Tuesday, February 21, 2012

TwoFaced: Cauliflower

"TwoFaced Tuesdays" is a joint venture between CupcakesOMG! and Jenna from The Paleo Project. Each week, we select one secret ingredient and put our own paleo spin on it. You can catch up on the entire series here. Also, if you have any special ingredient requests, you can always tweet us (@CupcakesOhMG and @ThePaleoProject) using the hashtag #TwoFacedTuesday.

You know what's delicious? Risotto.
You know what's less delicious? Cauliflower. That is to say, the way in which most people prepare cauliflower--steamed.

Throughout the past year, I've made it my personal mission to reinvent the reject vegetable. I've made it into soup, pizza, breakfast, and a barbecue side dish, and, to quote Madonna "do you think I'm satisfied?"
No, of course not. It's this pursuit of absolute perfection that I know brings you back time and time again. So, if we go back to the first thought of today's post, risotto. It's literally one of my all-time favorite dishes. And so, here we are, talking about cauliflower and its versatility. I've seen a variety of recipes for cauliflower rice, but never one for cauliflower "risotto", or "faux-sotto", as I will undoubtedly refer to it from now on, but I thought "hey, if it can be made into rice, then why not risotto?"
Answer: Because cauliflower doesn't contain the starch that rice does, necessary for the creaminess risotto is known for.
But listen, even though this recipe won't fool someone into thinking they're eating risotto, it will absolutely convince someone that cauliflower is effing delicious.
Because when you mix onion, peas, mushrooms, and parmesan cheese with anything, it's impossible to not be effing delicious!
So, I guess what I'm saying is, if you make this and don't like, well then screw you!!! I worked hard on this. What did you do this weekend???

For less yelling, make sure to see what Jenna did with her interpretation of cauliflower!

Cauliflower Risotto/Faux-sotto
Makes about 4 servings
  • 1 head cauliflower, "riced" in a food processor or grated
  • 1/2--1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup frozen peas
  • 1/4 cup fresh mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup shredded parmesan
1. In a medium pot, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until translucent.
2. Add cauliflower rice to the pot and toast it for about a minute with the onion and garlic.
3. Add about 1/3 cup of chicken stock, stirring well. Allow to evaporate and soak in as much as possible. (This won't absorb entirely, but it's important for getting the texture right.)
4. Continue to add as much liquid as possible until the cauliflower won't absorb any more liquid. 
5. When it seems done (about 15-20 minutes), use a ladle to remove the excess liquid. 
6. Add peas and mushrooms.
7. Add cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

9 comments:

whitney said...

did you take this dish outside for photos?

i often wonder what people say when bloggers are capturing pictures outside for their blogs.

i would like to be a fly on those walls.

looks delish though.

Laura said...

Making it this weekend!!! Thanks for the amazing recipes! :) -Laura

Jenna | The Eighty Twenty said...

Must have been delicious. After I read "faux-sotto" I sat here for 3 minutes and was like "ris-faux-to" "risott-faux".... okay definitely not three minutes but you get it.

Megan | Freckled Italian said...

OH YES! I never know what to do with cauliflower. YOU'RE AMAZING!

Julia said...

Wow this looks like such a delicious and healthy recipe. I'll have to try it this weekend :) Great work Melissa!

Julia
Tartan & Sequins

VANESSA said...

FRICKEN GENOUS!!! this look really good! like really! i need to get a little more crafty in the kitchen. i'm hungry.

xo! vanessa (the gal)

http://fashiongalfireman.blogspot.com/

Britt said...

This sounds so good! I'm trying to cut back on pasta (major weakness, right?) and I'm hoping I can substitute cauliflower for it a few times now!

happydally said...

I knew it was good as a sneaky macaroni and cheese ingredient, but this looks healthy AND good! YAY :)

amberlink09 said...

I'm so glad you did this! I was looking for cauliflower risotto recipes last week since I'm on a mission to eat more cauliflower but I couldn't find anything! So I was planning to make something up and see how it turned out, I'm glad I know it works now!

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