Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Oven Roasted Cauliflower and Green Beans

You should listen when your mother tells you to eat your vegetables, because cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower pack a powerful nutritional punch. Not only does cauliflower have vitamins, minerals and antioxidents, but it contains a substance called indoles that fight cancer. As if that weren't enough cauliflower may lower cholesterol levels, combat stress and lower the risk of stroke.

All right so maybe cauliflower isn't your favorite thing to eat, but make the following recipe just once, and you'll never look at cauliflower the same way again. Oven roasting it with green beans results in a slightly crunchy texture and flavored with tumeric, a spice with antioxidents, it takes on a totally different taste.

  • Large cauliflower, cut into equal size pieces with stem removed
  • 1/2 pound green beans
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed in garlic press
  • Adobo seasoning to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon tumeric
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped
Now follow these steps.

  1. Put cauliflower pieces and green beans in a large mixing bowl. Add all the ingredients except for the cilantro, and mix well.
  2. Use a non-stick cookie sheet with sides or a large baking pan that has been sprayed with olive oil cooking spray. Spread out the seasoned vegetables out on the baking sheet so they are in one layer.
  3. Bake in a pre-heated 425 degree oven for 40 minutes.
  4. After 20 minutes take the pan out of the oven and carefully turn over the vegetables making sure they are still one layer deep in the pan.
  5. Bake for another 15 or 20 minutes until the vegetables are browned and crispy.
  6. Before serving sprinkle the chopped cilantro over the vegetables.
This dish is great served with whole wheat pasta.