Purple cauliflower? Excuse me...

News Type: Event — Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:36 AM EDT

odd-news, alien, vegetables, purple, cauliflower

Yikes! It's purple! It's really purple...

I mentioned before that I'm growing my own vegetables this year.

One of the things I wanted to do was pick varieties that I wouldn't normally be able to buy in the shops - or at least not without having to remorgage the house to afford a bag of variegated tomatoes or mottled frisee salad.

I am now paying the price of this overblown horticultural ambition. Take the cauliflower, for example. Of course I could have bought ordinary cauliflower seeds... but what's the fun in that? Instead I picked out a packet of seeds which said "purple cauliflower". I was thinking along the lines of purple flowering broccoli - which is quite pretty, and in any case turns to normal green when you cook it.

Even so, when I found this growing in the garden.... I have to admit, even I recoiled a bit.

It's recognisably a cauliflower... but nobody told me it would be that purple.

This is a serious problem. You see, my kids are not great fans of vegetables. Generally I have to hide them in soups, pasta sauces, curries and bakes... adding a tin of tomatoes or a cheesy topping to camouflage the presence of carrots or chopped cabbage.

But how the heck am I going to hide something this colour? If I make cauliflower-cheese, it'll look like a purple monster lurking in an avalanche. Steamed cauliflower rosettes are going to look like they fell in the beetroot. Hmmm.... now there's an idea. Can you make borscht with cauliflower?

Help me please! I need recipe ideas for alien cauliflower....

14 Votes
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6.5

6.2

{"commentId":8155509,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

backroads

You might consider changing the lighting in the dining area.

{"commentId":8155509,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

3 votes

#1 - Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:37 AM EDT

{"commentId":8155555,"authorDomain":"cartooncat"}

cartooncat

You mean removing all the light bulbs? That's a thought...

{"commentId":8155555,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"cartooncat"}

5 votes

#1.1 - Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:41 AM EDT

{"commentId":8162109,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

backroads

Yes, and then you'd be going green, too.

{"commentId":8162109,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

4 votes

#1.2 - Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:49 PM EDT

{"commentId":8155961,"authorDomain":"bigmomma"}

rottlady

Call them purple people eaters and the kids might love them! I think they are quite beautiful!

{"commentId":8155961,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"bigmomma"}

6 votes

#2 - Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:19 AM EDT

{"commentId":8158613,"authorDomain":"cookinmama"}

cookin mama

those are pretty cool looking. I bought some orange once tastes the same.

In a cookbook I have a recipe for cauliflower soup it's a puree. maybe tell tell that you added food coloring to make it pretty. i will have to find and post it later if you would like it.

{"commentId":8158613,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"cookinmama"}

2 votes

#3 - Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:50 PM EDT

{"commentId":8159776,"authorDomain":"cartooncat"}

cartooncat

We're talking purple soup here, right? When's Hallowe'en again?

It might be the best bet though... I'd love to see the recipe! Thanks!

{"commentId":8159776,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"cartooncat"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Sat Jul 11, 2009 4:16 PM EDT

{"commentId":8159242,"authorDomain":"pennytool"}

StarSmiles

tell the kids it is grape gone wild grinns .

That does look cool I know what I will plant next season .

{"commentId":8159242,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"pennytool"}

3 votes

#4 - Sat Jul 11, 2009 3:35 PM EDT

{"commentId":8159970,"authorDomain":"ppflock"}

3sheets2thewind

Cauliflower like broccoli and Brussels sprouts are part of the cabbage family most kids don't like to eat them because they are bitter.

When they become older they will eat these vegetable when their taste buds mature past the sweet and salty stage and develop a liking for bitter and sour foods.

Don't push the vegetable on the kids instead try squashes, corn and carrots as they are sweet yet nutritious.

You can hide vegetables in unusual places like adding green beans to a chocolate cake or brownie mix it makes the cake or brownies extra moist and you can't taste the green beans.

{"commentId":8159970,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"ppflock"}

1 vote

#5 - Sat Jul 11, 2009 4:28 PM EDT

{"commentId":8164332,"authorDomain":"mfreeman-croyle-1"}

QuiteContrary-910535

Why dosen't purple food taste purple? I know what grapes taste like (close) but plumbs, eggplant and now cauliflower just don't taste 'Purple' at all. Were my tastebuds hijacked by the Kool Aid Corporation? Have I been 'Smuckered'?

{"commentId":8164332,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"mfreeman-croyle-1"}

2 votes

#6 - Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:49 PM EDT

{"commentId":8165547,"authorDomain":"Lis"}

Lis

What does "purple" taste like?

Whatever you're having, I'd like some too! : )

{"commentId":8165547,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"Lis"}

3 votes

#6.1 - Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:32 PM EDT

{"commentId":8165287,"authorDomain":"EllieP"}

EllieP

Quite a conundrum, cc. Here's a pic of the purple cheesy cauli. Not so appetizing even with the airbrushing.

I think I might think totally outside the box on this one -- Pickled Purple Poppers maybe? Small pieces just lightly steamed and marinated for a few hours in their favorite vinaigrette. Could be served as a side or a salad or baked potato topper.

Or a Mardi Gras salad or side using yellow and green veggies of your choice either hot or cold. I'm a bit out of practice, but is there a current super hero or cartoon fave who is purple? Maybe this could be how he gets his magic power (how old are your kids?).

Good luck. I'd say toss it in a ratatouille if they were older. Would that work?

{"commentId":8165287,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"EllieP"}

3 votes

#7 - Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:08 PM EDT

{"commentId":8165464,"authorDomain":"cookinmama"}

cookin mama

Ellie you are right that did not look good to me either. If I was to make a cheese sauce I would use white cheddar.

Love your idea. sounds Yummy

Reminds of America's Test Kitchen the had a roasted cauliflower recipe. sooo good.

{"commentId":8165464,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"cookinmama"}

3 votes

#7.1 - Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:24 PM EDT

{"commentId":8165625,"authorDomain":"ppflock"}

3sheets2thewind

America's Test Kitchen

My favorite cooking show.

{"commentId":8165625,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"ppflock"}

2 votes

#7.2 - Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:38 PM EDT

{"commentId":8165713,"authorDomain":"cookinmama"}

cookin mama

Mine to, learn more from them then the Food network anymore.

{"commentId":8165713,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"cookinmama"}

2 votes

#7.3 - Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:45 PM EDT

{"commentId":8166870,"authorDomain":"ppflock"}

3sheets2thewind

I learn more from them (America's Test Kitchen) then the Food network anymore.

The food network is entertainment.

America's Test Kitchen is more about cooking showing the proper technique, how they break down a recipe, explain how they got the best results, I love how they compare the different gadgets and compare ready made stuff from potato chips, mustard, pie crust to catsup and explain how they got to their conclusion with cost being a factor on a product. Fastest half hour on TV.

It is a real cooking show great magazine but I thought that it was a little high priced so I only got it for a year.

{"commentId":8166870,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"ppflock"}

2 votes

#7.4 - Sun Jul 12, 2009 1:47 AM EDT

{"commentId":8167006,"authorDomain":"cartooncat"}

cartooncat

Ellie - that's great advice. My kids are older... they're 17, 15 and 11... and they definitely won't fall for the super hero trick any more!

I think the pickled cauliflower idea is good... it shouldn't taste any odder than pickled beetroot or red cabbage, which are both purple as well!

The purple thing in the cheese sauce looked pretty nasty though...

{"commentId":8167006,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"cartooncat"}

3 votes

#7.5 - Sun Jul 12, 2009 2:12 AM EDT

{"commentId":8211856,"authorDomain":"KimmieLynn"}

Kimberly-430040

Mmmm you are right, this looks anything but appetizing.

{"commentId":8211856,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"KimmieLynn"}

2 votes

#7.6 - Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":8213210,"authorDomain":"kaviaq"}

kaviaq

Pickled Purple Poppers maybe? Small pieces just lightly steamed and marinated for a few hours in their favorite vinaigrette.

Oooo, thats a great idea. Now I wish I had purple cauliflower too!

{"commentId":8213210,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"kaviaq"}

2 votes

#7.7 - Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:23 PM EDT

{"commentId":8166904,"authorDomain":"cookinmama"}

cookin mama

I bought 2 of there items that they recommended, the garlic press and the can opener love love them both.

{"commentId":8166904,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"cookinmama"}

2 votes

#8 - Sun Jul 12, 2009 1:52 AM EDT

{"commentId":8169826,"authorDomain":"ladyferlin"}

ladyferlin

Purple!! my favorite color...it looks WAY more appetizing than the white,,,and with white cheese sauce and butter,,,,yummm! I don't have a veggie garden, but if I did, I would sure plant that! Tell the kids it was !"special food color" just for them, and VERY exotic!

{"commentId":8169826,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"ladyferlin"}

2 votes

#9 - Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:35 AM EDT

{"commentId":8216615,"authorDomain":"shub"}

Shub Tnediserp Remrof

I don't have any recipes for foriegn foods however I would say if your going to use cheese why don't get blue cheese to disguise the color or instead of cheese if your ging eggplants you could somehow disguise it with that.

{"commentId":8216615,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"shub"}

1 vote

#10 - Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:43 PM EDT

{"commentId":8248120,"authorDomain":"djd"}

djd

I was watching the original film of Little Shop of Horrors last night. Yikes!

Cat, have you thought of cauliflower wine? Should be a good colour. If it's food you're after then a recipe that is already colourful might be a good idea.

{"commentId":8248120,"threadId":"624374","contentId":"3016929","authorDomain":"djd"}

2 votes

#11 - Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:25 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"624374","isPrivate":false}

CARTOONCAT

Backyard

Purple cauliflower? Excuse me...

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