value is unbeatable, and it can help you stay fit and healthy in combination with healthy diet and exercise. Be sure to snap a photo of your cauliflower creation and tag Foods Alive on social media!

 

Research

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-cauliflower#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2