CAULIFLOWER POWER
Since I last wrote (in February), Spring has most definitely sprung here in the South East of the UK, and we’ve had it all- sunshine followed by hail, followed by showers, followed by a frost, and now sunshine again. Whenever the sun comes out, the child in me thinks ‘aahh yes, we are good until October now’- until I remember I live in the UK, and let’s just say the ol’ weatherman is unpredictable in these parts!
We’ve had two March birthdays to celebrate (my daughter’s and my own), plus a Mothers’ Day and now Easter, so there’s a lot been going on. That and I’m very almost qualified to finally teach yoga after twenty years of practising. So, a lot of study, self- reflection and stress has been going on for me the last few weeks, on top of the obligatory daily walks checking off creepy crawlies in her nature checklist book with my daughter, stopping to sniff every flower including dandelions, and aahing over all of the baby animals at the local farms.
What with everyone we know finally getting Covid, all of this changeable weather has definitely meant paying even closer attention to what and how we eat. During times of change, it’s even more important to eat seasonally, as nature provides what is necessary for us, and if we know our Ayurvedic constitution and imbalances, then it’s even easier for us to pick the right foods for ourselves.
Never really unavailable (there are different varieties which all flower at different times of year), cauliflower’s peak season is between April and October here. From an Ayurvedic perspective, cauliflower pacifies the Pitta and Kapha doshas, and can aggravate Vata if eaten too raw or paired with other drying, light foods. It’s super high in folate, vitamin K and potassium, making it a useful veggie for those who struggle with their menstrual cycle, or who are pregnant, breastfeeding or having issues with menopause or pre-menopause. It also has a cleansing, detoxing action, is anti-inflammatory and helps those with thyroid issues. This is often why it has an annual flirt with the diet industry which occasionally announces that it is the ONE FOOD you MUST eat in order to lose weight. Obviously there’s no way I’d ever agree with that, but as with all of these things, there’s always a kernel of truth that gets blown way out of proportion and doesn’t take into account exactly how much our bodies and minds are unique to us (and to a point in time!).
High in protein and vitamin B6, cauliflower is an excellent addition to most menus (plant-based or not!), and is great for those who need a protein hit around lunch time in order to make it through the afternoon without crashing head first into a pile of biscuits. On top of this, it is one of those foods that looks like the organ it is known to support- the brain. Vitamin B6 deficiency can result in mood changes, tiredness, fogginess and low mental energy. As I’ve had a lot of studying to do the past month, I’ve bought a cauli most weeks, and have been experimenting with a few different recipes.
The one I’ve decided to share involves a blender (oh how I love a blender!), and a good roasting tray. Let’s call it cauliflower hummus I think. I chopped and sprinkled the cauliflower with rock salt, then put it in the oven until it was soft. Next, I put it in the blender with cumin, coriander and fennel seeds, a pinch of asafoetida, a spoonful of nutritional yeast and a pinch of black pepper. The warming, pungent herbs and spices I chose not only give it a depth of flavour but also combat the Vata aggravating properties of cauliflower. Blending it ensures that it is moist and heavy, and adding an oil such as avocado oil or rapeseed gives it that extra viscosity. If I were more of a Kapha type, I’d probably leave a little crunch to the cauliflower and cook it with hotter spices such as chilli and paprika, leaving it in florets to have with spring greens. This is what I love about Ayurveda- almost nothing is off limits. It’s just about knowing what is good for you at this particular moment in time!
Hopefully the weather will be more reliably warm and sunny (HAH!) now, so I will probably leave the blender alone for a while, as the warmer the sun, the less I need comforting gloopy meals. But, we have seen snow in April before, so I’m not holding my breath! Here’s to some more glorious sunshine, more baby animals and a yoga teacher certificate!