Fried Cauliflower

Growing up I was a very picky eater. Mac and Cheese HAD to be blue box. Hot dogs were in, fish sticks were not. Eating out = chicken fingers, french fries and ketchup.

Lots of ketchup.

I don't know what magically changed for me or how all of a sudden- after years of detesting them- I ate onions. And bell peppers. This concept of cooking and recipes and sharing home-cooked meals really struck me. 

This has increased ten-fold as I try to coax my husband into the kitchen with me. He has mastered the grill (well-enough for us anyways) and every once in a while I can entice him to make me his mother's macaroni and cheese (it DID bring us together, after all). But on the whole, you say kitchen and he retreats. Or stands there and looks pretty while I prepare around him. It's a pretty good system, most days.

In an effort to introduce more vegetables into our diet (healthy, nutrients, blah blah blah) I've run into some pretty restricting obstacles. I don't like cooked vegetables. I tolerate cooked carrots. I fry my green beans like potatoes and artichokes are so much work. I'll eat fresh salad! I love snacking on tomatoes and cucumbers and carrots, but I turn away at any type of squash. Or head-y greens.

So I was interested when my mom suggested fried rice using cauliflower. My memories of cauliflower stem (haha) from my mother dousing it in cheese sauce. I would gag in my room as the smell wafted through the house. The last few times she made it I was old enough to refuse, thank you, and my mother had my younger siblings to deal with so was less concerned by my non-veggie-preferences. 

I have made this recipe twice, and each time I take a bite I am WAITING for that shoe to drop- this time it'll taste like cauliflower. This time my taste buds will realize what they're REALLY eating. I'll crunch a tiny floret that missed the shredder and wait for the gag reflex to kick in...

Nothing.

Nothing but pure deliciousness! I don't really like fried rice either, so I count this a total win in the meal department here. My husband approves, we chock it full of tasty extras and I mentally scream and shout "I BEAT YOU, CAULIFLOWER!!"

Fried Cauliflower
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
1-2 eggs
1 head cauliflower
1 tsp garlic powder (could use fresh)
various veggies and nuts for flavor!

     Grate the cauliflower using a cheese grater. The results should almost resemble the size of cooked white rice. 



     





Heat oil to cover the bottom of a skillet on medium-high.
     If using fresh garlic, quickly stir-fry but watch closely so as not to burn.
     Add the cauliflower; fry about 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly until it begins to color a bit. Don't overcook or it might get mushy.



     Stir in the soy sauce. Push the cauliflower to one side of the pan; pour in the beaten egg.
     Lightly scramble the egg briefly then mix into the cauliflower.
     Add veggies: we usually go for a mix of radishes, bell peppers, peanuts (or almonds), cilantro and cooked chicken.

Maybe I'll try squash someday. Who knows where this will take me...