Cauliflower is a very healthy product that nutritionists and pediatricians recommend periodically to include in the diet. Regular consumption of a vegetable rich in vitamins and minerals, Omega 3 fatty acids protects against certain diseases, improves metabolism. However, not everyone loves healthy food, especially children are often picky. And adherents of a healthy diet love to pamper themselves with original dishes. The question of how to cook delicious cauliflower never loses its relevance.
Cauliflower: photo, selection and storage rules
If you want to cook delicious cauliflower, it is important to choose a quality fresh product - otherwise the dishes will be spoiled. Overripe vegetables that have been stored for a long time will be too soft and sticky after cooking. There are simple rules to follow when buying and storing cauliflower.
- The shape of the fruit and shades of cabbage leaves have little effect on the taste and juiciness of the product, the main thing is its freshness. The best option is a young head of cabbage.
- The inflorescences of a good cauliflower fit tightly to each other, do not show signs of drying out. Leaves are dense, rich green, not torn or sluggish.
- Do not buy vegetables with dark spots - this is a sign of fungal infection. A spotted product can quickly rot, food poisoning is possible.
- The old head of cauliflower dries up, loses its juiciness. Weigh two similar-looking cabbage "heads" on your hands and take the heavier one.
- If the preparation of a cauliflower dish is delayed, wrap the head of cabbage in paper and plastic wrap, pre-piercing it in several places. It is recommended to change the paper wrapper as it absorbs moisture. Store a fresh head of cabbage at 0 ° C for no more than ten days in the vegetable compartment, optimally in a special freshness zone.
best preserved frozen. Before being placed in the freezer, the vegetable must be processed as follows.
- Rinse the cauliflower thoroughly in running water and divide into small inflorescences (3-4 cm).
- Soak the vegetables for half an hour in a solution of salt water (20 g per 1 liter) to protect against insects hiding in the bunches (they will float up). Drain and rinse the cauliflower again.
- Blanch the inflorescences for 3 minutes, then immerse them in ice water for the same time. This will help preserve the freshness, flavor, and density of the vegetable so that you can make your cauliflower delicious at any time.
After draining the liquid, arrange the vegetables in bags and send them to the freezer. During the winter, you will be pleased with healthy and tasty cauliflower more than once, you can easily find recipes with photos on the Internet.
Cauliflower: delicious recipes
The best way to cook cauliflower deliciously and at the same time preserve all the nutrients is to make a fresh salad or limit yourself to heat treatment of the vegetable for 5-6 minutes. Sometimes cabbage cooking takes more time, but it doesn't matter - the product is rich in dietary fiber and has a positive effect on the intestinal microflora.
To add juiciness and original flavor to the cauliflower dish, make a quick salad dressing: in a bowl, mix half a cup of olive oil, a teaspoon each of wine vinegar and sweet Dijon mustard (for example, Maille brand). Season with salt and pepper to taste. Soak the inflorescences of a small head of cauliflower in salted boiling water for 7 minutes, drain the liquid and immediately stir the vegetables with the dressing. Serve chilled cabbage salad with parsley and chopped red onions.
You can cook delicious cauliflower in a pan using the classic batter based on flour and eggs. Put the inflorescences in boiling water, cook for 15 minutes, then discard in a colander. Beat a couple of eggs (calculated for 1 kg of cabbage), salt to taste and add, stirring, 50 g of flour. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet. Dip the inflorescences in the batter, fry them on all sides until browned. Before using the cauliflower in batter, hold it on a napkin to absorb excess fat.
Blanch the small cauliflower blossoms for 3 minutes, then drain in a colander. Cut a large onion into thin half rings and sauté until the vegetable is golden brown. Combine the onion with chopped chicken breast (300 g) and sauté everything (8-10 minutes). Make a filling: salt half a glass of sour cream to taste, pepper, add a little spice for the chicken. Grease a baking sheet with vegetable oil and place the inflorescences on it. Cover ½ the pot, add a layer of meat and onions and pour over the other half of the sour cream. Bake the cauliflower with chicken in the oven at 200 ° C for 30 minutes.
Many housewives are interested in how to cook cauliflower deliciously in a slow cooker, because this is a convenient and easy way to quickly feed your family. First you need to put a pound of inflorescences in a bowl and turn on the steam cooking mode for 15 minutes. For frozen vegetables, increase the steaming time by 5 minutes. After that, fill in: mix an egg, half a glass of mayonnaise and the same amount of grated cheese; finely chopped parsley and dill (35-40 g). Salt everything to taste and cover the inflorescences with the mixture. Cook the cauliflower in a slow cooker for another 20-25 minutes in the "Bake" mode.
The recipe for a rich puree soup is perfect for those who do not like slices of healthy vegetables and want to cook delicious cauliflower. Heat 25 ml of vegetable oil in a saucepan a little, put a glass of chopped leeks in it. Keep the resulting mixture on fire with constant stirring for 5 minutes. After that, put the inflorescences of a small cabbage head in a saucepan and simmer for 5-8 minutes.
Add 200 ml of cream and 600 ml of chicken stock, on the tip of a teaspoon - coriander and a large bay leaf. Cook the cauliflower soup for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, then remove the lavrushka and scroll through the dish in the blender. Add salt and pepper to taste, put in a saucepan over the heat to warm up. Serve the soup hot with croutons, boiled egg rings and herbs.
If you managed to cook delicious cauliflower, go straight to the table - eat it fresh!
