Cauliflower

General Facts

Packed with rich nutrients, cauliflower or cabbage flower is one of the commonly used flower-vegetable. The flower heads contains numerous health benefiting nutrients such as indole-3-carbinol, sulforaphane etc that help prevent prostate, ovarian and cervical cancers.

It is a member of the cruciferous or brassicaceae family; has got similar nutritional and phyto-chemistry profile with broccoli and cabbage. Several cultivars exists other than common snow-white variety including green, orange, purple, and romanesco heads.

Like broccoli, cauliflower is made up of tightly clustered florets that begin to form but stopped at bud stage. This cool season vegetable prefers fertile rich adequate moisture in the soil to flourish.

To keep the flower heads creamy white, they should be protected from sunlight. This is done by tying the close-by leaves together over the flower head.

Cauliflower is Very low in calories. 100 g of fresh cauliflower has only 26 calories. However, it is very low in fat and contains no cholesterol.

Fresh cauliflower is excellent source of vitamin C; 100 g provides about 48.2 mg or 80% of daily recommended value. Vitamin-C is a proven antioxidant helps fight against harmful free radicals, boosts immunity and prevent from infections and cancers.

Cauliflowers are available all around the year in the markets; however they are at their best during winter months.aches the desired size but before the buds begin to separate.