Cauliflower Tabbouleh [HMC]

Some foods just look like they should be good for the mind. Take cauliflower. Kind of like walnuts, it visually reminds you of the brain. And sure enough, cauliflower is a brain-boosting superstar, filled with B vitamins, omega-3s, phosphorus, and manganese. It helps in liver detoxification, and a happy liver--the body's vacuum cleaner for toxic metals--makes for a happy brain. Working with cauliflower can intimidate people--it's big and unwieldy--but it need not. In this tabbouleh, it goes incognito as what looks like rice or couscous, surrounded by spices, fresh green herbs, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes. It's a great dish for people who are watching their carbs but who want a grainlike taste and texture on which to munch.

Great

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Place the cauliflower florets in a steamer basket and steam until just tender-crisp, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Place the cooked cauliflower in the bowl of a food processor and pulse about 15 times, until the texture is fine, with pieces about the size of rice grains.

Step 2

In a large bowl whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, turmeric, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and pepper. Add the cauliflower and toss well to coat. Taste, and adjust with a couple of pinches of salt if needed.

Step 3

When the cauliflower has completely cooled, fold in the parsley, mint, cucumber, and tomatoes. Serve at room temperature.

Step 4

If you thought cauliflower was just white, how about purple or cheddar orange for a change of pace? The new colors are the result of decades of traditional selective breeding to create more nutrient-dense food (this is not to be confused with, and had no relation to, genetically modified foods). Purple cauliflower has more brain-boosting anthocyanins, while the orange contains more beta-carotene. The best part--these glorious colors hold up even after cooking.

Step 5

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Calories: 169 per serving.