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Cauliflower Season
By Jennifer A. Wickes
Science
Cauliflower is part of the cabbage family.
Caulis means stalk and Floris means flower.
Varieties
There are three colors that a cauliflower may
be: white, green and purple.
Season
October to April
How to Select
Choose firm heads with compact flowers. The
leaves should be crisp with no yellow on the leaves. The entire head is edible:
both leaves and florets.
Preparation
Simply wash and cut the cauliflower before
eating or cooking. Cauliflower can be boiled, baked or sautéed.
Storage
Refrigerate raw for 3 to 5 days. After it is
cooked, refrigerate up to 3 days.
Nutritional Qualities
Vitamin C and iron.
Trivia
Adding 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to the
cooking water will help maintain the crisp color.
Wine
Pairings
Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Zinfandel
Spices
Basil, cumin, mace, marjoram, mustard, savory, tarragon,
thyme, turmeric.
Equivalencies
1 lb. fresh = 2 1/2 - 3
cups florets, 1 1/2 - 2 cups chopped
Recipes
Cauliflower Salad
1 cauliflower -- cored
1/2 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons garlic -- minced
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 cup black olive -- cured, diced
1/2 cup
red onion -- diced
1/2 cup red bell pepper -- diced
3 tablespoons capers
-- (in brine) drained
Separate the cauliflower into small florets. Rinse well in cold water and
drain. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the florets until al dente,
about 5 minutes. Drain and place them on a towel to drain. Pour the olive oil
over the cauliflower and toss to coat well. Add all the remaining ingredients
and toss to mix well. let the salad marinate for several hours at room
temperature, stirring occasionally, before serving.
Yields: 6 servings
Cream of Cauliflower Soup
2 1/2 cups cold water
10 ounces canned low
sodium chicken broth
6 cups cauliflower -- flowerettes
1/3 cup instant
nonfat dry milk
1 tablespoon flour
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4
teaspoon white pepper
parsley -- minced fresh
lemon wedges
Combine water and broth in a large saucepan;
bring to a boil. Add cauliflower; return to a boil. Reduce heat and cook 10
min. Or until tender. Remove cauliflower from broth, reserving broth. With
knife blade in processor, add cauliflower. Pulse 8 to 10 times or until
cauliflower is finely chopped, but not pureed. Combine milk powder, flour,
nutmeg, and pepper; add to reserved broth, stirring well with a wire whisk. Add
chopped cauliflower and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 15 min. Or
until slightly thickened. Ladle soup into 6 individual bowls; garnish with
minced parsley if desired.
Serve with lemon wedges.
Yields: 6
servings
Iberian Cauliflower
1 head cauliflower --
trimmed
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice --
strained
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup garlic -- very finely minced
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
Combine cauliflower, salt, lemon juice, and water to cover in a large saucepot,
over a moderate flame. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes,
until tender-crisp. Remove from heat, drain well. Heat olive oil in a small
skillet, over a medium flame. Add the garlic, heat and stir for 6-8 minutes,
until golden season with
cayenne and vinegar. Pour over cauliflower. Arrange
onto a serving platter. Serve hot.
Yields: 6 servings
This article was originally published at Suite101.com:
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/15184/104790
Jennifer A. Wickes is the Food and Drink Dean at Suite
University, the Food and Drink Community Manager at Suite101, as well as a
freelance food writer and cookbook reviewer. She has written 5 eBooks, and has
had several articles in printed publications, such as Cooking Pleasures
magazine and Ernest and Julio Gallo's Turning Leaf Wine pamphlet.
http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/CulinaryJen
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