Cutting out food waste starts with small steps and big questions, and today we’re here to solve one of the world’s most hard-hitting riddles: what can I do with cauliflower leaves and stalks?
Well, prepare to have your socks knocked right off your green footprint. Because cauliflower leaves are not only edible, they’re delicious!
Leaves and stems are healthy and nutritious, chocked full of fibre, calcium and vitamin C (that’s the one that gives you muscles, by the way). And this blog leafs no stalk unturned, uncooked, or unused. Learn how to make the most out of your fruit and veg delivery today!
What parts of a cauliflower are edible?
We’ve all enjoyed cauliflower cheese in our time, but many of us are guilty of only using a fraction of these delicious, creamy white veggies. Every part of a cauliflower is edible, even the tough outer skin. However, we do recommend peeling this part before cooking as it’s a bit tough to chew.
What can I do with cauliflower leaves and stalks?
Cauliflower is way more than just albino broccoli, and its leaves and stalks pack a lot more flavour than you think. Whether you use them as a side dish or part of a mouthwatering main, you’ll definitely taste their influence.
The florets may be the star of the show, but neglecting the rest is like listening to a Zayn-less One Direction, an M. Night Shyamalan movie without a big juicy twist at the end, or watching The Office after Michael Scott leaves. We don’t care what you say, it’s just not the same!
What do cauliflower leaves taste like?
When crisped up and combined with a bit’a seasoning, cauliflower leaves taste similar to crispy seaweed or fried greens and can be a cracking alternative to pak choi, lettuce or spinach.
You can’t walk the waste-reducing walk without making the most of your stalk, and cauliflower stems have a familiar flavour to the florets but pack a bit more of a crunch.
How to cook cauliflower leaves
If you’re wondering what can I do with cauliflower leaves and stalks, there’re plenty of deliciously tasty ways to cook them! There’s a special knack to cooking cauliflower leaves, so follow these steps to reduce food waste, and learn how to use every nutritious part of your next cauli!
Boiling – Cauliflower leaves can be boiled and blanched in salted water just like cabbage leaves. You can also steam any part of the cauliflower for a healthy green meal.
Roasting – Chuck some salt, olive oil and seasoning in a roasting pan with some cauliflower leaves, and you’ll have a beautiful, crispy side dish to impress your guests.
Frying – Buttered, sautéd cauliflower leaves are a deliciously easy dish to whip up in a few minutes. All you need is a frying pan, butter and a splash of water.
Master these culinary techniques, and you won’t just cauliflower – you’ll cauliflourish!
Cauliflower leaves recipes
The following recipes are super-cauliflower-isticexpialidocious, because we know the thought of waste is really quite atrocious.
Roasted cauliflower leaves
Cauliflower can be roasted whole or in tiny beautiful florets. Either way, it’s incredibly scrumptious with the right seasoning, paste and sauces. And best of all, the leaves can be thrown right into the mix!
We recommend trying this by drizzling lime zest over the leaves, alongside some minced garlic and tomatoes. Then, throw in the chopped cauliflower florets and stalks with some soy sauce and massaman paste, before roasting for roughly half an hour (or until the cauliflower florets start to brown).
Cauliflower leaf pesto
No, your cauliflower ears are not deceiving you. The magicians at Mob Kitchen do a magnificent Cauliflower Leaf Pesto recipe, which has to be tasted to be believed.
Herby, cheesy and with zero waste, it ticks every single box. Just complete the seven simple tests, and hey pesto, you’ve got yourself a smashing dip!
Cauliflower leaf stir fry
Cauliflower leaves are a tasty alternative to spring greens in most stir-fries and noodle dishes. One of our favourite combos is:
- – Chicken thighs (chopped)
- – Soy sauce (x1 tea spoon)
- – Miso paste (x1 tablespoon)
- – Cauliflower leaves
- – Garlic (x2 chopped or minced cloves)
- – Dry noodles
- – X1 carrot (grated)
Brown off the chicken in a bit of oil in a pan or wok, toss in the veggies and fry away with your sauce and paste.
Cauliflower leaf soup
You can easily put cauliflower leaves in a soup. You can even use the stalks! Here are a couple of our favourite cauliflower leaf soup recipes:
Anti-Food Waste Recipes
Like maximising taste and reducing waste in the kitchen? We’ve got plenty more solutions than just ‘what can I do with cauliflower leaves?’ so worry not! Yep, there’s plenty more where that came from! Strap on your best apron and check out these delicious recipes and guides:
- – Bread and butter pudding
- – Carrot and beetroot salad
- – Summer mocktails
- – Picnic recipes
- – Fruit salad
- – Best apps for food waste
- – How fresh are my eggs?
Waste reducing gardening tips
We’ve also got a bucketload of waste-reducing tips for your garden, so once you’re done tickling your taste buds, you can plant some more in your flower beds.
How to feed your garden, not your bins:
• – Grow veg from scraps
• – Your complete guide to composting
• – Using eggshells in your compost
• – How to compost and help the environment
• – How to use compost
Join our milkround
Now that we’ve answered your burning questions on, ‘What can I do with cauliflower leaves?’, you’ll be excited to hear about our other waste-free ways to enjoy a range of meals. Our milkies can bring all of your grocery essentials straight to your door, up to three times a week. So whether you’re needing a milk delivery or a bakery delivery, you can get started by signing up, placing at least one repeat order and picking a delivery date that suits you! It’s really that easy.
Our Mission here is to show the world just how simple it can be to make eco-conscious decisions that help save both the polar bears and you from the hassle of grocery shopping at the supermarket. Have we got your attention, yet? Discover more about our waste-fighting groceries and doorstep deliveries and see How It Works.
