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Cauliflower belongs to the cabbage family. Though its name means "cabbage flower", it is not just a flowering cabbage. It is formed from natural flowers on the Cauliflower plant which have been encouraged over centuries to gather together and create a large mass of what is called "florets" or "curd." It has also been described as looking like a bridal bouquet. The white part is called the curd. If left to grow on its own, the curd will be a light green. Farmers, however, fold and tie the leaves of the plant over the curd to keep the sun off it to blanch it. (Varieties have now been developed where the leaves fold over on their own, saving this work.)

Brown spots on Cauliflower that you purchase in stores have likely resulted from moisture or condensation on the Cauliflower; if the rest of the Cauliflower is fine, just scrape these off. Yellowish spots, however, may indicate that the vegetable is quite old and is starting to decay.

These days, you are very likely to see Cauliflower served raw on a crudité platter. You mustn't say anything to the host; just resolve that you will never inflict the same on your guests.

If the Cauliflower is young, it is also delicious just steamed or microwaved and served with butter. One of the tastiest ways of serving Cauliflower comes from India, as a curried dish. In some areas of Italy, lightly-cooked Cauliflower is combined with garlic, olive oil and capers. Breaded and fried Cauliflower is also nummy, as is Cauliflower served with a lemon butter sauce with chives. It is also great as the base for a thick, hearty soup.

Cauliflower should not be planted near runner beans, spinach or tomatoes.

When buying, avoid Cauliflower with yellowing spots or wilted leaves. The florets should be tightly closed, not open.

Cooking Tips
To prepare Cauliflower, remove the leaves and cut out and discard the core. Then cut the Cauliflower into small or medium-sized chunks, depending on what you are going to be using it for. Wash the florets.

Steaming will take between 12 and 15 minutes; microwaving 8 to 10 minutes. You want to cook Cauliflower as little time as possible to preserve the nutrients and maintain a good texture (nothing more uninteresting than mushy Cauliflower), but also because longer cooking times develop that cabbagey smell that lingers in your kitchen. It does, however, need some cooking time to develop what flavour it does have.

Adding a teaspoon of lemon juice to the cooking water will help keep the Cauliflower very white.

Cooking times for freezing:

• Remove leaves, chop florettes into 1 inch (2 1/2 cm) pieces. Boil for 3 minutes. Plunge in cold water, drain, package, and freeze. Optional: a few tablespoons of lemon juice in water to keep white.

Nutrition
Cauliflower is high in vitamin C, folic acid and fibre.

A Cornell University study found that microwaving Cauliflower was the best cooking method for preserving nutrients. These are the results they found for preserving Vitamin C in 100g of Cauliflower:

• After boiling, 55 mg of vitamin C remained;
• After steaming, 70 mg of vitamin C remained;
• After microwaving, 82 mg of vitamin C remained.

Equivalents
1 head = 4 cups
Medium head = 2 pounds (900g)
Large head = 3 pounds (serves four).
1 pound (450g) trimmed Cauliflower = 1-1/2 cups florets = 7 1/2 oz cooked
10 oz (280g) frozen Cauliflower = 2 cups

Storage
Store unwashed either unwrapped or in a perforated plastic bag in refrigerator for up to five days. After that, it will develop a strong odour.

Freezing: Cut or break into 1 inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Wash. Blanch for 3 minutes. Plunge into cold water to cool. Then drain well, pack, and freeze.

History
Cauliflower originated somewhere around the Mediterranean or Asia Minor. The Egyptians were growing it in 400 BC. The Romans grew it, but it was grown really only in Italy until the 1500s, at which time it made its way into France, and over to America in the 1600s, though it was not developed commercially there until about the 1920s.

Literature & Lore
"Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education." -- Mark Twain.

Language Notes
"Cauliflower" comes from the Latin words caulis (cabbage) and floris (flower). In French, that became "cole florie", which became our word "Cauliflower".

Some people pronounce the word "call-a-flower"; others will say it "call-ee-flower".

Also called:

Other entries for: Cauliflower

Cauliflower, Purple Cauliflower, Romanesco Cauliflower

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Brassica Family
Broccoli, Cabbage, Greens

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