The Taste of raw broccolli/cauliflower etc

[DolphinDreams]

I have recently tried raw broccolli and cauliflower and im trying to force myself to like it because I know of people saying they think it tastes great. I really wan to be able to eat all things raw and enjoy it but raw broccolli, I found myself not even being able to salivate when I was chewing. Could it be because Im not wholey raw as yet or do people do something with these items? Any hints?:heart

[k8sl8]

Everyone's tastes are different. Start slowly introducing new and different foods. I personally like cauliflower but am not a big fan of broccoli raw... different strokes for different folks.

Perhaps you can sneak a few bites in with some interesting raw dips?? Works for me.

[Revvell]

I'm not a fan of raw broccoli yet, Alissa has a Broc and cheese recipe that really makes a difference for me. Cauliflower I'm good with, with a dip of some sort.

[DebB]

Here are 2 of my favorite recipes. I would recommend cutting the cauli and broccoli very small.

Spanish Rice (http://www.youtube.com/user/thedurianking#p/search/2/dVTgdMKDY5g)

------------------------

I like to make this in the afternoon so the flavors have a chance to blend - and the raisins will plump up! I'm the kind of cook that likes an exact recipe, but I don't have one for this. I just eye it all. If you're not making much, then just use one orange in the dressing instead of two. I'm adding in approximate weights from when I've measured in the past.

Broccoli Salad

Chop broccoli (small, medium, your choice) 400 grams
Chop or grate carrots 200 grams
Chop little onion (your choice of color) 75 grams
Add equal amounts of raisins and sunflower seed (or preferred nut)
1/2 - 1 cup each, depending how much salad you're making.

Mix well, using roughly twice the amount of broccoli as carrot.

For dressing I blend (in blender) two peeled oranges, about 2 Tablespoons of olive oil and about 2 tablespoons of honey or agave nectar and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Pour over, let sit for a bit, overnight is fine, but then, so is 15 minutes.

We love this and if I use enough seeds or nuts, I call it dinner at least one night a week.

#13 - http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=12579

video on how to chop the broccoli:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xEDcaspq7Y0

Deb's notes: I like to grate my carrots (vs chopping). I also use agave instead of honey (just a preference). You can find buy organic raisins at Costco, organic oranges at Walmart.

[BeingK8]

I have recently tried raw broccolli and cauliflower and im trying to force myself to like it because I know of people saying they think it tastes great. I really wan to be able to eat all things raw and enjoy it but raw broccolli, I found myself not even being able to salivate when I was chewing. Could it be because Im not wholey raw as yet or do people do something with these items? Any hints?:heart
I have a few thoughts and hopefully at least something will be helpful or encouraging

Yes, it is entirely possible that it's because you're not wholly raw and that your tastes may change.

When we're "toxic" from years of eating conventionally, our tastes are acclimated to processed and and unnatural and extreme things. It can take a while for the body to sort itself out and become accustomed to not only eating, but also ENJOYING the new tastes and flavors.

I will tell you, I did NOT like green smoothies, but I choked them down. And I would put the smallest bit of spinach in them with some LARGE banana or maybe 2 smalls and pineapple and whatever other highly sweet/sugary fruits I could find. And if it wasn't sweet enough, I would add, <*gasp*>, raw agave or honey! LOL!

Gradually, I came to experience what others said would happen - I grew to not only tolerate, but actually like and CRAVE, more of the veggies. I love a green smoothie with LOTS of greens, like kale AND chard in the same smoothie AND I also put tons of sprouts in there, too. I use alfalfa, sunflower greens, and sweet pea shoots most frequently. (I used to think sprouts tasted like dirt). And now I use one SMALL banana and a LITTLE bit of pineapple. NO sweetener. AND, I always taste it after just the greens are blended and then after I add each little bit of fruit so I can stop adding sweet/non-green stuff when it's just right. This way, the amount of "extras" is decreasing.
I LOVE my morning smoothie. It is the most refreshing, invigorating thing and I have trouble with chewing it slowly because I want to gulp it down it's so good!
It DOES happen.

And I was a girl who ate meatloaf and ketchup and baked potatoes with sour cream AND butter AND salt and pepper, McDonald's food, pasta out the ears, junky chocolate like Hershey's bars, Oreos, pizza or gyros with fries from the place across the street at lunch, drank coffee like it was my job, drank cokes, gorged on cheese and pretzels.

My point being, I was FAR from a healthy vegan when I began drinking smoothies.

So, first of all, be easy on yourself. You're making great strides in just incorporating SOME raw foods, so if SOME of the other raw foods are not your thing yet, okay, so they're not. No biggie.

Also, try experimenting with the right dips. I personally it's the same principle I seem to have followed with smoothies - disguising the green part with the parts I liked until my tastes adjusted and I grew to like the green part.

Now, you are eating organic broccoli, yes? If not, that COULD be a part of it. There is a huge difference in taste and quality of food that is organic vs non, in my humble opinion. I hate non-organic avocados, as an example. Won't even bother. They are so gross. But organic ones seem to be sweet and creamy and DELICIOUS and I discovered that years ago when I was a S.A.D. eater who just wanted to start eating avocados.

Deb's suggestion for broccoli salad is a GOOD idea. Internet search recipes for raw broccoli salad and try several, especially ones with dressings that totally ring your bell! And try, for now, only eating the very tops of the crowns. That's a little more enjoyable than the hard stalks.
Another thing you could try, if this is feasible in your area, is waiting until locally grown, fresh broccoli is available. That may help you find it palatable, too.

But again, be easy on yourself and DO NOT use this as anything other than learning. Don't use it as a means to say you're not cut out to be raw or you've failed or anything like that. I see that happen so much with raw and I've done it to myself. Celebrate what you HAVE done, focus on what is going right and what is pleasing you and those things will grow until one day you are eating and ENJOYING things that ASTOUND you!

[sport]

I am not a fan of either and assume that it is because there is nothing in there that my body wants right now.

[azeats]

I make a salad with raw broccoli, carrots and beets. I put all in the food processor separately and then mix together. You can add seeds or nuts, ground flax seed and a dressing. One of my favorite salads

Cauliflower for me has to be dehydrated with the nut cheese sauce, not a fan even chopped up fine in salad.

[kellybethx3]

I just made this recipe a couple days ago and its veryyyy yummy!!

Ingredients for the dressing:

•1 cup raw cashews, soaked at least 2 hours
•1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
•2 Tbsp Cold-Press Olive Oil
•2 Tbsp raw apple cider vinegar (opt. adds a little tang)
•3/4 cup water
•2 Tbsp shallot or onion
•1 clove garlic
•2 Tbsp agave (see below regarding raisin water)
•1/2 Tbsp mustard powder
•1/4 tsp sea salt
Preparation:

1.Combine all of the ingredients in a high powered blender. Blend till it becomes a smooth and creamy sauce. This is were soaking the cashews come into play. They blend so much better and smother when they have been soaked.
Ingredients for the salad:

•6 cups chopped broccoli
•1 cup red onion, chopped
•1 cup raisins or craisins
•1 cup raw sunflower seeds, you can substitute for your favorite nut
Preparation:

1.In a large bowl combine; broccoli, raisins, onion, and sunflower seeds. Toss gently until well mixed.
2.Pour the dressing over the salad and mix until well cooperated.

Suggestions:

1.You can soak the raisins in purified water if you want to soften and plump them up. You could then in return use that “raisin soaking water” in the dressing to sweeten it up a bit. If you use the raisin water, you might be able to cut out some of the agave. Just depends on how sweet you like things.
2.Broccoli – I got a really good deal on a 2lb bag of pre-cut floret broccoli. This bag will provide 12 cups of broccoli, so if you want to double this recipe this is an easy way to have the right amount on hand. I went through the bag and cut all the stems off, leaving just the broccoli flower for this salad. Don’t throw the stems away!! They work wonderfully in flax crackers or you can just eat them. The stems actually have a lot of flavor, their just not as attractive. I love that with raw foods, that there isn’t any waste!


This recipe is from nouveauraw.com

[Lady Green Jeans]

Must be something in the cauliflower my body needed because I went through a spurt of having just that with the nacho cheese as a dip. Literally must have eaten 5 or 6 heads in two weeks. Now I have moved on to other foods that are calling to me.

[babeak]

very, very lightly steam it. You get the benefit of it being mostly raw and palatable. It works for me. Organic or not is not the issue. I have been a vegan for years now and I don't like the florets raw because they are a bit bitter. The stems on the other hand are great raw. So, I cut the florets off and gently steam those and eat the stems raw. Win-Win.

[Dirkg]

This reminds of a quote from one of my fav Seinfeld episodes -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJw6Z-MLyBA

"You wouldn't eat broccoli if it was deep fried in chocolate sauce" :)


It really is a vile weed. (although in Newman's defense it was steamed, not raw!)

[DolphinDreams]

Now, you are eating organic broccoli, yes? If not, that COULD be a part of it. There is a huge difference in taste and quality of food that is organic vs non, in my humble opinion. I hate non-organic avocados, as an example. Won't even bother. They are so gross. But organic ones seem to be sweet and creamy and DELICIOUS and I discovered that years ago when I was a S.A.D. eater who just wanted to start eating avocados.




Nope not organic

[Emiliana]

I like raw broccoli and cauliflower best either blended in soups or cut into very small pieces with some sort of dressing. Big chunks, lot so much.

I'm going to try a broccoli-leek soup tonight--both blended with half an avocado, a handful of soaked cashews and a few other things.

[GreenT]

I LOVE broccoli. This is my absolute favorite broccoli recipe. I have everyone at work LOVING this!!
http://www.youtube.com/user/brittanybullen#p/search/1/hJeY5hERv8Q

Another one of my favorites with both cauliflower and broccoli is this cheesy recipe
http://www.youtube.com/user/BeeRawAu#p/a/u/1/laKeWq30Ozs




"You wouldn't eat broccoli if it was deep fried in chocolate sauce" :)



Actually there is a recipe for Chocolate broccoli called chiccoli. I haven't tried it yet but it is on my list. Sounds funky but you never know..... I'm a sucker for chocolate :throwhearts:
http://www.youtube.com/user/SNOGMERAW#p/c/2287F9BEC3DC92DF/0/i9JmkNAEYDA

Thanks DebB for the orange dressing recipe. I made this for lunch today...Very quick and easy and delicious!! I have made the spanish rice recipe before and it is VERY good.

Kelly, yours sounds really good, will have to try that one also...thanks!!!

[sherahtaylor]

Here are 2 of my favorite recipes. I would recommend cutting the cauli and broccoli very small.

------------------------

I like to make this in the afternoon so the flavors have a chance to blend - and the raisins will plump up! I'm the kind of cook that likes an exact recipe, but I don't have one for this. I just eye it all. If you're not making much, then just use one orange in the dressing instead of two. I'm adding in approximate weights from when I've measured in the past.

Broccoli Salad

Chop broccoli (small, medium, your choice) 400 grams
Chop or grate carrots 200 grams
Chop little onion (your choice of color) 75 grams
Add equal amounts of raisins and sunflower seed (or preferred nut)
1/2 - 1 cup each, depending how much salad you're making.

Mix well, using roughly twice the amount of broccoli as carrot.

For dressing I blend (in blender) two peeled oranges, about 2 Tablespoons of olive oil and about 2 tablespoons of honey or agave nectar and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Pour over, let sit for a bit, overnight is fine, but then, so is 15 minutes.

We love this and if I use enough seeds or nuts, I call it dinner at least one night a week.

#13 - http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=12579

video on how to chop the broccoli:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xEDcaspq7Y0

Deb's notes: I like to grate my carrots (vs chopping). I also use agave instead of honey (just a preference). You can find buy organic raisins at Costco, organic oranges at Walmart.

I just made a scaled down version of this salad and it is WONDERFUL!! At my local grocery store they have this broccoli cabbage salad that I love to get but it's not vegan, it has some kind of mayo type dressing. Plus it's like $4 for a tiny cup!

I made it in the following increments...I like to make a new dish small so if I don't like it I haven't wasted lots of ingredients.

Salad ingredients - mix well
2 cups broccoli, cut tiny
1 cup shredded carrots, packed
2T. diced white onion (could probably use more onion but I'm pregnant so am going easy on them)
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. sunflower seeds

Dressing/Marinade - blend
1 large orange, peeled
1T. EVOO
1T. honey
1/4 tsp salt

It is so pretty!!! I couldn't wait so I had a spoonful and mmmmm!!! It tastes almost exactly like the one at the store, hurray!!! I had another, and another, then decided to let it sit so I could taste the plumped up raisins version. Super good and definitely helps with that broccoli craving I've been having! The sunflower seeds add kind of a smoky taste, similar to hickory smoked bacon.

My almost 5 year old daughter who is not raw, but had many raw things as a baby -- asked for a bite, and begged for more! I was like, um, no...this is MINE! ha ha - so then she asked me if I would make her some for her own. I guess since I'm down to the last spoonful now, I'll be making more in a bit.

[changeisgood]

I'm not a fan of brocoli - but broc slaw or soup I like. I enjoy the stalks as someone else mentioned.
cauliflower - I'm a fan - I chop it into tiny pieces, almost tasteless to me and takes on flavor of whatever I am preparing

[DebB]

I just made a scaled down version of this salad and it is WONDERFUL!! At my local grocery store they have this broccoli cabbage salad that I love to get but it's not vegan, it has some kind of mayo type dressing. Plus it's like $4 for a tiny cup!

I made it in the following increments...I like to make a new dish small so if I don't like it I haven't wasted lots of ingredients.

Salad ingredients - mix well
2 cups broccoli, cut tiny
1 cup shredded carrots, packed
2T. diced white onion (could probably use more onion but I'm pregnant so am going easy on them)
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. sunflower seeds

Dressing/Marinade - blend
1 large orange, peeled
1T. EVOO
1T. honey
1/4 tsp salt

It is so pretty!!! I couldn't wait so I had a spoonful and mmmmm!!! It tastes almost exactly like the one at the store, hurray!!! I had another, and another, then decided to let it sit so I could taste the plumped up raisins version. Super good and definitely helps with that broccoli craving I've been having! The sunflower seeds add kind of a smoky taste, similar to hickory smoked bacon.

My almost 5 year old daughter who is not raw, but had many raw things as a baby -- asked for a bite, and begged for more! I was like, um, no...this is MINE! ha ha - so then she asked me if I would make her some for her own. I guess since I'm down to the last spoonful now, I'll be making more in a bit.

Hi Sherah ~ I'm so happy it worked out for you!! A favorite recipe is something to be treasured! *Ü*