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Friday, March 11, 2011

Cauliflower Recipe Ideas

 By Tom Lingle

Photo: blogcdn.com

It is no wonder that hundreds of recipes call for cauliflower since it has been utilized in cooking for centuries. The white florets moved from Asia Minor to Italy, then on to France before they made their way to North America in the late 1600s. Traveling the world over, cauliflower has been combined with many other foods to create a variety of flavorful dishes.
The easiest way to prepare cauliflower is to rinse it thoroughly, cut it into florets, and serve it with a dip made of mayonnaise, sour cream, minced onion, dill weed, parsley and other seasonings. It can also be blanched and marinated in vinaigrette made of extra virgin olive oil, Champagne vinegar, minced shallots, capers and parsley. Marinated cauliflower can be served as an appetizer or it can be used to dress up a salad. Another delicious way to serve cauliflower is to coat it in a batter, deep-fry the florets, and serve with a marinade, ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce.
Cauliflower soup is always a great treat that can be served as a starter or a full meal. Creamy cauliflower soup starts with a chicken stock base and combines ingredients like butter, leek, onion, carrots and cauliflower with milk, heavy whipping cream and spices such as tarragon and thyme. The ingredients are cooked together and then pureed in the blender or food processor to produce a smooth consistency. For a chunky soup, chopped cauliflower, potato, celery, carrots and onions are added to a base of butter, flour and milk and cooked until tender. Just before serving, a handful of cheddar or Swiss cheese can be stirred in until melted.
Stir-fries make a quick, flavorful meal. Fry vegetables like bell peppers, cabbage, onion and cauliflower in a combination of oyster and teriyaki sauces. For the last two minutes of cooking time, add orange sections and a tablespoon of orange zest for a sweet and savory delight. Tomato sauce can be dressed up with the addition of an Italian vegetable blend consisting of cauliflower, bell peppers, onions and carrots. Cauliflower gratin makes a great brunch, lunch or dinner dish. Cauliflower is blended with butter, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onions and eggs. Ham, turkey or bacon pieces are folded in, and the entire mixture is placed in a casserole dish, topped with cheddar cheese, and baked until golden brown.
Cauliflower can be served any time of the day as appetizer, brunch, lunch, dinner or just a quick snack. There are many ways to prepare it and endless recipes that call for call for its almost nutty flavor. The nutritional value in cauliflower makes it not only a tasty but also a healthy addition to a daily eating plan.
Delicious and nutritious cauliflower can be eaten raw or prepared and served in a variety of dishes. Search through our collection of the best taste-tested cauliflower recipes for the perfect appetizer, salad, soup, side dish, or main entrée.

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