Move over kale, cauliflower is the new star of produce! This vegetable is so versatile and full of health benefits! Try cauliflower as a great side, entree or even pizza crust with these cauliflower recipes you must make that your kids will love as much as you! *Affiliate links may be included to products used here.
I cannot begin to profess my love of cauliflower. It’s been a long road that we’ve been down together…covered in cheese, butter, or both. However, this cruciferous vegetable also plays the part not just as glutenous goodness, but also as healthy lead in many recipes – as entree, side, or both. So if you’re feeling a little kale or quinoa-ed 0ut, then open your eyes and your mouth for these cauliflower recipes you must make now.
A little note: Now before you get started, I highly suggest using steam bags to make your life that much easier. Since many times you’ll be using steamed cauliflower as your base, using steam bags will cut down dramatically on your time (and dishes) when making successful cauliflower recipes! I’ve used several brands, but these cheaper ones work pretty good.
Cauliflower “Mashed Potatoes” or Taylor’s Taters
My daughter hates vegetables of any kind – except for potatoes, which in reality we all know aren’t veggies at all. However, I had to find a way to increase the selection of foods in her diet before my pediatrician (and her health) completely hit the wall, so one day my mom made her “Gigi Potatoes,” which she proceeded to eat the entire bowl. What she didn’t know is that my mother had made her cauliflower mashed potatoes or what she now calls “Taylor Taters.” It’s the easiest recipe in the world and around a decade ago most of us were eating due to the South Beach Diet (affiliate link) craze. However, for my little girl they were the most amazing stuff ever and she was eating healthy!
- 1 head cauliflower
- 2-4 tablespoons butter, optional
- 12 cup Manchego cheese, grated
- salt and pepper
- Steam cauliflower in the microwave until soft, but not mushy (I use steam bags!)
- Transfer to bowl.
- Add butter and blend with handheld blender or emulsifier until your preferred "mashed potato" consistency.
- Mix in Manchego cheese
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve!
- The nuttiness of the Manchego cheese and cauliflower pair perfectly for this nutritious and delicious side dish that will have them all wanting more!
Roasted Cauliflower
In a fix to get dinner on the table or want to make something else besides potatoes? Then go for the roasted cauliflower. This dish can actually be your main entree when you want to eat light on calories and not on flavor or just prefer a “veggie kind-of-night.” Paired with a Chimichurri sauce (a blend of garlic, parsley, cilantro and spices with an olive oil/vinegar), roasted cauliflower is my go-to must have for hot summer nights! And because it only takes a few steps, throw it in the oven and in minutes, you’ll come back with an impressive recipe that will have you call for triples!
And did I mention that cauliflower is full of Vitamin C, potassium, folic acid, fiber and whole lotta other good stuff? So bottom line: you should be eating this and this recipe is a good way to enjoy it, too!
- 1 head cauliflower, sliced vertically like a steak
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- salt and pepper
- cooking spray
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Cut the cauliflower into steaks, vertically (remove the stump.)
- Spray a cooking sheet with cooking spray.
- Lay "steaks" on sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Place in oven and allow to get browned (25 minutes.) In a hurry - broil on low until brown.
- Remove from heat and serve.
- Optional: add a chimichurri sauce for a nice kick!
Best-Ever Cauliflower Pizza Crust
I was working on this cauliflower pizza crust recipe one day and the finished product was sitting on the table. My son, who had no idea what I was making, so the pizza and asked if he could PLEASE have a bite. “Mama, you know I love pizza!”
The words almost came out my mouth to tell him, “hey baby that’s not what you think it is”…but instead, I let him bite into it and give me his honest opinion.
Of course, kids are the pickiest eaters (especially mine I’m afraid to admit), so I was waiting for that grimace he makes when he tries something new.
Instead he said, “that’s SO good!” he shouted. “Can I have slice? We need to make more of this since I’m gonna eat it all!”
His reaction signaled this recipe was a WINNER and it would become a staple in our menu. With two gluten-free diets and a corn allergy to now add to the list, I needed more recipes to start circulating. And this recipe for Cauliflower Pizza Crust can be made with any of your own toppings. You just have to get the whole “wringing out the cauliflower part” down. It’s not a hugely quick process, but after a few times, you’ll get it even quicker than making traditional crust that still needs time to rise. Instead, you’ll already have yours out of the oven and ready to serve with this no carb, no gluten, and good cauliflower pizza recipe.
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon basil, dried
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano, dried
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, powdered
- 1/4 cup mozzarella/pizza cheese, shredded
- 1 egg
- red pepper
- Cooking spray
- Wash and dry the cauliflower.
- Cut off the florets, remove the stem.
- Using a food processor, pulse cauliflower until it's the consistency of snow.
- Place the cauliflower in a microwave safe bowl and cover (I prefer a steam bag.) Cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Allow cauliflower to cool slightly.
- In a strainer or over another bowl draped with a tea towel, place cooked cauliflower into the towel.
- Using the towel (the thinnest is best), and wring the cauliflower until there is no more water and it's "dry." (You'll need to do this several times as there will be lots of water (more than a cup is normal.)
- Next place cauliflower into a dry bowl, add cheeses and seasonings and mix.
- Now add egg and mix until it resembles dough.
- Place dough on an parchment paper sprayed with cooking spray.
- Now roll out dough into a thin crust (be careful to not be too thin.)
- Once complete, place crust on cooking stone/pan and place into preheated oven at 450 degrees for 10 minutes until golden brown and remove from the oven.
- Now add your toppings as normal for pizza.
- Return pizza to the oven and cook 6-8 minutes until cheese is golden.
- Remove from oven, cut, cool, and eat!
I love cooking with cauliflower. Its amazing how many different things you can make with it!
I absolutely love cauliflower. People don’t realize there are so many delicious ways to enjoy it. Thanks for these recipes.
I never thought to make pizza crust with cauliflower. I bet it tastes delicious!
I love cauliflower and it is incredibly healthy. I’m definitely going to try the mashed potatoes they look delicious!
Cauliflower is one of my favorite veggies. I bet all of these recipes are great. I’ll be try some of them out soon. Thanks for sharing!
Yum! These all look so good. But I would really like to try the pizza crust. That sounds so interesting.
I love making roasted cauliflower. It is always a big hit with the kids. I will have to try the mashed cauliflower recipe.
I will have to pick up some cauliflower so I can try roasting some. I know it will be a big hit.
I really love how versatile cauliflower is. You can make so many delicious recipes with this veggie that your kiddos don’t even know you’re slipping the veggies in