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Cauliflower Recipes

Cauliflower Recipes

September 19, 2012

1209 Roasted Cauliflower Skewers with Sweet Peppers and Cumin

Photo: Randy Mayor

Crunchy, white, and packed with vitamin C, we love cauliflower for its potential cancer-fighting properties and–of course–its taste. When roasted, it’s great for tossing into bowls, curries, and soups. Serve raw with dip or add to a salad. It’s also diverse enough to be included as a creamy addition to alfredo sauce, the base of a pizza crust, and can even be made into bite-size tots or “biscuits.” Here’s a few recipes to start you off cooking with the ever versatile vegetable.

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Cheesy Cauliflower Biscuits

Photo: Rebecca Longshore

View Recipe: Cheesy Cauliflower Biscuits

Perfectly-portioned, and entirely gluten-free, these cheesy bites have less than 25 calories per biscuit. They might be small, but they bring a burst of garlicky-cheddar flavor every time you pop them in your mouth. You can serve them as your “bread basket” before dinner or on a platter for a fun appetizer.

Find more fun, low-calorie recipes in the Cooking Light DIET.

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Cauliflower Salad

Photo: Brian Woodcock

View Recipe: Cauliflower Salad

A fresh, crisp salad balances the lineup of heavier, rich side dishes. You can follow a recipe or just compose one with pretty cuts of your favorite vegetables and herbs tossed with a light vinaigrette. Make this salad a day ahead if you want the flavors to absorb into the cauliflower a little more. Just hold off on adding the cheese until right before serving.

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Cauliflower Risotto Cakes

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

View Recipe: Cauliflower Risotto Cakes

Transformer leftover risotto into crispy cauliflower cakes. Serve these patties sprinkled with grated parmesan and chive dipping sauce. This fun side dish or hearty appetizer is creamy and crunchy in all the right places, plus it's sure to be kid-approved. Perfect for entertaining, these light cakes are sure to have guests asking for the recipe.

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Cauliflower Turkey Tetrazzini

Photo: Iain Bagwell

View Recipe: Cauliflower Turkey Tetrazzini

The genius trick to this unique turkey tetrazzini is using flavor-packed Cauliflower Salad in the sauce. Pureed, it becomes creamy and luscious. Any leftover turkey, or even rotisserie chicken, will work here.

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Butternut-Cauliflower Coconut Curry

Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Butternut-Cauliflower Coconut Curry

A range of textures—crunchy peas, tender vegetables, and silky coconut broth—makes this cool-weather main incredibly satisfying. The chickpea mixture can also be a delicious gluten-free snack: After baking, toss with a little kosher salt, ground cumin, and ground red pepper. Serve with Cilantro-Chile Couscous.

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Cauliflower Alfredo

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Cauliflower Alfredo

Cooked cauliflower becomes creamy and luscious when pureed with stock and garlic. It's a simple way to healthier fettuccine Alfredo.

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Veggie Pizza With Cauliflower Crust

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Veggie Pizza with Cauliflower Crust

No "knead" for bread—this cheesy veggie crust has half the carbs and double the fiber of traditional pizza dough.

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Fall Vegetable Curry

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Fall Vegetable Curry

Embrace Indian flavors by making this vegetarian meal that only takes 30 minutes from start to finish.

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Roasted Cauliflower with Anchovy Sauce

Photo: Iain Bagwell

View Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower with Anchovy Sauce

Nutty, tender roasted cauliflower pairs perfectly with the assertive flavor of anchovy. If you are an anchovy lover, use the oil from the tin or jar in place of extra-virgin olive oil to make the anchovy sauce.

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Cheesy Cauliflower Tots

Photo: Rebecca Longshore

View Recipe: Cheesy Cauliflower Tots

Achieve the same crunchy crisp edges and soft inside of the tater tot with a much more nutritious profile. These healthier tots are so delicious, you may never go back to the traditional.

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Cauliflower Steaks with Maitake Mushrooms and Browned Butter-Caper Sauce

Photo: Tara Donne

View Recipe: Cauliflower Steaks with Maitake Mushrooms and Browned Butter-Caper Sauce

Nearly a full meal and absolutely satisfying—a knife-and-fork dish that highlights the vegetables. Maitake mushrooms, aka hen-of-the-woods, have a robust, nutty flavor that particularly complements the dish. If you can't find them, sub in a handful of another favorite mushroom.

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Cauliflower and Chickpea Quinoa with Tahini Drizzle

Photo: Squire Fox

View Recipe: Cauliflower and Chickpea Quinoa with Tahini Drizzle

Roasting adds an earthy depth of flavor to the veggies, but you can save time by keeping them raw—just toss right into the quinoa.

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Cauliflower Hummus with Green Olives

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Cauliflower Hummus with Green Olives

Adding curry-roasted cauliflower to creamy, dreamy hummus makes for a flavor-packed dip that's good for you, too.

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Miso Roasted Cauliflower

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Claire Spollen

View Recipe: Miso Roasted Cauliflower

Boost your cauliflower with this powerhouse ingredient that lends savory depth to this dish.

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Crisp Cauliflower Fritters

Photo: Jason Wallis

View Recipe: Crisp Cauliflower Fritters

These light, golden-brown fritters are a delicious vegetarian dinner alternative. Prepare a colorful Spinach with Garlic Vinaigrette side to complete this comfort-food delight.

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Garlic-Roasted Cauliflower

Photo: Jason Wallis

6 cups cauliflower florets + 2 tablespoons olive oil + ¼ teaspoon salt + ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Toss cauliflower with olive oil; sprinkle evenly with salt and garlic powder. Bake at 475 degrees for 14 minutes.

130 Calories

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Indian-Style Tofu and Cauliflower Chutney

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Indian-Style Tofu and Cauliflower with Chutney

This dish is a riff on the Indian dish aloo gobi, with tofu standing in for traditional potatoes. Sprinkle with cilantro for a burst of distinctive fresh flavor.

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Crispy Cauliflower Cakes with Herb Sauce and Arugula Salad

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Crispy Cauliflower Cakes with Herb Sauce and Arugula Salad

To toast panko, place in a large skillet, and cook over medium heat 3 minutes or until browned, stirring frequently.

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Vegetarian Country Captain

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Vegetarian Country Captain

Traditionally, Country Captain is a mild chicken stew seasoned with curry powder. Myth has it that a British sea captain working in the spice trade introduced this classic, comforting dish to the southern U.S. in the 19th century. Here, we've replaced chicken with edamame and cauliflower for a version loaded with vegetables to help you meet your daily produce goals.

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Cauliflower "Caviar" with Frizzled Prosciutto

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Cauliflower "Caviar" with Frizzled Prosciutto Recipe

Everyone loves finger food. Lose the fork and knife for these healthy snacks. Smoky prosciutto and cauliflower fill bitter endive leaves in this flavorful, light treat.

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Crunchy Vegetable Salad

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Crunchy Vegetable Salad

Traditional West African meals are not served in courses. Some families borrow a French custom and start meals with a plate of crudités--crisp vegetables that add color to the meal. The dipping sauce, similar to Thousand Island dressing, combines light mayonnaise and cocktail sauce.

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Baked Italian-Style Cauliflower

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Baked Italian-Style Cauliflower

If you think eggplant is the only veggie that shines in Italian dishes, you may change your mind after you try this dish. Cauliflower gets tender in marinara sauce and blends into this Italian dish like a charm. An interesting array of ingredients come together in a magnificent way under a baked topping of crispy bread and pecorino Romano cheese.

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Roasted Cauliflower, Chickpeas, and Olives

Photo: José Picayo

View Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower, Chickpeas, and Olives

Enjoy this tangy roasted cauliflower dish as a side with sautéed fish or roasted chicken.

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Seared Scallops with Cauliflower Puree

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Seared Scallops with Cauliflower Puree

Pair sea scallops with a cauliflower and potato puree for an elegant yet weeknight-friendly meal. Tip: Patting the sea scallops dry before cooking helps ensure a great seared crust.

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Roasted Cauliflower with Fresh Herbs and Parmesan

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower with Fresh Herbs and Parmesan

Far from its overcooked cafeteria-line incarnation, cauliflower takes well to sophisticated flavors and roasts wonderfully. The high heat of this recipe makes cooking fast, but is also necessary for the pretty and tasty browning of the cauliflower's surface. If you want a crunchier texture, add a tablespoon or two of panko at the end with the Parmesan and lemon.

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Gratin of Cauliflower with Gruyère

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Gratin of Cauliflower with Gruyère

Gruyère's nutty, earthy flavor is a nice match for subtle cauliflower, and crisp breadcrumbs add texture. Substitute broccoli for the cauliflower, if you prefer. You can prepare all the elements for the dish a day ahead, if necessary. Refrigerate the sauce, the cauliflower, and the breadcrumb mixture separately, and simply assemble before baking.

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Roasted Cauliflower Pasta

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Pasta

Fruity, briny olives add meaty flavor to this meatless one-dish meal.

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Roasted Cauliflower Fettuccine

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Fettuccine

Fill pasta dishes, like this one, with more veggies. The extra cauliflower here means less pasta and less carbs, but more hearty veggies to fill up on.

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Farfalle with Cauliflower and Turkey Sausage

Photo: Beau Gustafson

View Recipe: Farfalle with Cauliflower and Turkey Sausage

“In a pinch in the colder months, I like to roast cauliflower in a 450° oven for about half an hour til it’s nice and brown, then toss it with some hot cooked pasta, extra-virgin olive oil, red pepper flakes, grated lemon rind, parm-regg, chopped parsley, and capers.”—Timothy Q. Cebula, Senior Food Editor

Use your favorite shaped pasta and if desired, throw in some lean protein (like turkey sausage or chicken) to create Tim's dish.

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Cauliflower and Red-Pepper Chowder

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Cauliflower and Red-Pepper Chowder

This tastes better after it's chilled for a few hours and the flavors have had a chance to meld. Leaving a portion of the soup chunky gives the finished product a hearty consistency. Serve with baguettes or breadsticks.

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Steamed Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower with Walnuts

Photo: Randy Mayor

This quick and versatile side dish is good with roasts or chicken. A serving boasts nearly one-fourth of daily fiber needs while the walnuts add a dose of heart-healthy unsaturated fat.

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Israeli Cauliflower with Panko

Photo: Dana Gallagher

View Recipe: Israeli Cauliflower with Panko

You can use the garlicky panko mixture in this recipe to dress up other steamed vegetables, like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or green beans. But we like it especially in this cauliflower dish.

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Curried Cauliflower with Capers

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Curried Cauliflower with Capers

Serve as a side dish with a quinoa salad. Look for olive-size caperberries—the immature fruit of the caper bush—at gourmet grocers or specialty stores.

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Roasted Cauliflower Skewers with Sweet Peppers and Cumin

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Skewers with Sweet Peppers and Cumin

Roasting cauliflower amplifies its flavor. Sweet peppers and earthy cumin lend delightful flavor to this roasted veggie treat.

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Cauliflower Recipes

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Cheesy Cauliflower Biscuits

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Cauliflower Salad

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Cauliflower Risotto Cakes

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Cauliflower Turkey Tetrazzini

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Butternut-Cauliflower Coconut Curry

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Cauliflower Alfredo

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Veggie Pizza With Cauliflower Crust

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Fall Vegetable Curry

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Roasted Cauliflower with Anchovy Sauce

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Cheesy Cauliflower Tots

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Cauliflower Steaks with Maitake Mushrooms and Browned Butter-Caper Sauce

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Cauliflower and Chickpea Quinoa with Tahini Drizzle

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Cauliflower Hummus with Green Olives

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Miso Roasted Cauliflower

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Crisp Cauliflower Fritters

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Garlic-Roasted Cauliflower

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Indian-Style Tofu and Cauliflower Chutney

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Crispy Cauliflower Cakes with Herb Sauce and Arugula Salad

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Vegetarian Country Captain

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Cauliflower "Caviar" with Frizzled Prosciutto

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Crunchy Vegetable Salad

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Baked Italian-Style Cauliflower

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Roasted Cauliflower, Chickpeas, and Olives

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Seared Scallops with Cauliflower Puree

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Roasted Cauliflower with Fresh Herbs and Parmesan

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Gratin of Cauliflower with Gruyère

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