Steamed Cauliflower with Vinaigrette Sauce

Here is a lovely steamed cauliflower recipe that goes particularly well with fish. Warm cauliflower gets dressed up in a simple olive oil vinaigrette and topped with chopped eggs and parsley. A yummy combination.

How to Steam Cauliflower

Cauliflower can be steamed just like most vegetables, but it can be a little tricky because of its size. If you are steaming a whole head of cauliflower (as is called for in this recipe), you will probably need to do it in two batches.

Remove the leaves and cut even sized florets away from the stem. Cut away any brown or spotty looking bits. There shouldn't be any, but alas, perhaps you forgot about monsieur chou-fleur chilling in the back of the fridge. Larger florets should be cut in pieces so they approximate the size of the smaller ones. (A general rule of thumb in preparing vegetables is that you want things to be evenly sized to allow for even cooking.)

Microwave steamed cauliflower works fine as well. Use a specially adapted microwave steamer, or just place the florets in a covered Pyrex dish with a little water. Cook on high for about six minutes for tender cauliflower.

Hard Boiled Eggs

This steamed cauliflower recipe calls for hard boiled eggs. There are diverging opinions on how to boil an egg. It seems cooks love to debate such issues, but here is the method that works for me:

Ingredients

• Bring a pot of water to a boil and carefully add the eggs.
• Reduce the heat so the water is at a simmer.
• Simmer for 10 minutes then remove from heat and drain the water from the pot.
• Refill with cold water.
• I then just let the eggs sit in the water until I am ready to peel them.

Did you know that fresh eggs are harder to peel when boiled in the shell? An older egg (say 10 days after it left the chicken) shrinks somewhat in its shell, leaving a space that then makes it easier to peel. So go ahead and use those older eggs for this recipe.

Menu suggestion: Try serving this steamed cauliflower side dish with a simple poached fish for a low calorie, low carb and totally satisfying dinner. Here is a simple recipe: Poached Salmon Recipe.