How to Cook Cauliflower 

Learning how to cook cauliflower will lead you to many wonderful dishes. First of all, cauliflower is wonderful served raw with one of many delicious dips. You can also add it raw to any salad mix. It can be served steamed with a little butter. It is also delicious cooked with cheese, in casseroles or breaded and deep fried.

How to Cook CauliflowerHow to Cook Cauliflower

Like many vegetables when I was young if we did not grow it in our garden we did not eat it so this is one I did not learn how to cook until becoming an adult. Although this vegetable was able to be grown in our area, Dad felt it was a lot of trouble. Remember he had a lot of us to feed so it makes sense he couldn’t spend a lot of time trying to grow one vegetable.

Before learning how to cook cauliflower we had to grow them. The heads have a tendency of becoming ricey and discolored while maturing in the garden. To prevent this each head when about 2 to 3 inches in diameter needs to have the outer leaves tied up above the head to shelter them from the sun. About 4 to 12 days after tying the heads will be ready to pick; you can see how time consuming this process can be for a large family.

After I got married I started experimenting and learning how to cook cauliflower. As in many vegetable recipes when cooked properly there is a high nutritional value in vegetables. I thought cauliflower was very good when steamed and served with a little melted butter. Like green beans and corn recipes it is a very healthy vegetable when steamed; and still not bad with a little butter.

Then I learned how to cook cauliflower in a cauliflower cheese recipe. Oh how tasty! (But not quite as healthy). After this I started making many great casserole recipes. It seemed the more ingredients that I added the better I liked it and the more calories the recipe contained. There are many recipes to add cauliflower to which make delicious dishes without the calories such as almost any vegetable salad.

BENEFITS OF CAULIFLOWER:  Cauliflower is low in carbohydrates, low in fat and high in dietary fiber; great for diets. Also has other vitamins like “C” and minerals essential to good health.

NOTE: One small head of washed and trimmed cauliflower will equal 1 16 ounce package of flowerets.

If you are just learning how to cook cauliflower, try a variety. This is really a wonderful vegetable.

CAULIFLOWER SALAD RECIPE

Cauliflower Salad RecipeCauliflower Salad Recipe
  • 1 Bunch Romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1 Head cauliflower, broken into small pieces
  • 2 Cups Mayonnaise
  • 1 Pound bacon, fried crisp and crumbled
  • 1 Medium chopped onion
  • 1/3 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ Cup sugar
  • Salt and pepper-OPTIONAL

Wash lettuce and cauliflower and drain well; place in a large bowl.

Mix the mayonnaise with the sugar until blended.

Add the crumbles bacon, onion and cheese to the lettuce bowl.Add salt and pepper if desired.

Add mayonnaise mixture to bowl and toss to blend; refrigerate overnight to blend flavors.

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE RECIPE (This is how to cook cauliflower the easy way)

Cauliflower and Cheese RecipeCauliflower and Cheese Recipe
  • 1 Large head cauliflower, break off flowers
  • 4 Ounces grated Cheddar cheese
  • Salt and pepper
  • Paprika

Preheat oven to 400F degrees.

Soak cauliflower in salt water for ½ hour; rinse and drain.

In a kettle, cover cauliflower with water; add a little salt.

Bring liquid to a boil and cook for about 12 minutes or until tender but not mushy; drain.Place cauliflower in a buttered baking dish.Sprinkle cauliflower with salt, pepper and paprika.

Sprinkle top with grated cheese.

Bake just long enough to melt cheese.

CAULIFLOWER WITH DILL DIP RECIPE

  • 1/3 Cup sour cream
  • 2/3 Cup mayonnaise (not salad dressing)
  • 1 Tablespoon parsley flakes
  • 1 Tablespoon dried green onion
  • 1 Teaspoon dried dill weed
  • ½ Teaspoon garlic salt
  • ½ Teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 Drops Tabasco sauce

Mix all together and refrigerate overnight.

CAULIFLOWER CASSEROLE RECIPE

  • 1 Medium head cauliflower
  • 1 Can cream mushroom soup
  • ½ Cup Cheddar cheese
  • ½ Cup sour cream
  • Salt/pepper
  • 1 Teaspoon dried parsley
  • Bread crumbs-optional

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.

Prepare cauliflower for cooking and cook for about 10 minutes. While cauliflower cooks, combine sour cream, salt, pepper and parsley. In a greased baking dish, place a layer of cauliflower, topped with a layer of soup mixture and a layer of shredded cheese. Repeat layers until all ingredients are used. Top with bread crumbs, if you wish. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.