What Is Cauliflower?
The ever so versatile cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable. It belongs in the same family as broccoli, kale, bok choy and Brussels sprouts.
So, what exactly is a cruciferous vegetable anyway? Well, the word “cruciferous” is derived from the Latin word “Cruciferae”, which means “cross bearing”. And by cross bearing, they are referring to the fact that the four petals resemble a cross.
Cauliflower is a low-growing plant and when the head of the vegetable is enclosed inside its large green leaves, it resembles a cabbage. When it opens up, it reveals its cream-coloured head with tight knit florets.
Mark Twain described cauliflower as ‘cabbage with a college education’
The average size of a cauliflower head is about 13-18 cm in diameter. It is dense and the florets are attached to the main stem.
What Are the Health Benefits of Cauliflower?
Delicious yet healthy. Now, that’s our kind of food!
Cauliflower is an excellent source of Vitamin C, B1, B2, B3, B6 and K.
It is fat free, a great source of dietary fibre which helps to promote gut and digestive health and high in folate (B9).
This vegetable has anti-inflammatory effects on the body and has much needed antioxidants.
How to Choose a Good Cauliflower
The head of the cauliflower should be a consistent cream colour with no dark spots. A yellowish tinge is a sign that it’s not as fresh as it should be.
It should feel heavy when you pick it up and ensure that the florets are all tight and intact.
The leaves of the cauliflower are another good way to ascertain whether it is good. If it is starting to wilt and is not a nice healthy bright green, it’s on its way out.
What Does Cauliflower Taste Like?
Flavour: When eaten raw, it can have a bitter after taste. When cooked as it is, it has a mild, nutty flavour and some might even describe it as being a little bit sweet.
Texture: Crunch. That is the first word that comes to mind. It softens dramatically the longer you cook it and it can even get to a point of being silky smooth when mashed.
What Goes Well with Cauliflower?
Fruit and Vegetables
Apples, asparagus, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, capsicum, carrots, celery, corn, garlic, ginger, jack fruit, kale, lemon, lime, mango, mushroom, olive, onion, orange, pea, pomegranate, potato, pumpkin, spinach, sweet potato, tomato.
Herbs, Nuts and Spices
Almond, basil, bay leaf, cardamom, chervil, chives, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, dill, garam masala, marjoram, mint, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, parsley, pine nuts, tarragon, thyme, walnuts.
Protein and Other
Anchovy, beef, blue cheese, buffalo mozzarella, butter, cheddar cheese, chickpeas, curry, farro, feta cheese, gruyère cheese, parmesan cheese, pork, quinoa, rice, saffron, tahini, tofu, turkey, turmeric, yoghurt.
How to Use Cauliflower in Salads?
Nothing appeals to us more than a vegetable that is so incredibly diverse in how we can manipulate it and transform it. Because of this versatility, it is one of the best vegetables to use in salads.
You can have them raw like in our Tofu Skin Salad with Cucumber and Cauliflower.
The most popular way to have it is probably roasted of which we have many recipes showcasing roasted cauliflower.
You can turn them into cauliflower rice which is a fantastic way to replace rice while still having very similar textures.
We have cauliflower steaks, fried Chinese cauliflower and even baby cauliflower. It truly is endless what you can do with this incredible vegetable.
Salad Recipes with Cauliflower
Purple Cauliflower Salad with Lemon Mustard Tahini
Hearty and wholesome. Two words not normally used to describe a salad. But this Purple Cauliflower Salad is exactly that due to its creaminess, roasted undertones and nutty flavours.
Baby Cauliflower and Spiced Chickpeas with Beetroot Tahini
What could be more scrumptious than whole roasted baby cauliflower? Combine them with spiced chickpeas and beetroot tahini, and you’ll have a middle eastern inspired salad that won’t disappoint.
Pomegranate Cauliflower Salad with Chestnuts
Imagine little roasted florets sprinkled with red seeds against a backdrop of bright green sprouts. This Pomegranate Roasted Cauliflower Salad is a recipe bursting with contrasting flavours and textures.
More Ingredient Pairings
Here are more ingredient pairing ideas for your next salad creation!
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Dave Herbster
What really makes cauliflower taste cood is a lot of butter, salt and other seasonings. That is the truth folks.
The Devil Wears Salad
Hahaha….. we don’t deny it:)
Robin
Pineapple tidbits and the juice pair well with cauliflower pearls. Fried in a skillet.
The Devil Wears Salad
What a great idea!!! I’m going to have to explore that for a salad. thanks for the suggestion.
Nayomi
Cauliflower has had such a glow up recently. What was once seen a bland vegetable has now become a versatile cooking ingredient. I love roasted cauliflower season with turmeric and curry.
The Devil Wears Salad
Right? And I love all the different combinations you can have it with! Love cauliflower and turmeric too! You should try our Curried Vegan Cauliflower Steak Salad.
Jill
What a wonderful article on cauliflower! I really love all of the pairing ideas! I can never think of what goes well with it.
The Devil Wears Salad
Yeah sometimes we get stuck with how to cook with something and always end up with the same recipes. This pairing post will help you experiment with flavours a bit more.
Addison
Cauliflower is so versatile and flavorful! I love these ideas for one of my favorite veggies! Thank you!
The Devil Wears Salad
I totally agree with you! Always happy to try all the different ways to eat this vegetable.
Michelle / Taste As You Go
This post is so helpful. My family loves cauliflower but I always prepare it the same way — roasted or turned into soup. Now I have some more suggestions in terms of how to prepare it and what to serve with it. Thanks so much!
The Devil Wears Salad
You’re welcome! Glad you have found this useful. We are massive cauliflower lovers too and the number of ways you can prepare it is amazing. Such a versatile vegetable.
Marcellina
What a fantastic article on the benefits and uses of cauliflower! These recipes are mouthwatering! I totally agree and love roasting cauliflower but have never combined it with many of your suggestions. The cauliflower with pomegranate and chestnuts will be the first one I make.
The Devil Wears Salad
The weather is getting cooler where I am so cauliflower is about to make a resurgence in our kitchen very soon and yes, roasting them is one of our favourite ways to eat cauliflower. Enjoy the cauliflower with pomegranate and chestnuts salad…. it is one of our more popular recipes.