Cauliflower Recipes

Not only tasty, cauliflower recipes are also healthy. This vegetable has long been one of a dieter's best friends, due to its negligible amount of calories and its plentiful supply of important vitamins. Don't let cauliflower's health benefits blind you to its great taste and versatility, though. There are many delicious ways to prepare this tasty veggie.

Creamy Cauliflower Casserole

Cheese lovers will enjoy this served alongside their favorite cut of meat.

Ingredients

• 2 heads of cauliflower
• 2 8-ounce packages of cream cheese, softened (do not use fat free; stick with regular or reduced fat)
• 1 cup of shredded pepper jack or cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Remove florets from cauliflower heads and wash.
3. Bring water to a boil over high heat.
4. Add cauliflower florets.
5. Boil for 5 minutes.
6. Place cream cheese and shredded cheese in 10 x 13 casserole dish.
7. Add cauliflower.
8. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
9. Stir to combine, allowing hot cauliflower to start melting the cheese.
10. Bake for 30 minutes.

Variations

• Top finished dish with chopped fresh chives or parsley prior to serving.
• Stir in crumbled bacon prior to cooking or sprinkle on top of finished casserole.
• Add Creole seasoning (like Tony Chachere's) instead of salt and pepper for a spicy kick.
• Substitute a different kind of cheese for pepper jack or cheddar, such as Colby or Monterey Jack.

Mashed Cauliflower

Boiling and mashing cauliflower creates a dish similar to mashed potatoes.

Ingredients

• 1 head of cauliflower

  

• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 2 tablespoons of cream cheese
• 1 clove minced garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Remove florets from cauliflower head and wash.
2. Bring water to a boil over high heat.
3. Add cauliflower florets.
4. Boil for 5 minutes.
5. Drain thoroughly using a colander.
6. Place cooked florets, butter and cream cheese into a food processor.
7. Purée.
8. Pour into a medium mixing bowl.
9. Add garlic, salt and pepper and mix well.

Variations

• Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese prior to serving.
• Add 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese before puréeing.
• Top with chopped chives.
• Top with crumbled bacon.

Cauliflower and Celery Soup

This soup is incredibly comforting on a cold evening.

Ingredients

• 1 head of cauliflower
• 1 stalk of celery, sliced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1/2 cup of shredded carrots
• 3 cups of water
• 3 cups of chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 can of green peas, drained (optional)
• 1 can of white beans, drained (optional)
• 1 cup of cooked pasta (optional)

Instructions

1. Remove florets from cauliflower.
2. Put 2 inches of water in a saucepan over high heat.
3. Add cauliflower florets.
4. Bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat to medium.
6. Simmer for 15 minutes.
7. While cauliflower is cooking, put olive oil in a stock pot over medium heat.
8. When oil is hot, add onions, celery and carrots to the pot.
9. Sauté onions, celery and carrots in olive oil for 5 minutes.
10. Remove from heat.
11. When the cauliflower's cooking time is up, use a colander to drain it.
12. Place cauliflower into a stock pot over medium heat.
13. Add cauliflower to stock pot with sautéed vegetables.
14. Add all other ingredients (except for optional ones) to stock pot.
15. Return to stove.
16. Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes.
17. Stir in optional ingredients of your choice.
18. Serve hot.

Easy Vegan Cauliflower Steak Recipe

This recipe yields approximately 4 to 6 cauliflower steaks, depending on the size of your head of cauliflower. Plan on one steak per person minimum along with any other dishes you serve.

Ingredients

• 1 large head of cauliflower
• Olive oil
• Seasoned salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Remove the leaves from the cauliflower.
3. Cut the stem off the bottom so the head will sit level, but leave the core intact.
4. Rinse the head in cold water and pat it dry with a paper towel.
5. Set the head on a cutting board with the cut-side down and use a large knife to cut it in half.
6. Slice as many 3/4-inch thick "steaks" from each half as you can. Break any remaining cauliflower into bite-size pieces to cook with your steaks.
7. Line a baking sheet with foil (for easy clean up) and brush it with olive oil.
8. Brush each cauliflower steak with a little olive oil and lightly dust with seasoning salt. Place the seasoned sides down on the baking sheet and prepare the top sides just as you did the bottoms. Also brush the cauliflower pieces with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning salt. Place the pieces around the steaks.
9. Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until golden brown.
10. Use a spatula to transfer the steaks and pieces to serving plates. Serve with quinoa, mac and cheese or polenta.

Other Recipes to Try

If the recipes above don't suit your tastes, there are other cauliflower recipes you can enjoy, as well, including:

• Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower, and Paprika has a creamy sauce that makes it a warming and filling side dish.
• Cauliflower and Rice is a simple side dish perfect to go with meat or poultry.
• Oven Roasted Cauliflower has a deep, caramelized flavor that brings out the aromas and tastes of the vegetable.
• Buffalo Cauliflower is a vegetarian version of the always popular appetizer, buffalo chicken wings.

Enjoy Tasty Cauliflower Dishes

Cauliflower is a tasty and neutral flavored base for numerous dishes. These recipes represent just a few of the many great dishes you can prepare using cauliflower.