Purple Cauliflower

I’m always looking for a new way to introduce a healthy food for the kids and add something interesting to the menu for me. I have never been a huge fan of cauliflower so I don’t think I’ve ever really tried to give it to the kids. It’s white, how nutritious can it be? Ok, so it’s got folate, vitamin K and vitamin C going for it and some dietary fiber but that’s about it.

So during my weekly run to the grocery store this week, I saw some purple cauliflower. I thought for the color alone it was worth a try

A quick search showed me that ….

The nutrients found in purple cauliflower are similar to those found in common white cauliflower. However, purple cauliflower will provide you with a couple of other nutritional benefits. The purple color is due to the presence of a subtype of flavonoid compounds called anthocyanin, which may help to regulate your blood lipid and sugar levels and body weight, as well as help to lower your cancer risk. Additionally, purple cauliflower contains a compound called glucoraphanin, which is also found in common green broccoli. In your body, glucoraphanin can be converted to compounds with anticancer properties.

(Well, there is your health and science lesson for the day)

I wanted to keep it simple when it came to cooking, just to see how it would be received. I know growing up the only way I would eat cauliflower was if it were smothered in cheese sauce. (Remember the key word here is “healthy”… no cheese sauce)

I went for a simple roasted veggie recipe. 

Clean the head and cut off all florets. I cut each one at least in half so that there would be at least one flat side to rest on the baking sheet.

Once cut, I tossed them in a bowl with plenty of olive oil.

Spread out on a cookie sheet and bake in a 425 oven for 10 minutes. Flip and put back in for an additional 10-20 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. (I added a little Romano cheese. That’s ok, it was just a little and no cheese sauce!)

Family review was better that I thought I would get. They all liked it and said they would eat it again. I'll take that!