Saturday, July 10, 2010

Cauliflower Mishmash


Cauliflower is one of those vegetables that I forget about for a while and then get a real craving for. This recipe came about after a peruse through RawVolution by Matt Amsden, as he showcases a "Cauliflower Couscous", a spin off of the Mediterranean tabbouleh. I so rarely follow recipes to pat, but found this inspiration enough for a similar cauliflower dish. This salad has a great texture similar to a rice or quinoa dish, but retains the distinct flavor of cauliflower, which some find unappealing.(If that's you, by-pass this recipe). I personally think the bold taste of cauliflower paired with loads of garlic, lemon, parsley, and olive oil are unsurpassable. I threw in some pungent diakon radish and sweet yams to balance out the flavors. Topped with some sprouted sunflower seeds, this was a substantial meal in itself. The yams can be omitted for a completely raw dish, many suitable raw substitutions abound!

Cauliflower Mishmash:

-I large head of cauliflower, finely ground in food processor
-1 green onion chopped
-1/2 small red onion diced
-1 medium yam cubed, steamed, and cooled
-1/2 cup diced diakon
-4 stalks celery diced
-1/2 head chopped parsley

Dressing:

-1 TBLS olive oil
-1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
-4 garlic cloves minced
-2 tablespoons coconut vinegar

To prepare the cauliflower, first chop into small pieces and then proceed to place in food processor, pulsing until a fine rice texture is formed. Do not over blend, or it will turn into cauliflower mush. Place in large bowl and mix in green onion, red onion, diakon, celery, yam, and parsley. Set aside. In separate small bowl whisk the dressing ingredients together and pour over cauliflower mix and combine thoroughly. Serve right away or within 24 hours, as finely chopped cauliflower does strange things when left too long. :)

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