When have you heard that at the dinner table recently? I can’t tell you how many times my son, as a youngster, said cauliflower is boring.
Cauliflower gets such a bad wrap. I’ll agree that steamed it may be a bit bland. But there are so many other ways to prepare cauliflower that make it so enjoyable.
A great way to jazz it up is Sandy Smith’s (Buchanan, TN) Roasted Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower recipe. It’s just something she threw together, and wow was it good.
The combination of herbs, cheese, and the bacon grease make this really flavorful. And adding bacon and more cheese takes this recipe over the top.
What can be better than a loaded baked potato? How about Jamie Beecham’s (Nashville, NC) Loaded Cauliflower. “This is such a good dish to make and eat,” says Jamie. “It’s just like my loaded potatoes only made with cauliflower.”
This is one good, creamy casserole thanks to the heavy cream, sour cream, and cheese. Of course, when you add bacon everything is always better. From the bacon to the mushrooms, the choice of cheeses and the Italian seasoning, I just loved how all the flavors work so well together.
Pat Padden (New York, NY) made it and thought it was wonderful. “Saved it, shared it and shared helpings of what I’d made with my landlord and a friend with a vegetable-phobic two-year-old,” Pat said. “The kid loved it!” If a two-year-old will eat it, you know it’s going to be good.
“Frankly, just about anything tastes good when it’s baked in a cheese sauce,” jokes Garrison Wayne (LaQuinta, CA). “This Cauliflower and Cheddar Gratin is no exception.”
With a nice and creamy cheese sauce, this cauliflower gratin is perfection! It has a sweet and savory flavor that I enjoyed. And, really, how can anything be bad with cheese sauce? Serve this instead of potatoes the next time you make a steak. It’s the perfect side dish.
Just like anything is good with cheese, everything is better fried… including Sena Wilson’s (Lake Jackson, TX) Country Fried Cauliflower.
“This recipe calls for frying the cauliflower, but that is the ‘country’ style in my southern taste,” explains Sena. “Delicious served as a side dish or with a remoulade sauce for dipping.”
The outside is nice and crispy while the center gets warm and soft. I love Parmesan cheese, so I sprinkled it liberally on top (I suggest you do too). These were gone in no time in the Test Kitchen. They’re a great snack and a tasty side dish too. Very yummy!
Pizza should be a food group for me, and I love that I can now have a healthier version with Marion Dyess’s (Deerfield Beach, FL) Crazy Good Cauliflower Pizza.
The spices and cheese add so much flavor, you wouldn’t know you’re eating cauliflower as the dough. The crust gets really crisp and topped with the peppers, onions, and cheeses. The key to a crisp crust is to squeeze the water out of the cauliflower real well. This may take a few times to do, but it’s worth the extra effort.
Packed with vitamins and antioxidants, plus being low-carb and a great substitute for rice, try to work more cauliflower recipes into your weekly menu. If you try these recipes we guarantee you’ll hear an “mmm good” from the family. Happy Pinching!