Get Your Cauliflower At Wednesday’s Bartel-Pritchard Market

As the growing season winds down this Fall, it’s time to stock up on cauliflower!

Cauliflower is rich in vitamin C, contains B-complex groups of vitamins, and is a good source of minerals such as manganese, copper, iron, calcium and potassium. And the freshest cauliflower around these days is grown by local farmers.

At the Wednesday Bartel-Pritchard Square Greenmarket you’ll find vibrant heads of cauliflower sold by several different farmers, some of whom carry the purple and yellow varieties. You can store cauliflower for up to a week in the refrigerator. (Put it in the crisper as it does best in a humid environment.)

Cauliflower is also great in soups which you can store in the freezer! Here’s one of our easiest and tastiest cauliflower soup recipes:

Simple Cauliflower & Cheddar Soup
Greenmarket Recipe Series

Ingredients:
2 small heads cauliflower, chopped in 1/2 inch pieces
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups water OR stock
1 pinch nutmeg
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
salt and fresh ground pepper
For more complex flavor, substitute 2 cups water and 2 cups dry white wine
Ingredients available seasonally at your neighborhood Greenmarket

Instructions:
1. Heat oil in soup pot over medium high heat and add onion, garlic and cauliflower pieces. Leave them until you can see the edges begin to brown, then stir and continue to saute until they are soft and a little translucent.
2. Add water, stock, or water/wine mixture to veggies. Throw in nutmeg, cover and bring to a simmer. Simmer until cauliflower is quite tender (about 10 minutes).
3. If you wish, place 2 cups at a time in a blender on slow speed for a smooth soup. If you like chunky style or are short in time, skip this step.
4. Over low heat stir in milk and grated cheddar cheese and heat until soup thickens a little. Add salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.

Serving Suggestion: This rich, creamy soup is high in protein and pairs well with a simple dish of greens (steamed or in a salad) for a quick Fall supper.

The Bartel-Pritchard Square Greenmarket is located in Prospect Park at 15th Street and the Prospect Park West/Southwest corners. The market runs each Wednesday from 8am-3pm. For more information, visit the market’s website.