Cauliflower is gaining more attention than ever these days. The humble white colored broccoli-lookalike has unique health benefits most people aren’t even aware of. Aside from its delicious, mild and surprisingly creamy flavor, cauliflower is a undercover “superfood.”
This cruciferous veggie is packed with the cancer-fighting nutrient known as contains sulforaphane, a sulfur compound that leads to the death of cancer stem cells. Just a cup of cauliflower gives you 73 percent of your daily vitamin C needs to keep your immune system working optimally, which also helps fight against major diseases and the common cold. Cauliflower is also a terrific source of fiber and is free of starch, making it an excellent low-carb veggie, perhaps to use in dishes like rice, wings, and mashed potatoes.
Get creative with this vegetable using some of our favorite vegan cauliflower recipes. They’re easy to make and absolutely delicious. You’ll be going back for second servings of these vegan cauliflower dishes!
1. Cauliflower Crisps With Tangy Tahini Sauce
Do these Cauliflower Crisps not look some type of fancy restaurant appetizer? It might look complicated and gourmet, but is shockingly easy to make at home. If you haven’t picked yourself up some tahini at the store yet, do so pronto! Tahini is a powerhouse of protein, and its healthy fats will help your body absorb the nutrients in cauliflower better. Keep this dish on hand for parties, holidays, or anywhere you want to serve a quick, flavorful appetizer that will prove to everyone how tasty vegan food can be.
2. ‘Cheesy’ Whole Roasted Cauliflower
Forget those massive fried appetizers at restaurants because with this Cheesy WholeRoasted Cauliflower,you no longer need them. When roasted whole in an oven with some seasonings and cheesy-flavored nutritional yeast,this tastes like something unhealthy, but it actually quite good for you. You can cut this open and serve it with a special dip or just enjoy it on its own — your call!
3. Spaghetti Squash With Basil and Creamy Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce
Cauliflower is a unique vegetable in terms of being able to mask itself as a seemingly unhealthy dressing or spread. You can make vegan alfredo sauce with cauliflower that’s lower in harmful fats, contains no cholesterol, and will most definitely sit lighter on your stomach. Try it in this Spaghetti Squash With Basilwhen your comfort cravings hit; spaghetti squash is low-carb making it the perfect replacement for pasta noodles and the added veggies will also keep you full and nourished.
4. 5-Ingredient Cauliflower Soup
When you find yourself craving something healthy, cozy and sure to settle the tummy, this 5-Ingredient Cauliflower Soup is a great go-to recipe. It’s fast, nourishing, and tastes like something rich thanks to the natural creaminess cauliflower contains. Since cauliflower is a fibrous veggie, breaking it down in apuréed form may help your body absorb the nutrients better. You can also freeze this soup and just reheat it when you need a quick weeknight meal or lunch.
5. Simple Roasted Cauliflower With Chipotle and Lime
This flavor combination is a popular one to enjoy in the warmer months when people seem to crave a splash of citrus and a hint of smokey flavor. This Simple Roasted Cauliflower With Chipotle and Lime bites make a perfect bite-sized snack in replacement to unhealthy chips loaded with excess oils and sodium. You can also keep this on hand all week in individual baggies for on-the-go snacks!
6. Cauliflower Cacciatore
Miss chicken cacciatore? Then make this dishthat featureschickpeas, a meaty little legumethat’sfull of protein. Plus, the flavors in Cauliflower Cacciatoreare simply incredible! It features a host of veggies and flavorful Italian spices.Give it a try on those nights you crave Italian flair and want something nourishing and filling.
7. Aloo Gobi: Indian Curried Cauliflower With Green Peas
When those curry and Indian cravings hit, this Aloo Gobi will satisfy your needs, no doubt! Featuring Indian spices, sweet peas that also pack in some protein, and hearty cauliflower, this dish is filling and great for your heart and your digestive system. The spices also offer antioxidant properties and really heat things up in the kitchen quickly!
8. Smoky Mac and Cheese
Cauliflower takes the place of traditional cheese and a crusty topping in this Smoky Mac and Cheese all in one sweep. Paired with nutritional yeast, cauliflower adds a crispy, cheesy-flavored, and crumbly topping. You can use regular pasta, or you can substitute the noodles with spaghetti squash or even sprouted grain pasta if you’d like something more nutritious. Either way, the cheesy crust is the star in this recipe, but the best part? There’s no dairy cheese at all! You know those mac and cheese cravings will come ‘a calling, so be ready and have this recipe handy!
9. Potato and Cauliflower Tator Tots
No — you’re not dreaming! Tator tots are back and healthy for you too! The mix of cauliflower and potatoes inthese Potato and Cauliflower Tots is simply stellar; the result is a crispy, crunchy texture with half the starchy carbs plus more fiber! These also feature flavors from onions, vegan cheese, and some special seasonings that really kick things up a notch. Do yourself a favor and make these ahead. Then freeze them in storage baggies in the freezer so you can defrost on nights where you just feel like being a kid again. Serve them with some healthy ketchup, a veggie burger, and a night of nostalgia is yours in minutes!
10. Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
For those that miss Buffalo bites, well, you don’t have to now. These Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower Bites are a great healthy replacement to Buffalo chicken and surprisingly filling at that. When you coat it with your favorite Buffalo sauce, give it a quick roast in the oven, and add a little bit of this and that, pure magic happens in under an hour. Serve these up as an appetizer or on nights where you just want a hearty snack.
See more of our cauliflower recipes here, and check out5 Ingredients in Your Diet That Can be Replaced With Cauliflower. What’s your favorite way to eat cauliflower?
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Lead Image Source: Indian Alu Gobi- Curried Cauliflower With Green Peas
