Cauliflower is the white variant of the dark green broccoli. It is available throughout the year. It must be stored unwashed and used within 5 to 7 days of buying. Cauliflowers exist in a variety of colors: purple, orange, and light green. Cauliflowers can be cooked in several ways: steaming, boiling, stir-frying, and microwaving. Boiling is not advisable, as it ruins the texture and flavor of the vegetable. Cauliflowers must be cooked until tender; if overcooked, the florets will fall apart and become mushy. If you are not fond of some cauliflower dishes, do not conclude that it is not a tasty vegetable. It is a versatile vegetable and can be cooked in a variety of ways. One way of cooking a tasty cauliflower dish is by using a microwave. The instructions for microwave cooking are described below. Read on.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time required: 15-20 minutes
Resources required:
1. Cauliflowers
2. Microwave oven
3. Salt and spices
4. Bread
5. Vinegar
Instructions:
1. Place florets in the microwave
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Place about 2 cups of cauliflowers florets in a microwave safe dish.
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Ensure that the dish is large enough to accommodate a heap of florets. Add 1/4 cup water.
2. Set the timer on high power
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Set the timer of the microwave for 3 minutes on high power.
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After this, let the dish stand for 2 minutes to complete cooking.
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Now, add all the desired spices and a dollop of mashed potatoes. Microwave again for 5 minutes.
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Keep in mind the fact that when you are cooking whole heads of cauliflowers, first cook them normally in the microwave on a high temperature, and then turn the head over and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
3. Ensure that the spices have blend properly
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Cook the cauliflower in the microwave till the pieces become tender and crisp.
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Let the dish stand in the microwave for a couple of minutes after cooking. This process ensures the blending of all the spices and gives the dish a proper texture and color.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. How do you know if the cauliflower is cooked?
The best way to ensure that a cauliflower is cooked or not is to drive a knife through it; if it passes easily, then cauliflower has turned soft and it is cooked.
2. What are the uses of a cauliflower?
As mentioned earlier, the cauliflower is a very versatile vegetable, and therefore, it can be used in a variety of ways:
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Almost all of its parts like leaf, stalk and florets are edible and can be eaten raw. Therefore, in the raw form, it is added to salads.
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When cooked, it can be eaten as a side dish with sauce.
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It is often used in many other dishes like pasta, soups, omelets, stir fries, quiches, and stews.
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You can replace broccoli with cauliflower in many recipes.
Quick Tips:
- Cauliflower served with cheese sauce is a flavorful side dish, which every cheese lover will love.
- If you want to get rid of the cauliflower’s distinct odor, add a few chunks of bread that has been soaked in water to the cooking cauliflower.
- Do not cut and refrigerate the cauliflower.
- Add 1/2 spoon of lemon juice or vinegar before microwaving. This will help in retaining its taste and texture.
Things to Watch Out For:
- Overcooking the cauliflower makes it loose its nutritive value; also, the taste gets diminished and the color is lost. Therefore, be careful while cooking it.
- Always use it within 5 to 7 days of buying.
