Friday, 2 March 2018

Three Delicious Cauliflower Recipes



I have such a strange addiction to cauliflower lately – don’t ask me why! I have like five cauliflower heads in my fridge and they all have a purpose.

I have been eating ketogenic lately (with bananas as a treat because y’know… bananas are delicious). I can’t even explain how much better I have been feeling mentally and physically eating both ketogenic and meat-free. It is hard though, I will admit to find recipes that are compliant to both and there’s many nights I find myself eating pre-made cauliflower mash, steamed mixed vegetables and asparagus for supper. Mind you, it’s all delicious still.

Today I decided to share my three favourite ketogenic cauliflower recipes – cauliflower crust pizza, spicy cauliflower bites and cauliflower and cheese (mac and cheese but with cauliflower instead). Personally I find myself eating the cauliflower pizza and cauliflower and cheese more, however, the spicy cauliflower bites are delicious, too. I quite often sit down on a Thursday night with cauliflower bites and keto mozza sticks for How to Get Away With Murder.

Cauliflower crust pizza

Unfortunately, the pizza above had seen better days after I forgot to take it out of the oven after I turned the oven off, lol. However it’s so simple and so easy. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Take a head of cauliflower, rice it in a food processor then throw it in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 4-5 minute. I always line the bowl with 3 layers of paper towel underneath.

While it’s in the microwave, put one egg, 1 tsp. of garlic, 1 tsp. of basil and 1/4 to 1/2  cup of shredded mozzarella cheese in a bowl. I always use closer to a half cup, but that’s because I’m a cheese addict. Just leave it until you add the cauliflower.

When the cauliflower is finished, take a cloth or paper towel (which is why I put the paper towel there beforehand) to squeeze out the excess water. Then mix it in with the stuff you’ve already put together and mix until it has a dough-y texture.

Scoop it out onto a piece of parchment paper – I put the parchment paper on a cookie sheet so it doesn’t tear in the oven. Then make it into a pizza crust shape with your hands. Put it in the oven for 10-15 minutes, until the crust in a golden brown colour.

Once it’s finished, add toppings of your choice (I usually put spinach, a bit of tomato, a bit of feta & mozzarella on it) then put it under the broiler until the cheese is melted! Let it sit for a few minutes to cool off then enjoy!

Microwave Free Option – if you prefer to not use a microwave, you can heat the cauliflower stove-top then rice it after it’s been cooked! It works just as well.

Spicy cauliflower bites

These are a take on cauliflower wings but much more spicy and delicious!

Preheat the oven to 425 and grease a casserole dish for starters! I mix about 1/4 cup of hot sauce and egg together in one cup. Then I mix together almond flour and garlic in another. I cut up the cauliflower into pieces (usually each piece separately).

Then I dip the cauliflower in the egg mix then the flour. After each piece, I put it into the casserole dish until all of the cauliflower pieces are in the dish.

I put it in the oven for about 15 minutes. I pull it out and pour hot\ sauce on cauliflower. I put it back into the oven for another 5-8 minutes and pull it out when it looks crispy.

“Cauliflower” Mac and Cheese

This is hands down the #1 recipe in my kitchen. I make it 2-3 times per week and never get sick of it. I always start with preheating my oven to 425 and greasing a casserole dish (same as the bites!).

Once the oven is preheating, I steam the cauliflower. It honestly depends on my mood that day whether I put it in the microwave or do it stovetop. Once cooked, I put into the casserole dish.

In a saucepan at medium-high heat, I mix together 1/4 cup of cream cheese, 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of milk (you could also use heavy cream, it just upsets my stomach!) Once it’s melted, I pour it on top of the cauliflower. Then I sprinkle extra shredded cheese on top.

I put this in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melted.

Added taste tip – I always add a teaspoon of garlic to the cheese sauce and it gives it such a good extra kick! I then use hot sauce on top of the cauliflower & cheese when I’m eating it! So delicious.

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