We decided to test the hype about cauliflower and try 3 different uses of this popular vegetable as a substitute ingredient for popular foods we all eat. Here is the low-down.
CAULIFLOWER MASHED POTATOES – Megan
For this We Tried It, I tried making cauliflower “mashed potatoes.” I got a bag of pre-cut cauliflower, placed the forest in a pot of salted water, and boiled on high for about 10-15 minutes. After boiling, I strained the water and added butter, salt and pepper to the florets before mashing it all together. Here are my thoughts:
Ease of making – Pretty easy! Cauliflower softened quickly and wasn’t hard to mash.
Taste – It tasted close to mashed potatoes because of the ingredient I added, but still definitely tasted like cauliflower.
Texture – Not at all like mashed potatoes. It wasn’t as creamy and was more stringy.
Final Verdict – Cauliflower mashed potatoes aren’t fooling anyone. It is 100% not the same. Luckily, I am a big fan of cauliflower, so I wouldn’t mind using this as a substitution in one of my dishes. However, I wouldn’t recommend to anyone looking for a close match to their beloved mashed potatoes recipe!
OVERALL: 3 stars
RICED CAULIFLOWER – Anibal
I started this exercise with a very clear understanding that riced cauliflower is not rice and never will be, which really helped me stay open-minded about it. Being a Hispanic and rice being a big part of our overall diet, I can tell you this: it does not taste the same as rice – not even close! If you are a big fan of the taste of real rice, skip this altogether. With that said, it does still taste just like what it is, cauliflower, which I don’t mind. Plus, I am very aware of the health benefits it has over real rice. If you’re on board with this, then riced cauliflower might be a good option for you. Once it is mixed with the rest of the ingredients, the texture can be quite convincing and it adopts the flavor of the seasonings you are using. The shrimp/chicken stir fry we paired up with it was delicious!
OVERALL: 4 stars
CAULIFLOWER CRUST PIZZA – Nicole
I was a tad skeptical of using a cauliflower crust for my beloved pizza, but, as it turns out, I was pleasantly surprised at just how much I enjoyed it. I bought an already made frozen cauliflower crust, topped it with my dad’s homemade sauce, sprinkled mozzarella and Parmesan cheese and cooked it for about 8 minutes. It came out crunchy and full of flavor!
OVERALL: 4.5 stars
In a nutshell: If you enjoy the flavor of cauliflower you should have no issue with any of these dishes. The health benefit from using cauliflower is undeniable plus we genuinely enjoyed each of our dishes. Do they match the flavor of the original dishes? Not exactly. However, we do have to admit the pizza turned out fantastic! If this were a competition, it would be the unanimous winner.
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