A Low-Carb Cauliflower 'Risotto' That's Also Zero-Waste: A Game-Changing Recipe
When it comes to weight loss and improving overall health, many of us swear by intermittent fasting - giving up food for a few hours each day. But what if I told you that the benefits of fasting can be harnessed even when you're not cutting out entire meals? By incorporating low-carb and high-protein recipes into your diet, such as this grain-free cauliflower 'risotto', you can boost digestion, immunity, and blood pressure.
At the heart of this recipe is an unlikely hero: the humble cauliflower. Once considered a mere byproduct of broccoli's popularity, it's now being celebrated for its nutritional prowess, particularly when it comes to those coveted leafy greens. The leaves themselves are packed with vitamins and antioxidants, making them a delicious addition to any meal.
So how do you turn this underdog into a culinary star? Simply shave the florets off using a knife, much like shaving cream from a block of soap - yes, that satisfying 'whoosh' is therapeutic in itself! To add crunch and protein, flaked almonds are added on top. But here's where things get clever: by quickly frying the cauliflower to prevent it from becoming mushy, you're preserving its texture and leaving only scraps to be tossed aside.
The result? A dish that's both healthy and indulgent, packed with nutritious goodness in every bite. And the best part? It comes with a zero-waste guarantee - no food goes to waste in this kitchen! With its flavorful combination of almonds, cream, and grated cheese, this cauliflower 'risotto' is sure to become a new favorite on your menu.
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 whole cauliflower (about 700g), including leaves
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, peeled and finely diced
- 2 celery sticks, trimmed and finely diced
- 200g flaked almonds
- 300ml vegetable stock, or water
- 200ml double cream, or 200ml extra stock (or water)
- 100g grated hard cheese (grana padano, parmesan or similar), plus extra to serve
Method:
1. Separate the cauliflower leaves and cut off thick stems; slice them into thin strips.
2. Fry the cauliflower leaves, sliced stems, and flaked almonds in olive oil until crisp and golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon.
3. Shave the florets off using a knife, working from top to bottom, then chop the stalk finely and add to the 'rice'.
4. Cook the diced onion and celery until translucent; stir in the remaining flaked almonds for 1 minute.
5. Add the cauliflower 'rice', stock, cream, and grated cheese to the pan; turn up heat to high and boil before reducing to a simmer to cook until the cauliflower absorbs all liquid.
6. Season with salt and serve topped with crisp cauliflower leaves and almonds, accompanied by extra grated cheese on the side.
When it comes to weight loss and improving overall health, many of us swear by intermittent fasting - giving up food for a few hours each day. But what if I told you that the benefits of fasting can be harnessed even when you're not cutting out entire meals? By incorporating low-carb and high-protein recipes into your diet, such as this grain-free cauliflower 'risotto', you can boost digestion, immunity, and blood pressure.
At the heart of this recipe is an unlikely hero: the humble cauliflower. Once considered a mere byproduct of broccoli's popularity, it's now being celebrated for its nutritional prowess, particularly when it comes to those coveted leafy greens. The leaves themselves are packed with vitamins and antioxidants, making them a delicious addition to any meal.
So how do you turn this underdog into a culinary star? Simply shave the florets off using a knife, much like shaving cream from a block of soap - yes, that satisfying 'whoosh' is therapeutic in itself! To add crunch and protein, flaked almonds are added on top. But here's where things get clever: by quickly frying the cauliflower to prevent it from becoming mushy, you're preserving its texture and leaving only scraps to be tossed aside.
The result? A dish that's both healthy and indulgent, packed with nutritious goodness in every bite. And the best part? It comes with a zero-waste guarantee - no food goes to waste in this kitchen! With its flavorful combination of almonds, cream, and grated cheese, this cauliflower 'risotto' is sure to become a new favorite on your menu.
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 whole cauliflower (about 700g), including leaves
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, peeled and finely diced
- 2 celery sticks, trimmed and finely diced
- 200g flaked almonds
- 300ml vegetable stock, or water
- 200ml double cream, or 200ml extra stock (or water)
- 100g grated hard cheese (grana padano, parmesan or similar), plus extra to serve
Method:
1. Separate the cauliflower leaves and cut off thick stems; slice them into thin strips.
2. Fry the cauliflower leaves, sliced stems, and flaked almonds in olive oil until crisp and golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon.
3. Shave the florets off using a knife, working from top to bottom, then chop the stalk finely and add to the 'rice'.
4. Cook the diced onion and celery until translucent; stir in the remaining flaked almonds for 1 minute.
5. Add the cauliflower 'rice', stock, cream, and grated cheese to the pan; turn up heat to high and boil before reducing to a simmer to cook until the cauliflower absorbs all liquid.
6. Season with salt and serve topped with crisp cauliflower leaves and almonds, accompanied by extra grated cheese on the side.
I mean who needs actual risotto when you can have a low-carb version that's basically just pretending to be risotto? but seriously, using cauliflower as a 'rice' substitute is genius - it's like the ultimate zero-waste hack. And adding flaked almonds on top gives it this satisfying crunch... kinda like eating a salad with more calories 
but for real though, I love how creative you guys are over here getting all gourmet with your veggie scraps.
. You know what's wild? We've been taking food scraps for granted for so long, but now we're seeing how creative you can be with even the most unlikely ingredients. I mean, who would've thought that cauliflower leaves could be a thing? 
. I guess the takeaway here is that every small change you make can add up to make a big difference in the end. So go ahead, give this recipe a try and see how it makes you feel - your body and the planet will thank you 
!
I'm so down for this recipe! Cauliflower 'risotto' is like that one aunt who's always showing up uninvited but you can't help but love her - it's a game-changer! I mean, using cauliflower as the base and adding in healthy fats from almonds and cream sounds like a match made in heaven. And let's not forget about those gorgeous, nutritious leaves packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Who knew being zero-waste could be so delicious? 
i mean who doesn't love a good risotto but the fact that it's grain-free and zero-waste is just a total game-changer for me personally i'm trying to cut back on carbs anyway so this recipe is perfect for that. and i love how they're using cauliflower leaves as the star of the show - didn't know those were packed with vitamins and antioxidants! 
but what really gets me excited is the zero-waste part...i've been trying to reduce food waste in my own kitchen lately and this recipe seems like a total winner. can't wait to try it out and see how it turns out 
This recipe sounds so cool, I love how it uses leftover cauliflower leaves 
. And who doesn't love a creamy risotto without the carbs? 
I mean, who wouldn't want a healthy dish that's also zero-waste? It's like the ultimate win-win 
and I'm obsessed with the idea of using up those veggie scraps 
. But what really gets me excited is the health benefits 
you can do intermittent fasting without totally cutting out meals, and this recipe is like a game-changer 
. And have you seen those leaves? They're packed with vitamins and antioxidants! 
anyway this low-carb cauliflower 'risotto' sounds actually pretty sick i mean who wouldn't want to eat healthy food that's also zero-waste its like a win-win 
and the fact that you can just toss aside all the scraps is genius maybe they should add that to college cooking classes lol