From Daryl aka Avery:
So there I was, walking down the vegetable aisle, ready to pick up a few zucchini when I spied orange or "cheddar" cauliflower. Okay, it looked sort of weird, not quite alien, but weird. However, it was also pretty and goes with the ringing in of autumn. White cauliflower really needs dressing up to look pretty. Not this new version. I gather (from looking online) that there are a number of variations in the color of this vegetable, from coral to sunburst. Fun, right? And they have been around since 1970!!
Which means I'd probably seen it before but it simply didn't register. According to an article on Saveur, the hue comes from the extra beta-carotene which is naturally stored in its florets, which gives the orange cauliflower 25 percent more vitamin A than the white variety. I'm not a scientist, but I'm buying that explanation.
FYI, the flavor seems to be the same, maybe a little sweeter. It cooked exactly the same as regular cauliflower. It's a wonderful addition to any plate. I'm not sure why it turned a little "paler" after cooking. I only boil for a short time. So that's a "hmm" moment for me. Maybe that extra beta-carotene seeps out with the steam??
CAULIFLOWER AND PARMESAN
Ingredients:
1 large head orange
cauliflower, split into florets
1 tablespoon extra virgin
olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic salt or
powder
1 teaspoon salt
1-2 tablespoons bouquet garni
(*I use Penzeys)
1-2 teaspoons fresh cracked
pepper
½ cup Parmesan cheese
More Parmesan for garnish,
if desired
Directions:
Blanch
cauliflower: In a sauce pan, put 1-2 inches of water. Bing to a boil. Add the
cauliflower and boil, with a lid on, for two minutes. Drain off water. Remove
cauliflower from pan.
In a sauté
pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the blanched cauliflower. Sprinkle
with garlic salt, salt, bouquet garni, and cracked pepper. Stir-fry for five
minutes, until cauliflower is tender.
Turn off heat
and add Parmesan cheese. Toss. Serve immediately. Garnish with more Parmesan, if desired.
Savor the mystery!
Daryl Wood Gerber aka Avery Aames
Tasty ~ Zesty ~ Dangerous!
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The colored ones are so much fun! Our local supermarket regularly stocks orange and purple, and I've seen an odd pointy green one now and then. Do you think kids will be more willing to eat "fun" cauliflower? Oh, and the recipe sounds good too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sheila. I have to admit the purple is a little weird. LOL but pretty too.
DeleteDaryl
A fun grocery store adventure!
ReplyDeleteI marvel at all the unusual (to me) fruits and veggies that the clerks have to recognize when ringing them up.
Right. You would think they would know, but even they look surprised! ;)
DeleteDaryl
That looks very good! I find unusual things at the Farmers' Markets.
ReplyDeleteAnd to think those farmers probably didn't know what they were growing either!! Lol
DeleteHow about ugly tomatoes? ;)
Daryl
I bet that Parmesan is very tasty on it! I'll keep an eye out for it in the stores!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen the colored cauliflower in any of my stores, must be shopping in the wrong places.
ReplyDeleteBut, for the 1st time in my life, I've seen green & pink colored eggs (shells are colored). I learned that the egg colors depend on the breed of chicken.
I've never seen the colored cauliflower in any of my stores, must be shopping in the wrong places.
ReplyDeleteBut, for the 1st time in my life, I've seen green & pink colored eggs (shells are colored). I learned that the egg colors depend on the breed of chicken.
I've never seen the colored cauliflower in any of my stores, must be shopping in the wrong places.
ReplyDeleteBut, for the 1st time in my life, I've seen green & pink colored eggs (shells are colored). I learned that the egg colors depend on the breed of chicken.