Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Orange Cauliflower with Parmesan from @DarylWoodGerber




I love to find new things in the grocery store, like a seasoning I haven't used or a cheese I've never tasted. I don't go as far as purchasing some creepy looking fish with tentacles—who knows where that thing has been?—but I can go out on a limb for veggies.

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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10 comments:

  1. 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sheila. I have to admit the purple is a little weird. LOL but pretty too.

      Daryl

      Delete
  2. A fun grocery store adventure!
    I marvel at all the unusual (to me) fruits and veggies that the clerks have to recognize when ringing them up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right. You would think they would know, but even they look surprised! ;)

      Daryl

      Delete
  3. That looks very good! I find unusual things at the Farmers' Markets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And to think those farmers probably didn't know what they were growing either!! Lol

      How about ugly tomatoes? ;)

      Daryl

      Delete
  4. I bet that Parmesan is very tasty on it! I'll keep an eye out for it in the stores!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've never seen the colored cauliflower in any of my stores, must be shopping in the wrong places.
    But, 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.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've never seen the colored cauliflower in any of my stores, must be shopping in the wrong places.
    But, 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.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've never seen the colored cauliflower in any of my stores, must be shopping in the wrong places.
    But, 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.

    ReplyDelete