The Forgotten Flower

I just picked the most beautiful bloom in my garden. It is huge, almost a foot across, and white as snow, with wonderful lavender under colors. And, the best part about it is, I’m going to eat it for dinner!

What is this edible, forgotten flower in my garden? It’s cauliflower!

Cauliflower is one of the cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Try these easy ways to get this cancer-preventing vegetable into your family’s meals. Chances are, once they try these, cauliflower won’t be forgotten any longer.

Indian Curried Cauliflower

1 head cauliflower

2-3 tablespoons olive oil

1-2 tablespoons curry powder (try Penzeys or World Spice)

Heat oven to 450°F. Cut cauliflower into flowerets. Toss with oil and curry powder. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until tender. Makes 4 servings.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

Calories: 107

Carbohydrates: 9g

Protein: 3g

Fat: 7g

Sodium: 46mg

Cauliflower Slaw

1 head cauliflower

2 cloves garlic

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 cup olive oil

Fresh parsley, chopped fine

Ground black pepper

2 tablespoons capers

Bring large pot of water to a boil. Drop whole cauliflower into pot. Let boil about 3 minutes, then remove and plunge into ice cold water. Slice cauliflower into bite size chunks. Marinate in lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and fresh parsley for about 2 hours before serving. Makes 4 servings.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

Calories: 281

Carbohydrates: 9g

Protein: 3g

Fat: 28g

Sodium: 203mg

Marinated Cauliflower

1 head cauliflower

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano, or 1 tablespoon fresh oregano

2 cloves garlic

1 cup white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon mustard seeds

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons chopped tarragon or rosemary

2 tablespoons chopped onions

1 dried red chili pepper

Bring large pot of water to a boil. Drop whole cauliflower into pot. Let boil about 3 minutes, then remove and plunge into ice cold water. Drain. Add basil and oregano. Mince garlic and add vinegar, chili and mustard seed. Boil and pour over cauliflower. Let marinate about 8 hours. Drain and drizzle with olive oil. Makes 4 servings.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

Calories: 190

Carbohydrates: 12g

Protein: 4g

Fat: 15g

Sodium: 47mg

Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes

1 medium red potato (about 8 ounces) cut in 1-inch chunks

8 ounces cauliflower florets

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons margarine

Pepper to taste

Combine potato, cauliflower, onion, parsley and garlic powder in a medium saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil on high, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook about 12 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Drain well. Mash with a potato masher. Add margarine and mash until smooth. Add pepper to taste. Makes 2 to 4 Servings. Recipe by Chris Gray, Kidney Health Fest for African American Families recipe winner.

Nutrition Information (per serving)

Calories: 83

Carbohydrates: 7g

Protein: 2mg

Fat: 6g

Sodium: 67g

The information in this column is meant for people who want to keep their kidneys healthy and blood pressure down by following a low-sodium diet. In most cases, except for dialysis patients, a diet high in potassium is thought to help lower high blood pressure. These recipes are not intended for people on dialysis without the supervision of a registered dietitian.

Katy G. Wilkens is a registered dietitian and department head at Northwest Kidney Centers. A recipient of the Susan Knapp Excellence in Education Award from the National Kidney Foundation Council on Renal Nutrition, she has a Master of Science degree in nutritional sciences from the University of Washington. See more of her recipes at www.nwkidney.org.