Steamed Cauliflower with a 'Touch of Spice'

Steamed cauliflower with a touch of spice is the 'hottest' way to jazz up your florets this season! No more bland, soggy crucifers that your kids have to tolerate! Get your family and loved ones asking for more by cleverly blending herbs and pepper to spice up your steamed cauliflower.

Hey hey, lovelies! How are you doing?

Last Tuesday I got my first flu since 2016, and I've been stuffing myself with garlic and lemon juice endlessly. I haven't eaten so much garlic for a while.

You see, I have a really low immune system. That means, I have to regularly boost it with high-vitamin food like this extra delicious cauliflower salad.

A tip for you, if you catch a cold or flu take as much garlic as you can. It's anti-virus.

Now let's talk about this steamed cauliflower. It's tender, spicy, and super yummy. It's really a recipe you should make.

There was a time I would just stare at cauliflower in the market and get puzzled!
"How on earth is this thing supposed to be eaten?" I'd ask myself.

Cauliflower isn't one of those veggies you see and you instantly fall in love with, to be honest. It doesn't really make you curious to eat it LOL!.

It's only after you try a really delicious cauliflower dish like this one with a touch of spice, that you will really appreciate them.

These steamed cauliflowers are a perfect side dish that's simple and very healthy. It's an easy-to-make cauliflower recipe that you can effortlessly put together in time for any meal.

Steaming cauliflower or any other veggie is one of the best ways to retain the nutrients in them.

How to Steam Cauliflower

• Steaming cauliflower remains one of the best ways to cook and maintain a maximum of nutrients.
• You can steam your cauliflower in your microwave, though there's a lot of debate on whether microwaving food is healthy or not.
• The best option is to use a steaming basket.
• Put a cup of water to boil in a saucepan/ you can use a boiler instead if you've one
• While the water is heating, get the cauliflower florets from the cauliflower head
• Place the steaming basket in the saucepan with heating water
• Put the florets in the steaming basket and cover the saucepan
• Let the water boil at moderate-to-high heat.
• Check if the cauliflower florets are cooked by inserting a fork in one of them.
• Don't over-cook them. Leave them be firm
• Cut off the heat
• Remove the basket with florets from the boiling water and let them cool.

If you can't steam your cauliflower in a steaming basket, then boil it in little water and cook them on low heat. Don't discard the cooking water, and even in case of steaming, keep the cooking water for future use, or do as I do, just drink it!

What I've come to love about cauliflower is that they're versatile, and can be added to so many meals and snacks. Think about it... pizza crust, mashed, pureed, steak to cauliflower rice. You can also make a spiced and sweet sauce to go with your cauliflower.

Seasoning Your Steamed Cauliflower

You'll never look at the cauliflower the same way again!

As you might know, cauliflower on its own doesn't sound glamorously delicious. But add some other vegetables like spinach, broccoli, herbs and spices and gal, you have one of the most delicious meals.

Some spices like ginger, turmeric, chili, or even masala, will really make your steamed cauliflower stand out.

In this cauliflower recipe, I used:

• three cloves of garlic,
• onions,
• fresh ginger,
• turmeric,
• fennel seeds,
• cumin seeds
• some fresh cilantro leaves
• chives,
• and green onions (scallions)

These fragrances give the steamed cauliflower a vigorous hot spicy note that you'll fall in love with.

Once the cauliflower has steamed and cooled for a while, add them to the cooked seasoning. Stir them together gently not to break the florets, till all florets are covered with the seasoning.

What to serve with cauliflower?

• This steamed cauliflower can be served as a side dish. Consider having it with roasted vegetables or baked roasted potatoes.
• If you're having fish, this cauliflower would be perfect with salmon.
• You can let this steamed cauliflower cool and serve it as an entrée.
• It's a perfect recipe for summer picnics.

Health Benefits of Cauliflower

• Cauliflower has a number of reasons why you should love it. It has a high level of Vitamin C, one reason that you should avoid boiling it in a lot of water
• You'll get Vitamin K, Folate, Pantothenic acids, B7, B2, B3, B6, Choline, Magnesium and Phosphorus, Omega 3, among others.
• Glucosinolates are among the phytonutrients that you'll get from cauliflower, like in other cruciferous veggies, glucosinolates have been studied to be cancer-protective.
• Vitamin K and Omega 3 fatty acids in cauliflower will help you in combatting inflammation.
• Cauliflower has antioxidants like rutin, beta-carotene, ferulic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol, lutein, and zeaxanthin that obviously will enhance your health by fighting free radicals.

Eating steamed cauliflower increases the bioavailability of some nutrients and antioxidants. On the other hand, cooking on high heat or boiling in a large amount of water isn't advisable. It will destroy the water-soluble vitamins C and B vitamins.

Ideally, buy fresh cauliflower. Frozen tends to have a lot of water and might not hold well in this cauliflower recipe.

You've got to try this recipe - do let me know how your steamed cauliflower with a touch of spice turned out!

Thank you for being here and please share it if you liked it.

With love, Githu.

More Delicious Cauliflower Recipes

• Colorful cauliflower salad with fresh coconut
• Roasted cauliflower curry

Print Recipe

5 from 16 votes

Extra delicious steamed cauliflower

Extra delicious steamed cauliflower is deliciously spicy. You'll never overlook cauliflower again, this side dish is vegan and super healthy. You must try it out!

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: anti-inflammatory, healthy, plantbased, Vegan

Diet: Diabetic, Vegan

Keyword: cauliflower recipes, seasoned cauliflower, spicy cauliflower, Steamed cauliflower

Servings: 2 people

Calories:

Author: Githu

Cost: 5€

Equipment

• steaming basket
• saucepan
• knife
• Chopping board
• wooden spoon

Ingredients

Steamed cauliflower

• 1 head of small cauliflower
• 2 cups boiling water
• pinch of salt

seasoning herbs & spices

• 1 tablespoon fennel and cumin seeds
• 1 small piece fresh turmeric
• 1 thumb of fresh ginger
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 2 medium scallions (green onions)
• 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup chives diced
• 1 cup cilantro leaves you can add more
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard seeds sauce
• 1 piece of fresh chilli
• pinch of salt

Instructions

steamed cauliflower

• Bring water to boil. if you have a boiler if not in a saucepan.
• Clean and cut your cauliflower into medium or small florets.
• Place a basket steamer into a saucepan with heating water
• Place the florets into your steamer.
• Cover and steam at medium-high heat for about 6-8 minutes.
• Check on your cauliflower by inserting a fork in one of the florets
• Don't over cook them, they should remain firm
• Cut off the heat, remove the steaming basket with florets from the water
• Let them cool before manipulating them

Cook the seasoning

• During that time, place fennel and cumin seeds in another saucepan and turn on the heat to medium-low. 
• Grate or mince the ginger, turmeric and 2 cloves of garlic together
• Dice the onions.
• Bring the garlic, ginger, turmeric, and onions into the saucepan with fennel-cumin seeds.
• Increase the heat to medium-high as you stir everything together.
• Add the oil and stir well, cover to cook
• Cook them as you stir now and then till the onions are fragrant; about 5 minutes
• Meanwhile, clean & chop the scallion, the chives, the remaining garlic and get the cilantro leaves. 
• Clean and chop the chili, discard the seeds if you don't like it too hot!
• When the onions are cooked, cut the heat,
• Bring the steamed cauliflower into the saucepan with onions, add the rest of the ingredients and stir them together gently not to break the florets, till all florets are covered with the seasoning
• Now set your table, serve and enjoy this extra delicious steamed cauliflower. 
• Thank you for sharing this recipe.

Notes

• This extra delicious steamed cauliflower can be served as a side dish or a main dish if you're following a low-carb diet. 
• As a main dish just make extra!

Nutrition

Serving: 0g | Carbohydrates: 0g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 0mg | Potassium: 0mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 0IU | Vitamin C: 0mg | Calcium: 0mg | Iron: 0mg