UNITED STATES—The cauliflower is a big and bulky vegetable that is not easy to eat. The first question most people ask when purchasing cauliflower is just how do you cut up the veggie? Notably only the head of cauliflower (the white portion) is eaten, the other part is discarded. My tip is cut away as much as possible off the bottom portion of the veggie, then begin to attack the top similar to the way that you would cut up a broccoli bunch.
The veggie is also apart of the cabbage family which consists of brussel sprouts, kale, broccoli and greens. For those not in the loop cauliflower comes in various colors besides white including purple, golden yellow and green. Cauliflower contains an abundant source of water as well as potassium, vitamin C and folate.
The broccoli relative contains several phytochemicals like sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol that have effects against fighting cancer. Just like broccoli, its best to eat cauliflower raw because if you boil the vegetable you will lose essential nutrients. Some research has shown that men who indulge in a high diet of cauliflower are able to reduce the risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Many Americans like to dabble with the veggie with a ranch dipping sauce, while others choose to steam, bake, fry or boil the veggie.
Cooking tip: cauliflower is a great substitute for eating potatoes. While it does not have the starch emitted from most potatoes it’s a healthy substitute that can be masked for the veggie of choice as it contains a similar texture to the potato.
By LaDale Anderson
