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When thinking about a side dish to serve with your dinner, I’m betting that there is a long list of vegetables you never even consider. In fact, I’d bet that some sort of starch like potatoes, rice or pasta make up the most common side dish in the U.S. Beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and kale are regulars on the list of most hated vegetables as is cauliflower but hopefully I’m about to change your mind and convince you to try something different.

Lately, cauliflower seems to have become the darling of veggie lovers, standing in as a substitute for potatoes and rice in many dishes. With its impressive list of nutrients, cauliflower definitely deserves a place in your diet. While I don’t care for mashed cauliflower in place of mashed potatoes, there are so many other ways to prepare cauliflower that at least one of them is bound to appeal to you.

Cauliflower is a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables which also include cabbage, bok choy, arugula, kale and Brussels sprouts. One cup of plain cooked cauliflower has only 29 measly calories but has 8% of your daily needs for fiber, 85 % of vitamin C, 10% of vitamin B-6 and a decent amount of protein. The many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals in cauliflower will help your body fight cancer, improve your blood pressure, reduce inflammation in the body, boost your brain health and provide digestive benefits. If people would eat their veggies, they would have no need for vitamin supplements!

If plain white cauliflower is unappealing to you, look for the purple or orange varieties available. What kids wouldn’t want to try a purple vegetable? There are plenty of recipes for cauliflower online. Here are a few ideas: mince the cauliflower and it can take the place of rice in a stir fry dish, it makes a nice addition to a garden salad, or you can roast it in the oven with some olive oil, garlic and Parmesan cheese. Please don’t boil your cauliflower to death; studies have shown that boiling cauliflower causes some of the great nutrition to be leached away plus boiling leaves it mushy.

I found cauliflower on sale last week and found this tasty recipe which my family gave a thumbs up. The sesame oil gives it a unique taste but you don’t need much. I’d like to point out that just because you don’t like a vegetable prepared one way, that doesn’t mean there isn’t another way you’ve love. Try a vegetable prepared at least three different ways before you declare you don’t like it. Remember, your body depends on the nutrients found in vegetables for good health!

Browned Cauliflower with Sesame Oil

One head of cauliflower, washed and cut into small florets
salt and pepper to taste
red pepper flakes to taste
1 Tbsp. olive oil
sesame oil

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and add cauliflower. Cook until lightly browned, stirring frequently. Season to taste with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Lightly drizzle with sesame oil. Cook time will be about 7 to 10 minutes.