I cooked... stir fried cauliflower rice-mashed potato?

[thistlechaser]

I cooked something. It was intended to be cauliflower rice. aliceinazeroth supplied the skill, I supplied the fail. :P Googling around to try to find the exact time to microwave it, I discovered most people used the food processor to grind it, so I did as well. I think I ground it too much, because it ended more like a powder than rice-sized. (I think grating it would have been better.) Then I nuked it (for only 2:30 minutes, my microwave is strong). Lots of the posts said cauliflower rice doesn't taste like rice but is easily overpowered, so I figured I'd stir fry/make a simple fried rice.

I browned some garlic in oil, tossed in the "rice", and when done added soy sauce. It turned out more like mashed potatoes than rice. Soy-sauce mashed potatoes.

I should have just added butter and some kind of spice (garlic salt?) instead. The taste isn't horrible (but isn't at all good), but the texture is horrid. Kind of... sandy? Grainy?

I really wanted to try sahn's idea: zucchini chips. ("Cut it width-wise into discs about a quarter inch thick or so and pan fry with a little oil until lightly brown. I'd dip it in soy sauce, but you could eat as is or season with salt or whatever") Unfortunately there were no zucchini at the farmer's market today.

I'm throwing out this soy sauce mashed cauliflower mess, but I do have half of a bowl left of the pre-fried rice stuff. Maybe I'll try the butter idea for the rest. Later.

Comments

[tersa.livejournal.com]

When I was doing Atkins, I discovered the trick of boiling cauliflower and then mushing it up with butter and seasonings to make faux mashed potatoes. So your instinct was right on that one. :)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think that's what I'm going to try with the rest, assuming I use it. At the moment, the smell of it is really getting to me. Ick.

[alaias-stories.livejournal.com]

That sounds... very interesting. I'm sorry it didn't turn out! I don't have any tips on that one I'm afraid.

I did think of something you might like though. Maybe...

Have you ever tried spaghetti squash? I've got a really, really good recipe for it & you should just end up feeling like you're eating pasta!

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

Mashed potatoes with soy sauce does not sound that good. XD

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Ha! Not at all.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Interesting, yes. :P Maybe future attempts will come out better!

I've never had spaghetti squash, though I think my mother likes it (she likes all squashes). I didn't see any at the farmer's market yesterday (are they a fall thing?), I'll probably try one then. How do you do it?

[alaias-stories.livejournal.com]

I can get them all year round here but technically they are a fall thing. They're in the family of winter squash so they're harvested in October but they keep for MONTHS after they've been picked so you should be able to get them for a good while once they do become available.


Anyway, here's my recipe:

Cut the squash in half length wise and scoop out the seeds.

Put the halves on a cookie sheet, cut side down and bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes. If you've got an older stove it might take 30. Basically it's done when a knife slides in easily. You'll know the difference because when you're cutting it in half it's like sawing a log. XD

While it's cooking dice a small onion and a clove of garlic.

Pull the squash out and while you're waiting on it to cool a little heat 2tbsp of olive oil and saute the onion until it's tender. Add the garlic and saute for another 3 minutes.

Stir in a can of diced tomatoes (or fresh chopped ones if you're really into your cooking that day XD) and cook until the tomatoes are warm.

Take a fork and scrape the insides of the squash, it should thread into a spaghetti like consistency. Pull this out and toss it in a bowl with the tomato & onion mixture, a small tin (roughly 3tbsp) of black olives, sliced or diced, and 3/4 a cup of feta cheese.

And there you go!

If you like the squash I recommend looking around the internet for other recipes. The reason I like it is that it's extremely versatile, you can mix just about anything with it and it's good.

And because I'm lazy... I often just bake the squash, but a can of tomatoes with garlic & onion added and skip the sauteing and heating. I just toss the tomato, cheese and olives straight in the bowl as soon as the squash is done.

If you like mushrooms at all though sauteing some of those and adding them is really, really good. I know someone else who tosses shrimp in.

SO there are a lot of things you can do! :)

[alaias-stories.livejournal.com]

Erm, that's supposed to say "buy" a can of tomatoes btw. <_<

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

*bookmarks* Thanks!

[alaias-stories.livejournal.com]

If you ever get around to trying it let me know how it goes!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Will do! I'll post it here, if nothing else.

[alaias-stories.livejournal.com]

Yay! If I think of anything else good I'll send it your way. :)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks!