Friday, November 11, 2011

Cutting Cauliflower and Ina Love

Last Friday,  I had my cooking chums over. We enlisted the help of Jenna Helwig of Rosaberry who merges our recipe requests and designs a delicious menu. Everyone assembled at my apartment at 11am and we got to work on our first recipe. Jenna took out the ingredients for Balsamic Parmesan Cauliflower. Before she could say a word, three of us asked, “what’s the best way to cut cauliflower?” It seems I wasn’t the only one who had botched this task ending up with odd shapes and tons of cauliflower confetti.  There actually is a right way to cut cauliflower and because I didn't capture Jenna's technique on camera I had her explain:

First remove the leaves. Next stand the cauliflower on its base and cut into quarters. Cut the florets from the stalk. To make smaller florets, don't cut from the top of each cauliflower cluster; that makes too big a mess. Instead cut the stems and the florets will break apart much more cleanly.

The key here is to cut florets from the base of the cauliflower not from the top. Directing your knife where the cauliflower branch meets the base and voila’, no more mess. Another good tip is to wash the cauliflower after you cut it when you can access all surfaces. Perhaps you, my savvy readers already had correct cauliflower cutting down pat but this was news to our group. I am now wondering how many other prep jobs I'm mangling in the kitchen. 
cooking snacks: fennel and finger radishes
As we cooked, we talked about our favorite recipes and ingredients. When it came oregano, my friend C asked Jenna “I see you’re using fresh oregano but Ina (Garten) prefers dry, it’s the only herb she prefers dry.” It soon became clear C knows an awful lot about Ina. We tried to stump her reciting Ina recipes we loved and she knew and had made them all. Roasted Shrimp Cocktail Yum. Brisket? Of course. Butternut Squash Soup? A classic. First there was Julie and Julia and now C and the Contessa. I asked C for her top 3 Ina inspirations, her reply “only three? Herb Marinated Pork Tenderloin, Lemon Chicken and Garlic Cauliflower.” I agree wholeheartedly about the Lemon Chicken but personally would have to add Roasted Brussels Sprouts to the Greatest Hits list.

After a couple of hours, our cooking was complete and we sat down to eat. We made spaghetti squash with olives and cilantro, a lemony red lentil soup, parsley-Dijon salmon, coconut kale and of course our cauliflower. We tasted everything and commented. First place, if I recall, went to the soup and the salmon with the cauliflower close behind. Can’t wait for next time.

Kale Goodness
Spaghetti Squash or Tushy Squash?
Cauliflower before being balsamic-ed
Balsamic-Parmesan Cauliflower
(adapted from Cooking Light)
1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets
2 Tablespoons EVOO
½ Teaspoon Kosher Salt
Freshly ground pepper
2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place cauliflower on the baking sheet cut side down and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes or until starts to brown.
Stir the balsamic vinegar and Parmesan into the cauliflower and return to the oven for another 10 minutes.

Yield: not enough cauliflower for five veggie-loving women, you may want to double the recipe depending on your audience.

Be honest, did you already know how to properly dismember your cauliflower? Are you an Ina-phile? Favorite Ina recipe? Favorite cookbook? Favorite cauliflower preparation? 

28 comments:

  1. I love cauliflower SO MUCH, but it's on the list of foods not to eat because they contains FODMAPs. Such a bummer. I still eat it sometimes, but I usually regret it. The good thing is that Nick loves cauliflower, almost as much as he loves broccoli, so if I make it and only eat a bit, he'll finish it! This recipe sounds like something we would both really enjoy (and no, I didn't know how to properly cut a cauliflower!).

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  2. I like cauliflower a lot but find it needs some help whereas broccoli I can eat steamed or plain. Let me know how the cutting goes Gina "from the bottom" would be my take home tip.

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  3. Great post Lauren! Two of my favorites..cauliflower and Ina.
    Don't get me wrong, there are many great food tv cooks that put on a great show,
    but when it comes to recipes that are delicious and work every single time, Ina takes the cake. Speaking of cake..I often make her lemon yogurt cake, it's a staple and perfect for afternoon drop-in guests. Also love her avocado & seared tuna salad with lime- wasabi dressing. Oh my. And totally agree about the lemon chicken, such a classic.

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  4. Cauliflower and Ina- so we're 2 for 2 Van. I love you have a cake recipe for drop in guests (I have cheese/veggies). I'll have to check with C to see if she has tried the avocado salad. Ina's recipes work, others entertain and look pretty but as much as I love Giada, recipe flops make me crazy.

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  5. Ina's recipes work! That lemon chicken and her brussels sprouts are standards in our house. I hate it when recipes fail. I'm looking at you, Emeril, and your recipe for your famous banana cream pie. Cookbooks I love: Ad Hoc at Home (like a master class in home cooking w/ Chef Keller), Around My French Table, and Real Cajun by Donald Link. Re: cauliflower, I do cut mine that way, but I didn't know it was the "right way".

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  6. That sounds delicious. I love cauliflower but have never tried it this way. I don't know why, but I find cutting veggies—especially cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage—to be extremely satisfying and relaxing.

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  7. Marie- it's probably a good time that banana cream pie recipe is off. They had that on Best Thing I Ever Ate and for a non-dessert person I'd have to agree. Jess- total Zen love cutting/chopping too!

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  8. I had no idea how to cut a cauliflower... I usually just wing it and end up making a BIG mess so thank U =)
    What tis zis about banana cream pie?!

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  9. Fun post! Makes me want to gather a group of friends and get cooking right now! I'm trying to picture myself cutting up cauliflower right now...I think I do it halfway correctly, cutting from the bottom instead of the top, but I'm sure I could perfect my technique! Ina is one of my favorites to watch, although I haven't watched enough to have memorized all her recipes... I always like how she sets her tables....I love a good dining atmosphere too!

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  10. I ALWAYS cut cauliflower from the top, not the base. No wonder I make such a mess.
    That recipe sounds delicious!!
    I like Ina! Jeffrey sure has it good..haha!!!!

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  11. My knife cutting skills are seriously lacking...thus why I buy the pre-cut cauliflower. It's ridiculously more expensive but it's better than having to head to the ER when I but myself - as I've done before.

    Love Ina. She's so soothing!

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  12. I cut broccoli that way so I would probably approach cauliflower in the same fashion! I honestly don't make cauliflower at home often enough - like you I can eat broccoli steamed (and often do) but cauliflower is too much fuss to get tasty.

    Also a big Ina fan here - 2 for 2!

    ps- I want to come to your talk next week, do I have to call and register? What if I need to cancel?

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  13. Einat- totally come, you call YinOva and I think there's room but will be written up Monday so may fill up. No worries if you have to cancel (it's free!). Grab a friend too. Glad we're on the same veggie/Ina wavelength.
    Ameena- soothing good word, does work pre nap :) Kirsten, ok you know Ina's husbands name, Jeffrey does have it GOOOOD. EA- Ina does do good tables. I wish she invited me over. Lisa- Emerils Banana Cream Pie is this insane dessert that I may have blogged about because there's a funny story. I will see if I can find it.

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  14. I did know how to cut a cauliflower, which I prefer to eat raw. I love chopping things, so after a stressful day, that's what I like to do. I chop and drink wine.

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  15. Have you seen the 30 Rock episode where Liz fantasizes about being friends with Ina? Yep, my fantasy too.

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  16. I have made many of Ina's recipes and have yet to hit a bad one. Love the brussels sprouts, but her roasted broccoli recipe is also really great, I won't make broccoli any other way now. Also, orzo with roasted vegetables is really good. And there's a lemon fusili with broccoli and arugula that's really good. And her brownies are fantastic. I have found though, that her recipes use a lot of things like butter, heavy cream, etc - and I can often cut down on those things with good results. For example, the lemon fusili calls for 2 cups of heavy cream, I use 1 cup with 1 cup of skim or 2% milk. The brownies call for I think 2 sticks of butter - I cut it in half, no substituting, just leave out the other half, and they are still the best brownies ever. Love her recipes!

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  17. Ooh haven't tried the broccoli thought in one of our cooking groups we did lemon roasted broccoli. Yes, Ina loves her butter/cream but they still work without the whole stick. Marie- who knew there was a 30 Rock about Ina, wish I had seen.

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  18. My favorite Ina recipe is her roasted shrimp orzo salad. I bring it to summer barbeques and it is always a hit.

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  19. yay! that looked like a fun event. And, your kitchen-clueless friend didn't know how to cut cauliflower either. I'm just left scratching my head for one reason- why wasn't MyJudytheFoodie invited : ( thanks for sharing these recipes too

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  20. I knew about the cauliflower because my husband loves it and he showed me how to cut it the right way. I can't wait to make this new recepie for him. :)

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  21. Ayala- let me know what you think. The "chums" are moms from school but I'd love to cook Judy with you- let's pick a date. Suzi- I don't know that Ina recipe, I bet C does.

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  22. The cauliflower recipe sounds divine! I can't wait to try it. Also, thank you for the cutting tips! I was most certainly in the "mess making" camp. Lots of confetti.

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  23. can you imagine if we saved this veggie confetti and used it as confetti?

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  24. I totally keep watching shows that teach me how to do this... yet somehow when i get the cauli infront of me I go knife-happy and make a mess. every. time. =) Please save me from myself! haha

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  25. Jenn- so many things look oh so much easier on TV than right in front of you.

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  26. I will be honest and say I have no idea how to chop cauliflower! Mostly because the only way I have had it is via a veggie tray. It is actually on my list of to-bake vegetables!

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  27. Love the honesty Allison, bake it and let me know (or I'll read about it on your blog).

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  28. Roasted cauliflower is too fab for words. Just made it two nights ago. It feels like you're eating carbs which for me, is a sure thing!

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