Food

19 Ways We Love Cauliflower

All other vegetables pale in comparison to this alabaster crucifer

By SAVEUR Editors

January 7, 2016

Roasted, raw, stewed, charred—take almost any cooking technique and apply it to cauliflower, and it'll likely result in something delicious. From paprika-spiced Hungarian soup to Middle Eastern rice, these are our 19 favorite cauliflower dishes that prove the versatility of the hearty cold-weather vegetable.

Pappardelle with Cauliflower and Mustard Brown Butter — Simple ingredients—chewy, charred cauliflower, fried capers and bread crumbs, and browned butter, bolstered by whole grain mustard—combine for the ultimate late-winter pasta.Joseph De Leo

Pasta with Cauliflower in a Spicy Pink Sauce — Earthy sweet cauliflower adds body to this comforting pasta baked in a comforting, spicy tomato-cream sauce. Get the recipe for Pasta with Cauliflower in a Spicy Pink Sauce »Tim Mazurek

Cauliflower, Cabbage, and Carrot Achaar (Malaysian-Style Pickle) — This Malaysian-style mixed vegetable pickle is made with a rempah, or spice paste, stirred into the brine for an extra boost of flavor and texture.Khushbu Shah

Spicy Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini — Whole cauliflower is quartered and roasted with paprika, turmeric, and jalapeño in this wintry side dish. Get the recipe for Spicy Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini »Neal Santos

Lamb and Cauliflower Stew with Harissa — For this Middle Eastern–spiced stew, cauliflower stems are minced and sautéed in the mirepoix to add flavor, while the florets are broiled and added at the end of cooking to offer crunch and body.Joseph De Leo

Roasted Cauliflower with Coffee Sauce — Tossed in a bold espresso-infused oil, then broiled until just charred, a savory shallot–coffee sauce takes this holiday-worthy side dish over the top.Farideh Sadeghin

Sweet and Sour Vegetables with Poached Egg — Ginger, lemongrass, and maple vinegar add a warm base note to this dish, which is packed with root vegetables, and topped with a crisp greens and a poached egg.Romulo Yanes

Cauliflower and goat cheese souffles — Adding puréed cauliflower to an appetizer-sized soufflé gives the dish the heartiness to be a vegetarian main when served with a salad.Joseph De Leo

Shaved Cauliflower and Radicchio Salad — Aleppo pepper (a tangy Middle Eastern spice), raisins, and raw cauliflower marry in this simple yet unusual salad.Joseph De Leo

Charred Cauliflower and Shishito Peppers with Picada Sauce — Picada is a Catalan-style pesto, made here with almonds, parsley, and chocolate—a surprise ingredient that adds a pleasing touch of bitterness to this delicious side dish.Joseph De Leo

Upside-Down Rice with Cauliflower, Eggplant, and Lamb (Maqloubeh) — The name of this dish, Arabic for "upside down," aptly describes the layered one-pot meal of spiced lamb, rice, and vegetables that is inverted before serving.Ariana Lindquist

Quick-Pickled Cauliflower — A quick pickle of cauliflower, peppers, and golden raisins is a simple, ideally acidic counterpoint to a rich main dish like flank steak.Laura Sant

Gemelli with Roasted Garlic and Cauliflower — Cauliflower roasted until sweet with garlic and cumin gets tossed with toothsome gemelli pasta, golden raisins, and slivered almonds for crunch.Helen Rosner

Lemony Fried Cauliflower — In this take on a traditional Sephardic Jewish dish, culupidia frita con limon, cauliflower are coated in a flour and egg batter, fried, and then bathed in lemon juice. As a side or a snack, it's crunchy, tender, and brimming with fresh, tangy flavor.Yossy Arefi

Paprika-Spiced Cauliflower Soup (Karfiolleves) — Tiny dumplings called galuska enhance this Hungarian spice-laden, vegetarian soup—to make them, simply drop bits of dough into the simmering broth.Todd Coleman

Olive Oil-Braised Vegetables — This flavorful mix of vegetables is braised in olive oil that's been infused with rosemary, chile flakes, lemon, and anchovies.Todd Coleman

Cauliflower with Tomato Sauce (Gulpea) — Florets of cauliflower are stewed in a fragrant garlic-laced tomato sauce of fried onion, spices, and jalapeño in this Afghan dish from Nawida Saidhosin, a home cook and teacher from New York's League of Kitchens. Get the recipe for Cauliflower with Tomato Sauce (Gulpea) »Ingalls Photography

Grilled Vegetable Salad — Beets, asparagus, eggplant, cauliflower, and fennel are slathered in olive oil and grilled, then tossed with lemon juice and zest to make this warm, smoky grilled salad.Felix Odell

Crispy Calamari with Pesto Mayonnaise — Chef Jim Leiken of DBGB in New York City serves pesto-spiked mayonnaise as a dipping sauce for fried calamari, cauliflower, and chickpeas.Todd Coleman

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