sponsored by The Elements of Living
What’s for Dessert? Cauliflower!
Introducing the newest trending super vegetable. The unsung cancer fighting hero. A veggie packed with vitamins and antioxidants. The one and only cauliflower.
Often overshadowed by its lean, green cousins – kale and broccoli – this cruciferous vegetable has a seemingly unending array of health benefits and is super versatile.
Like most cruciferous vegetables, cauliflower is loaded with nutrients. In fact, according to Medical News Today, it contains sulforaphane, a sulfur compound that has been shown to kill cancer stem cells, boost heart health and slow tumor growth. Cauliflower is also packed with vitamin C, antioxidants and choline – a B vitamin known for its role in brain development, learning and memory. Additionally, cauliflower is high in both fiber and water content, which helps maintain a healthy digestive tract, lower the risk of colon cancer, and prevent constipation.
Related: How to Cook Cauliflower
While cauliflower is a crudité staple and a favorite trimming for roasting, this veggie can be enjoyed in a multitude of different ways. With cauliflower steak, pizza crust, pasta, bread and more, is there anything this vegetable can’t do? Not really. But if you haven’t tried a cauliflower dessert, then you are truly missing out.
Chocolate Cauliflower Bars
These vegan and gluten-free chocolate cauliflower bars are creamy and mousse-like thanks to our new favorite super veggie. You can even mix in a handful of chopped walnuts for an additional protein packed crunch. Store the bars in the refrigerator and you have yourself a delicious and healthy treat to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Servings: 16 bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups cauliflower florets, cooked and blended
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 cup walnuts, ground
- 1/2 buckwheat flour
- 1/4 cup raw cacao powder
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- pinch of sea salt
Method
1. Boil or steam cauliflower until soft, drain well and blend until smooth. Stir in coconut oil and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9”x9” square baking dish with parchment paper.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together ground walnuts, buckwheat flour, cacao powder, flaxseed, coconut sugar, cinnamon and sea salt. Add the dry ingredients to the cauliflower and stir until well combined.
4. Spoon the mixture into the baking dish and smooth surface with the back of a spoon.
5. Bake for about 30 minutes or until firm in the middle. Cool completely before cutting.
For more healthy recipes, check out The Elements of Living, a lifestyle blog created by FirstService Residential, North America’s leading residential property management company.