cauliflower

January in the kitchen – Cauliflower Crust Flatbread or Pizza
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January in the kitchen – Cauliflower Crust Flatbread or Pizza

Cauliflower Crust Flatbread

Cauliflower Crust Flatbread with Shaved Brussels Sprouts

Cauliflower Crust Flatbread with Shaved Brussels Sprouts

Substituting Cauliflower for rice, couscous, pasta, or other wheat products is newly popular. It’s especially useful for those avoiding gluten or carbohydrates; and an easy (and delicious) way to get some extra vegetables into your diet. This recipe for a cauliflower crust was inspired by one on the blog “Health on Top“.

I must admit it turned out very well; my family gave it thumbs up. I’ll be repeating the recipe with varied toppings.

There are a few tricks you should be aware of before you start.

  • Grind the cauliflower fairly small (rice sized) in your processor.
  • Cook it slightly softer than you would use if stir-frying. 8 minutes was perfect in my microwave but every appliance is different.
  • Line a colander with a tea towel and pour the cooked cauliflower in to cool.
  • Once cool, squeeze as much liquid as possible from the cauliflower before mixing with the other ingredients. Squeeze more than you think you need.
  • Line your baking sheet with a non-stick silicone mat or parchment paper.

Cauliflower Crust (for each crust serving 1-2)

  • I small to medium cauliflower, cut into florets
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup of low moisture mozzarella, shredded
  • ¼ cup of grated parmesan
  • 1 teaspoon of oregano
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F.
  2. Rice the cauliflower in a food processor.
  3. Place in a microwave safe bowl, cover, and microwave on high for about 8 minutes, until cooked.
  4. Place the cauliflower in a tea towel lined colander and cool.
  5. Once cool, squeeze as much liquid as possible from the cauliflower.
  6. Mix the squeezed cauliflower, egg, cheese, oregano, salt and pepper together.
  7. Press the mixture into a circle on the lined baking sheet, pressing it out evenly with your fingers or flat bottom of a glass. My crust was about 12 inches.
  8. Bake for 15-20 minutes until brown. 
Riced Cauliflower

Riced Cauliflower

Cauliflower with liquid squeezed out

Cauliflower with liquid squeezed out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assemble the toppings

Let your imagination run wild here although I wouldn’t use anything too runny. This is probably the time for more of a white flatbread than one with traditional red sauce.

I made two pizzas. One was vegetarian and had ricotta, pesto, shredded mozzarella, Parmesan, and shaved Brussels sprouts. The other had shredded mozzarella, carmelized onions, sliced spicy sausage, and Parmesan.

  1. Once topped, put them back in the oven.
  2. Bake another 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and toppings lightly browned.
  3. Cool for a couple of minutes before cutting into wedges.
Cauliflower Crust with Sausage and Cheese

Cauliflower Crust with Sausage and Cheese

Served with a green salad we had a dinner with three vegetables (Brussels sprouts topping), gluten free, low carbohydrate, and positively delicious.

Cauliflower Crust with Brussels Sprouts

Cauliflower Crust with Brussels Sprouts

I’m taking this to share with Angie (from the Novice Gardener) and friends at Fiesta Friday #50. There is definitely something to celebrate this week.

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And I think the group at Real Food Fridays will enjoy it as well.

After all, Friday is Pizza or Flatbread night, right?

December in the kitchen – Red lentil and cauliflower couscous
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December in the kitchen – Red lentil and cauliflower couscous

Lately I have been reading a lot about substituting cauliflower for rice and couscous in recipes. The substitution is popular in paleo circles as well as with folks trying to cut down on carbohydrates (useful after the holidays). It seems to me that any way you can add more vegetables to your diet is a good thing.

This recipe combines the cauliflower “couscous” with lentils and preserved mandarin oranges. It can be served hot, room temperature, or cold as a salad with some tasty greens on the side. This could even be the main dish for a vegetarian meal, it’s gluten free and vegan.

Red Lentils and Cauliflower Couscous

Red Lentils and Cauliflower Couscous

Cauliflower Couscous with Red Lentils and Easy Preserved Mandarins    (serves 4)

  • 2 mandarin oranges, sliced thinly
  • 1/3 cup of sugar
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
  • 1 small cauliflower, “riced” in a food processor
  • 1 cup red lentils
  • ½ red onion, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ¼ cup almonds, sliced scallions, and chopped cilantro for garnish

Preserved Mandarin Oranges:

  1. In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the sugar and 1½ teaspoons of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper; stir until the sugar and salt dissolve.
  2. Add the slices of mandarin orange and cook over medium heat until softened, about 15 minutes.
  3. Transfer the orange slices to a plate and boil the remaining liquid until reduced to 1/3 cup; it will take about 3 minutes. Let cool, then whisk in ¼ cup of olive oil. Set aside.

Cauliflower Couscous

  1. Break the cauliflower into medium sized pieces and add to the food processor, pulse the machine until the cauliflower resembles couscous. You may need to do this in batches. Don’t over process.
cauliflower rice

Cauliflower couscous or rice

Red Lentils

  1. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil, add the lentils and cook over medium heat until tender but not mushy, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain.
  2. Heat a frying pan on medium heat; add the 2 tablespoons of olive oil. When hot and beginning to shimmer, add the onion and sauté until beginning to soften, about 10 minutes.
  1. Add the cauliflower to the pan, increase the heat to medium high and sauté, stirring constantly, until the cauliflower is beginning to soften and brown. It should retain some texture and still be crisp.
  2. Add the lentils to the pan and reheat the whole.
  3. Add the reserved liquid from the mandarin oranges and the lemon juice. Taste for salt and turn out to a serving dish.
  4. Serve garnished with almonds, the slices of mandarin orange, scallions, and chopped cilantro.

I served this with the marmalade chicken. It was a great combination with the pilaf coming together while the chicken was in the oven.

Cauliflower couscous

Cauliflower couscous

How have you used cauliflower to replace rice or pasta or couscous? I’d love to hear other ideas.

November in the kitchen – Lentils with Roast Vegetable Stacks
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November in the kitchen – Lentils with Roast Vegetable Stacks

It’s time to add a bit of healthy eating after gorging on Halloween goodies! These fall vegetable stacks fill the bill in a delicious and beautiful way. The farmer’s market last Saturday was overflowing with gorgeous produce. I was thinking of making these vegetable stacks for some vegetarian friends coming to dinner Saturday night. The celeriac I wanted was not to be found (seems it’s not in season) but I found kohlrabi and some giant thick carrots. They are a French variety and reported to be very sweet, even though they were huge. If you are not familiar with kohlrabi, it is a member of the cabbage family and means “cabbage-turnip”. Roasted they taste a bit like a cross between an artichoke and a potato, very mild.

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Layers of roast vegetables (I used cauliflower, beets, carrots, kohlrabi, and sweet potatoes) are stacked on top of a bed of lentils cooked with red wine. A horseradish vinaigrette is added to finish with some chopped parsley. You could add a bit of goat cheese or feta to top things off. In my book there isn’t much that can’t be improved with goat cheese! This main dish is vegetarian, gluten free, and vegan without the cheese.

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All of the vegetables can be roasted  ahead and reheated in a 300 degree F oven before serving.

Make a double batch of the lentils and freeze them for future pilafs or soups.

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Start the lentils first.

Lentils with Wine-Glazed Vegetables (serves 4 as a main dish)

Lentils

  • 1 1/2 cups Umbrian lentils or lentils du Puy
  • salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more
  • 2 large shallots, diced
  • 1 large carrot, diced
  • 1 garlic clove, mashed
  • 1 small dried chili
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2/3 cup of dry red wine
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 4 chopped scallions
  • 2 tablespoons of butter (optional)

Put the lentils in a saucepan with 3 cups of water, 1 teaspoon salt, the bay leaf, and dried pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a lively simmer and cook until the lentils are tender but hold some texture, about 25 minutes.

While they are cooking, heat the 2 teaspoons of oil in a large skillet. Add the shallots and carrot, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, and cook over medium-high heat until the vegetables are browned, about 10 minutes. Stir frequently. Add the garlic and tomato paste, cook for 1 minute then add the wine. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer until the liquid is syrupy and the vegetables tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the mustard and add the cooked lentils with their broth. If made ahead, stop at this point.

When you are ready to reheat, bring the contents of your pot to a boil, reduce the heat to simmer and cook until the sauce is reduced. Stir in the scallions, and optional butter, taste for salt, add freshly ground pepper.

(Recipe adapted from Debra Madison’s The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone and 101 Cookbooks.)

Roast Vegetables

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F

  • 4 sprigs of rosemary
  • grated rind of 1 lemon
  • 6 tablespoons of olive oil

Chop the rosemary and combine with the lemon rind and olive oil. You will brush this over your vegetables

  • 2 small fat sweet potatoes, peeled, sliced 1/2 inch thick
  • 2 very fat carrots, peeled, sliced 1/2 inch thick
  • 2 kohlrabi, peelied, sliced 1/4-1/2 inch thick
  • 2 beets, peeled, sliced 1/4-1/2 inch thick
  • 1 head of cauliflower, sliced through the core into 1 inch slices

Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit a large baking pan, lay out the slices of beet, brush with the rosemary oil and salt on both sides. Cover tightly with a piece of aluminum foil and roast for 20 minutes. Remove the cover and roast an additional 10-15 minutes.

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Roast beets

Lay the slices of kohlrabi on another sheet of parchment paper on a second baking sheet, add the carrots to the other side. Brush with rosemary oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast for 35-40 minutes. Check the kohlrabi at 30 minutes, it might be done. It should be soft and starting to brown in spots.

Roast carrots and kohlrabi

Roast carrots and kohlrabi

Roast the slices of sweet potato in the same way, brushing with oil on each side and roasting for 35-40 minutes until they are soft and brown.

Roast sweet potatoes

Roast sweet potatoes

Brush the cauliflower slices with the oil on each side and salt well. Roast for about 20-25 minutes until cooked.

Roast cauliflower

Roast cauliflower

If made a few hours ahead, set aside at room temperature until it is time to reheat them. To reheat, place the baking trays in a 300 degree F oven for about 15 minutes.

Horseradish Vinaigrette

  • 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon of pure maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons of prepared horseradish
  • 1/2 cup of olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Combine all the ingredients in a small jar and shake to combine well. Check the seasoning and set aside.

When you are ready for dinner, prepare each plate as below. I usually warm the plates in my microwave for 1 -2 minutes first. There is nothing worse than a cold plate with warm food!

Put a large scoop of lentils on each plate, cover with a slice of cauliflower, then the other slices, alternating colors. Top with a drizzle of vinaigrette and some roughly chopped parsley.

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Lentils with roast vegetable stacks and horseradish vinaigrette

Just what the Dr. ordered to cure a Halloween sugar overdose!

Submitted to Mouthwatering Mondays, week 72.

Take a look to see what other wonderful dishes are on the menu.

October in the garden – what’s happening?
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October in the garden – what’s happening?

I can’t believe it is almost Halloween and the beginning of November! Our days are still warm although nights are cooler. It’s been a few weeks since I posted anything about the garden. Things are growing but there’s not much to harvest yet. I have been able to pick some lettuce leaves to add to a salad, the heads themselves are still developing and I don’t want to stress them by picking too much. I take the biggest of the outer leaves and leave the rest of the head, more seedlings were planted today. Once the cold weather hits everything will slow down.

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The broccoli and cauliflower have almost reached the top of their protective wire cover. They’ll soon need to take their chances with the elements and critters.

Speaking of critters, something has been nibbling at the young lettuce plants. It doesn’t look like snails or slugs, they would have taken it roots and all! Got to be squirrels, mice, or the monster cat. I covered them again with a spare wire basket. My garden feeds the neighborhood!

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Young lettuce, ready to be planted.

The peas are looking good and getting a head start before cold weather hits.

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We are supposed to get rain tomorrow, fingers crossed for the garden. Not so good for the Halloween crowd. And, I do mean crowd. We get carloads of kids in the neighborhood from all over Oakland. I love the little ones, not so much the teenagers.

October in the garden – cabbage family (broccoli and cauliflower)
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October in the garden – cabbage family (broccoli and cauliflower)

On August 7th I planted seeds for several types of broccoli, cauliflower, beets, kale and chard. These are the staples (along with lettuce and onions) of my fall and winter garden. They were seeded in flats on my back deck so I could keep an eye on them. I covered them with a plastic lid to keep a constant moisture level. Once the first leaves emerged I removed the cover. You can see from the picture below that the seeding flats are recycled plastic containers from the grocery store. I punched holes in the bottom, then set them in a shallow pan with water or on part of a commercial seed starting system. I’ve used the APS system for seed starting from Gardener’s Supply. It includes a tray as a water reservoir, a rack, a heavy duty fabric capillary mat, planting cells, and a greenhouse cover. I’ve found the included planting cells are too shallow for most vegetables (ok for lettuce). However the other parts of the system are very helpful in maintaining the consistent moisture required for seed germination. They are especially valuable if you will be away for a few days or get busy and forget your seeds. Your baby seedlings are kept safe from pests and disease when they are the most vulnerable.

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IMG_2016Once the young plants had a set of true leaves (the first leaves to emerge are called cotyledons and are not representative of the leaves you will see later), they were ready for the garden. I transplanted them into the garden at the end of September. They will do fine over the winter even with a light frost.

The broccoli and cauliflower went into one of my raised beds. Because there were previously tomatoes in that location, I added quite a bit of compost and organic fertilizer. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and deplete the soil of nutrients. Onions are good companion plants for the cabbage family. There are chives at one end of the bed and I planted some scallions between the young plants. Thyme and lemon verbena are at the other end of the bed, the aromatic herbs are reported to deter cabbage worms which have been a problem in the past. I tossed in a handful of yellow nasturtium seeds, they are a decoy for black aphids. I’ve noticed that black aphids like chives as well, maybe they will leave my broccoli and cauliflower alone this year!

Cole transplants

Broccoli and cauliflower transplants

You can see the last of my tomato plants in the raised bed behind, I can’t bear to pull them out yet as there are still some green ones on the vines. Their time is limited though as that bed is scheduled to be planted with peas.

I need to protect my plants from deer that love to lunch in my garden (not to mention the birds and squirrels and the monster cat), I covered the young plants with some wire screening left over from another project.

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It’s not too late for you to plant cauliflower and broccoli (or chard and kale) in Northern California; but you will need to buy the small plants at your local nursery as 6-packs. Avoid the ones with roots coming out of the bottom. And don’t bother with Brussels sprouts, see my note below. There will be more on chard, kale and beets in my next post.

A note on Brussels sprouts: you’ve probably noticed that I haven’t mentioned them yet, although they are one of my favorites. Brussels sprouts need five months from the time they are seeded to the time they are ready to harvest around December 1st. That means seeding no later than May 15th and planting in the garden by July 1st. In May they are not anywhere on my radar. And in July, I am enjoying the glory of the first tomatoes. My first thoughts of Brussels sprouts occur in October with Thanksgiving on the horizon. What to do? I buy those beautiful stalks at the farmer’s market. They are almost as good as home grown.