Cauliflower "Bread" with Avocado & Sour Cream

Of course you've probably seen the recipes for pizza using cauliflower crust and everything... I finally decided to try it, in the form of small patties. A picture of some cauliflower "bread" with a little avocado & sour cream on top caught my eye, and I knew I had to give it a try.

I can definitely see how this could be used as a pizza crust substitute. It's very good!  Obviously you could top these guys with whatever you want, but the avocado & sour cream was yummy.

1 small cauliflower, chopped, trimmed of core
2 eggs
1/2 c part-skim mozzarella cheese and Parmesan blend (you can just use mozzarella)
1 tsp dried oregano
salt and pepper to season
1 tsp olive oil1 avocado, sliced thinly
light sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cauliflower pieces in food processor and blend until cauliflower is finely chopped. I did mine in a couple batches. Pour cauliflower into large bowl. Then add eggs, cheese, oregano, seasonings and whisk together with cauliflower until well combined.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with olive oil. I needed 2 baking sheets. Place spoonfuls of the cauliflower mixture on sheet and spread out into circles, around a 1/2 inch tall. Bake for 45 minutes until slightly dried out, browning, and firm to the touch.

Remove from oven and using a spatula carefully peel away from baking paper. Flip over and return to oven for 15 more minutes. Serve with avocado & sour cream, or your favorite toppings!

Original recipe found here.

Broccoli Cauliflower Quinoa Bites

These are the best! Super easy and delicious. I like to make good use of my mini muffin pan too!

16 oz frozen chopped broccoli florets
12 oz frozen cauliflower florets
3 eggs, beaten
½ c grated part-skim mozzarella cheese
⅔ c grated Parmesan cheese
½ c cooked quinoa
½ tsp salt/pepper, each

Steam the broccoli florets and set aside to cool. Steam the cauliflower florets then place into a food processor and pulse until the size of crumbs. Allow to cool.
In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Toss in the cooled broccoli and cauliflower florets and mix until combined. Spray or grease mini muffin pans and press mixture into muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until golden. Makes 3½ dozen.

Original recipe found here.

Sesame Glazed Cauliflower

I was slightly skeptical about this cauliflower recipe, but it is easily one of my favorites now! I can't wait to make it again. I could eat a big plate of these for dinner, no problem!

For the sauce:
½ c light soy sauce
¼ c honey
½ tbsp grated fresh ginger
1 tbsp sesame oil
¼ c rice vinegar
1-2 sliced scallions
1 tbsp sesame seeds
For the cauliflower:
One large head cauliflower
½ c flour
½ c milk
½ tsp garlic powder
Optional additional sesame seeds and/or scallions for garnish, if desired

For the sauce:
Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Set aside.
For the cauliflower:
Preheat your oven to 450°F, and spray a baking sheet with oil or cooking spray. Cut the cauliflower into florets. The smaller they are, the faster they will cook and softer they will get.

Whisk together the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Toss the cauliflower in the batter until thoroughly coated. Arrange the cauliflower on the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until slightly less done than you want them. 
Remove from the oven and pour the sauce over the cauliflower. Return to oven for another 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and gently flip and toss the cauliflower in the sauce on the sheet. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes.

Place the cauliflower on a serving plate or bowl, and if desired, sprinkle with some additional scallions and/or sesame seeds. If desired, pour any remaining sauce off of the baking sheet into a bowl for dipping.

Original recipe found here.

Baked Cauli-tots

Another awesome way to use cauliflower!!! These are great. We decided they are almost like a mix of tater tots and cornbread. The original recipe serves them with ketchup, but I ate mine plain! I didn't think they needed anything with the cheddar cheese in there. Oh, I had to buy a mini muffin pan to make these - worth it!

3 c (about half of a head) shredded cauliflower
4 oz (about 1 c) shredded sharp cheddar cheese (I used light sharp cheddar)
1 egg
¼ c cornmeal
1 tsp salt
a few grinds black pepper
½ tsp ground mustard

I shredded my cauliflower in my Ninja. Use a food processor or something like that. You shred it raw. 

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Spray a mini muffin tin with oil or coking spray. Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl, and mix together thoroughly. I used a fork. Using a spoon, divide the mixture between the muffin cups and press down firmly into the cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Original recipe found here.

Buffalo Cauliflower

I've been looking for other ways to prepare our favorite veggies, since we have been eating so much of them. Will and I agreed this was interesting... and in a GOOD way! It's really easy to do too. If you're a fan of buffalo sauce, buffalo wings, whatever... I'm sure you'll love this! We dipped ours in some lite ranch dressing.

1 head of cauliflower

For the batter
1/2 c all purpose flour
1/2 c water
dash of Frank's Wing Sauce (or Frank's Original Hot Sauce)
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp dried onion

For the buffalo sauce
1/4 c Frank's Wing Sauce
3 tbsp salted butter, melted
pinch of salt

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with tin foil and spray with non-stick spray (I always use olive oil spray) and set aside. Wash your head of cauliflower and cut into pieces. I made a variety of sizes.

In a medium bowl, mix together the batter ingredients. Dip each piece of cauliflower into the batter until fully and evenly coated. Place onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for about 15 minutes until the batter just hardens.

In a small bowl, mix together the buffalo sauce ingredients. Once the cauliflower are done, remove from the oven and brush with the buffalo sauce. Again, fully and evenly coat each piece.

Put back into the oven and bake for a few more minutes (I think 5-7 minutes was my range), until  the sauce has mostly dried and the cauliflower is crispy. Remove from the oven, let cool, then enjoy! 

Original recipe found here.

Cauliflower Fried Rice

I can't believe how amazing this is. Does it look like rice? Yes. Does it taste like rice? Yes. It's CAULIFLOWER. I just can't believe it. I couldn't wait to share this recipe!! Feel free to add whatever meat you want to use. I could eat this in place of fried rice at Chinese restaurants... I'm not kidding. I do NOT kid about Chinese food!

3 c of grated raw cauliflower (use a cheese grater or food processor)

1 c frozen peas/carrots

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 c onion, diced

1/2 tbsp olive oil

2 eggs (or 4 egg whites) scrambled

3 tbsp lite soy sauce

In a large pan, saute garlic and onions in olive oil on a medium/high heat, until onions become soft and transparent. (about 2-3 minutes). Next add in peas, and carrots and cook until carrots begin to soften and peas are heated through, about 3-4 minutes. Next stir in scrambled eggs , cauliflower and soy sauce. Cook stirring frequently for about 5-7 more minutes. Enjoy!

Original recipe found here.

Cauliflower Mashed "Potatoes"

Let me start by saying I did not tell Will these were not regular mashed potatoes. Not because he wouldn't have eaten them, but because I wanted to see if all the comments on the recipe were true - if he wouldn't be able to tell the difference. HE COULD NOT. He was saying "These potatoes are really good" and things similar. I told him when he was finished and he could not believe those were made out of only cauliflower.

I am a carb lover, and let me say I would eat these over mashed potatoes ANY DAY. They are creamy and delicious.

1 head of cauliflower
1 tbsp lite cream cheese (I used a Laughing Cow wedge)
1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp of minced garlic
1/2 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Chives for garnish

Wash and cut cauliflower into small pieces. Boil in a pot of water for about 10-15 minutes or until soft and cooked. Drain and dry using paper towels. Immediately place in food processor or blender. You do not want the cauliflower to cool. Puree the cauliflower with the cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt and pepper.  Sprinkle the top with chives and a few dashes of pepper. Serve! It's amazing. For real.

Original recipe found here.