I get a lot of grief over this one, but not with any due cause. If you buy a full head of cauliflower from the store, chances are it looks like this. And chances are, you paid for it by weight. So, you’re paying for those leaves and they’re perfectly edible. Why would you throw them away?
Use a paring knife and cut the leaves away from the head. Make sure to give them a good wash, as they typically have dirt and residue on them.
How can you use them? The little leaves are pretty tender and can be thrown in a salad or even on a sandwich. The larger leaves are a little tougher and should be cooked. Here are some ideas:
- Cut them into half-inch slices, toss with olive oil, salt and curry power and bake until tender
- Dice them up and add them to homemade soup
- Dice them up and mix them in with the rice when making congee
- Sautee them with butter and salt
- Dice them up and use them in a paella or pilaf
- Some of the really big leaves are a bit woody, so you can boil those to soften them, then puree and add to mashed potatoes or soup
They have a mild cauliflower taste, so you can basically use them wherever you would use cauliflower. Or anywhere you are using mixed vegetables in a dish.