Name the most often overlooked food.

[youthere]

It's a hungry day for youthere, I seem to have a food obsession today. Anyhoo, what do you believe is one of the greatest but most often forgotten food?
I would have to say that it is cauliflower. It's not a "snazzy" vegetable like asparagus but it is delicious all the same. Most people serve it only occasionally and always (seemingly)hide it under a blanket of processed cheese sauce. I happen to love caulifower steamed, boiled (lightly), stir fried but oven roasted with a drizzle of olive oil, and sprinkled liberally with fresh ground black pepper and a sprinkle of salt.

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Ever steam and blend it to a mashed potato consistency?

Season it with a little milk or butter and salt and pepper. It looks like mashed taters but taste like cauliflower. It's a good complement to grilled salmon or other flavorful fish.

I think it's a shame to bury cauliflower in a cheese sauce, even a good homemade one. I do like steamed cauliflower finished with a bread crumb topping in the oven.

[youthere]

3. Yes I've had it mashed...awesome.

And I think it's criminal to drown any vegetable in cheese sauce...or any sauce usually. Most sauces overpower the taste of the actual vegetable. The one exception I have to my "sauce opposition" is mashed potatoes that MUST be swimming in gravy.

[grace0418]

2. Cauliflower is fantastic in Indian food.

It's one of my favorite ways to eat it.

[youthere]

5. I don't think I've had it in a way I didn't like it...

except when it is overboiled into a tasteless, gelatinous muck..and the cheese sauce thing. Before people label me as an anti-cheese reactionary I would like to say that I do like cheese on cauliflower, but just a light grating of Parmesano-Reggiano thank you.

[ceile]

4. eggplant.

Not parmigiana, but just simply grilled or sauteed and put on a sammich with tomatoes and sprouts. Or served chilled with olive oil, onions, garlic and tomatoes.
yummy!

[youthere]

6. Yes! definitely Eggplant is very much overlooked.

I think people believe that it is difficult to prepare. It's not, and it's wonderful.

[grace0418]

7. I'm not crazy about the big Italian eggplants but I love the small Asian eggplants.

There's an insanely good szechuan restaurant in Chicago that makes a spicy eggplant dish in a fiery sauce that is to DIE for.

[youthere]

16. The thing with eggplant is that it really doesn't have much of a flavor on it's own..

or I guess its just that the flavor is so mild. It's a really good medium for marinades and seasonings because it just soaks up the flavor.

[grace0418]

28. I'm sure if I had fresh picked Italian eggplant that wasn't allowed to grow too big

and starchy I would like it a lot more. Those little Asian ones are just so delicious and lightly sweet.

[QMPMom]

56. Eggplant is my favorite vegetable. Yum!

[Jade Fox]

69. Baba Ganoush.....

So good. Just like hummous, but made with eggplant. Roasted eggplant, garlic, lemon, tahini.

[AlCzervik]

8. Endive, i roast it with olive oil, kosher salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper.

[trof]

32. Fantastic endive salad (if you like anchovies)

The little Belgian endive works best.
One per person.
Dump a can of anchovies in a saucepan on med. low.
Stir it about a bit and it will just 'melt'.
When it's kind of a runny paste, deglaze it with a couple of good splashes of any dry white wine.
Pour sauce in a small bowl, one per customer, and eat the endive like and artichoke, dipping one leaf at a time.

[AlCzervik]

34. that sounds so good!! I already have anchovies and wine, i'll be picking up

some baby endive tonight, thanks for the recipe.
:toast:

[trof]

40. Came from a late friend's cookbook.

"Real Cooking, By George"
His name was George.
Also turned out he was a pedophile.
Long story.
But good recipe, anyway.

[Lance_Boyle]

9. Poland.

Or, Poland-ish sausages.

[InternalDialogue]

10. Flounder

Can't help but overlook flounder.

[grace0418]

11. I never used to like sweet potatoes until my husband and I were forced to switch

to a complex carb diet. I realized that roasted until they carmelize with just some salt, pepper and a bit of butter they are wonderful. I'd always had them the way my mom made them with marshmallows and sugar and pie spices. Way too sweet and starchy for me that way.

[youthere]

13. Sweet potatoes are incredible...

but not the super sweet, marshmallow topped candied mush usually served at holidays (some even have the gall to call it "souffle"). We like to cut them into wedges and then toss them with some salt and pepper, chili powder, cayenne, and olive oil and then roast them on the grill.

[grace0418]

27. Yum! I love them in curries too, Indian or Thai.

Now that I know they don't have to taste like that godawful "souffle" (LOL, that's rich) I love them. And they are so incredibly good for you, it's amazing that they can taste so satisfying and decadent.

[Nicole]

58. Sweet potatoes are also good fried

and sprinkled with sea salt. Delicious.

[youthere]

66. They are awesome in tempura too.

battered, fried and dipped in that japanese sauce...yummy!

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

12. natto

On some rice with maybe a raw egg or some kimchi - oh man! Had it for breakfast today.

[youthere]

14. never heard of natto...so I'm sure I've over looked it..what is it?

[idgiehkt]

15. what is it?

:shrug:

[youthere]

20. I just googled it...it's fermented soy beans...

as they ferment they develop that stringy gooey coating. It's supposed to be really good for you, and the page I read says that if you like blue cheese, you'd like natto.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

25. It makes blue cheese taste like velveeta

it made my wife gag but me and my japanese friend adore it.

[youthere]

26. If someone fed that to me when my eyes were closed, I might like it..

but if I were presented with a bowl of it there's no way I could force myself myself to put it in my mouth and swallow.

[unpossibles]

31. ok, I am a very adventurous eater, BUT

you really don't want to know what my first thought was upon seeing that.

but I'll share it anyway. It looks like someone enjoyed their natto a little too much.

[youthere]

60. LOL! I thought the same thing!

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

24. fermented soybeans

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natto

[jpgray]

17. Pine nuts

They work so well with so many foods. NOT just in flippin' pesto.

[youthere]

18. I like to toss them in salads, or pasta dishes...

I use them to top roasted fish..they are wonderful..and even better when they are pan toasted slightly!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

23. I love them toasted!

:9

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. Soylent Green

Sorry...Somebody had to say it. :evilgrin:

[Hugin]

21. ...

Beat me to it.

:thumbsup:

[youthere]

22. awright...

:spank: that's enough out of you!

[Arkansas Granny]

29. Two of my favorite overlooked vegetables are brussels sprouts

and beets. I love them both and hardly anyone eats them anymore.

[reyd reid reed]

51. Love 'em!!!

I love lima beans and okra, too.

:thumbsup:

[youthere]

63. Baby beets are the best..

especially with the tops intact. Braise them in a little wine,add sea salt and black pepper and it will make you want to smack your mother because she never told you something could taste so good.

[Jade Fox]

70. Garden grown brussel sprouts don't have.....

the bitterness of the store bought ones, and taste wonderful.

[u4ic]

30. If you're in the UK...peas

It looks more to me like someone puked up the appetizer...x(

[SOteric]

36. It's not so much that they're overlooked,

as that they've had all the colour, flavour, texture and nutrition expertly tortured from them.

[u4ic]

37. Shoot! I thought it said overCOOKED

d'oh!


:silly: :rofl:

[Kutjara]

38. Yuuummmm...mushy peas.

Mushy pea sandwiches are the best. Two slices of white bread and some malt vinegar. Almost beat chip (french fry) butties (sandwiches) for sheer tastiness.

[AshevilleGuy]

52. What is with that artificial colour???

I have a few cans of them. Love the taste, but that green is unsettling.

[Kutjara]

73. It's to let you know you're firmly in the land of unreal food.

Some marketing genius must have decided that mushy peas didn't look "peaey" enough, so they dumped a vat or two of green dye in to make them look more "authentic."

Freshly-made mushy peas look just like normal peas...only mushy.

[madrchsod]

33. cous-cous

http://www.dunx.org/persona/food-couscous.html
Cous Cous

[youthere]

67. I'm just beginning to discover the world of couscous....

so much quicker than potatoes or rice, and just as versatile. Good stuff.

[trof]

35. Artichokes?

Love 'em.

[Evoman]

39. YES! Artichokes rock.

I like to buy em fresh, then boil or steam them for a little while. Then, you dip the end of the leaves in lemon/oil/SALT (with the TINIEST bit of vinegar) sauce and eat the inside bit. After your done, you grab the crown/heart...dip the whole bugger in the sauce, and MMMMMM...god..know I'm craving artichoke.

[trof]

46. Worcestershire and butter dip.

yum

[Maineiac]

41. Jicama

It's crunchy, juicy, mild tasting. Great in almost any salad.

Steve

[u4ic]

45. Yum!

:9

[youthere]

61. Yummy! Jicama is sooo good. Like a super sweet water chestnut.

[otherlander]

42. Tempeh.

Great fried and served w/ pasta + marinara sauce. :P

[GenDem]

43. Parsnips

A root vegetable similar to carrots.

We usually cook them in olive oil, in a medium low skillet, until tender. They caramelize toward the end of the cooking which makes them taste delish. Add a little butter, and salt and pepper. This is their season, because they are best when kept in the ground over the winter -- makes them sweeter.

[Maineiac]

44. Yum-O I love parsnips. Your method sounds delish.

[trof]

48. One of my faves, and very overlooked.

[Qanisqineq]

54. I love parsnips and was actually thinking of them the other day

I can't get them around here though. Actually, the last couple places I've lived I have had a hard time finding them.

[youthere]

62. You CANNOT make a decent stew or soup without parsnips IMO.

[crim son]

47. delete

posted in the wrong place so I'll just creep away quietly

[lost-in-nj]

49. Tube Steaks!!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


lost

[astral]

50. Cauliflower and Broccoli Comfort Food

Occasionally I steam cauliflower and brocolli and then smash them up on my plate (next to each other, not all mixed up) and melt butter into them add a dash of cayenne and salt. This stuff is very nice if I haven't been feeling well or something.

Yep! Just that for dinner, all by itself!

I love to do the same with Brussels sprouts but it's one of those 'forgotten foods' for me - thanks for the reminder.

[jobycom]

53. Okra

An ugly little food, but fry it up and it's a perfect crunchy accompaniment to any meal, or stew it with tomatoes and it's a tangy, slimy wonderment.

Yeah, i know, you can take the boy out of the South...

[AshevilleGuy]

55. Okra is not only in Southern dishes; it's prominent in

African, Caribbean, Indian, French and Middle eastern cuisines. It is one of my favorite comfort foods. My Mother used to stew it for me with tomatoes; we had it over rice.

[Nicole]

57. Okra pickled

good stuff! :9

[youthere]

65. I gotta say that's one food I just haven't been able to enjoy. ..

I've had it lots of ways, and even when it's mixed in a soup or stew I still don't care for it. I don't HATE it, but it just won't ever be one of my favorites.

[jobycom]

68. That's okay

Pobody's nerfect. :)

[Nicole]

59. Spaghetti squash

It is an excellent pasta substitute when limiting carb intake.

[geiger]

64. Cauliflower is very, very good for you. an added plus!

[MissMillie]

71. turnip

I'd much rather this pile of orange on my plate than butternut squash.

[T_i_B]

72. Liver & Bacon

Stuffed hearts are pretty good too! :9