Can You Eat Cauliflower Raw?

Yes, cauliflower can be eaten raw! It has a crunchy texture and a mildly sweet and nutty flavour when raw. Raw cauliflower florets can be enjoyed on their own as a snack or added to salads for extra crunch. Additionally, raw cauliflower can be used as a dipper for hummus or other dips. However, cooking cauliflower can also enhance its flavour and texture, so it's versatile both raw and cooked.

How To Cook Cauliflower:

Cauliflower can be cooked in several different ways. Here are some common methods:

Steam: Place cauliflower florets in a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover and steam for about 5-7 minutes until tender but still slightly firm.

Boil: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add cauliflower florets. Boil for about 5-7 minutes until tender. Drain well before serving.

Roast: Toss cauliflower florets with olive oil, salt, and your favourite spices (such as garlic powder, paprika, or cumin) on a baking sheet. Roast in a preheated oven at 220°C for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and tender, flipping occasionally.

Sauté: Heat olive oil or butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add cauliflower florets and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are golden brown and tender, about 8-10 minutes.

Mash: Boil cauliflower florets until very tender, then drain well. Mash with a potato masher or blend in a food processor until smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and any desired herbs or spices.

Grill: Toss the cauliflower florets with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Grill over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until tender and charred.

Don’t forget about the leaves! Cooking cauliflower leaves is one of the small but important habits you can adopt to cut down on food waste in the home. Want to learn how? Visit our blog post.

How To Make Cauliflower Rice: 

1. To start, remove the leaves from your cauliflower (reserve for a crispy pizza topping, or add into stir fry recipes) and chop the florets into chunks. 
2. Add them to a food processor, and pulse blend until the texture is similar to rice. If you don’t have a food processor, you can grate the cauliflower with a cheese grater or chop it with a knife. 
3. To dry out the cauliflower rice a little, heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat, and cook the riced cauliflower for 5 minutes, stirring often, until drier and translucent. Do not overcook the cauliflower rice. 

Now you can use your cauliflower rice in place of traditional rice, as seen in this recipe, or you could even try using it in place of flour, like in this cauliflower pizza recipe.

Cauliflower Recipes: