This is a flavorful, filling meal if you need a vegetarian option. I love being able to go out into my garden and gather an abundance of ingredients. It looks very attractive and impressive if your are doing a formal dinner or elegant brunch. The sauce is amazing. Be sure to make extra if you want a quick way to dress up pasta, grains, or other vegetables.
Roasted Cauliflower with Greens and Basil Crema
In a large attractive dish assemble the following…..
2 heaping cups of fresh picked garden greens braised in 1 TBSP of olive oil. Options include fava bean leaves, purslane, lambs quarters, mustard, kale/brassica, chard, chicory, or amaranth.
1 TBSP of grated parmesan cheese
1 TBSP of lemon zest
1/2 a large cauliflower roasted in its entirety in a large baking pan. Basted with 1-2 TBP of olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Oven temperature at 400 until it can be pierced with a fork, about 30 minutes.
Let cool for 10 minutes and top with the sauce
Crema
1 cup of fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup of cream or vegan substitute
salt to taste
lemon juice
Place the sauce ingredients in a blender or processor. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Garnish with fresh basil leaves or summer squash blossoms
Basil is in the mint family. Typically it is an annual but will overwinter indoors. It is a very common garden herb used as a companion plant and insect repellant. A thin branching root produces several lush square stems growing 1-2 feet high. The leaves can vary from bright to dark green depending on the variety. Some types like Thai basil have purple in their oppositely arranged leaves. Leaves can be oval to spade shaped, toothed or smooth in their margins. Like others in the family, it has lots of small two lipped flowers that grow on racemes/spikes of 2-4 inches. These are a favorite of bumble bees and come in shades of white, red or purple. A distinguishing feature of Ocimum is the smell, similar in all varieties but with slightly different “notes”.
This plant warms, calms, and clears phlegm/damp. Historically basil has been used to treat all manner of digestive complaints such as cramps, vomiting, constipation, gas, low appetite, diarrhea, bacterial infections and inflammation. It stimulates the flow of breast milk, cures a headache, and calms a bad cough. Ocimum has been used for depression, the flu, fever, asthma, retained placenta, fever, anxiety, bronchitis, and fatigue. It works well to support the lungs.
Externally it has helped with acne, bug bites, fungal infections, sore muscles, and arthritis. The essential oils/scent make it useful in aromatherapy, ritual bathing/cleansing, beauty products and as incense.
Latin name: Ocimum basilicum
Parts Used: Leaves and flowers
Energetics:bitter, warm, dry, pungent
Element:Fire
Spiritual/Emotional Uses: Integration, especially when two things seem contrary in nature. May be used to bring luck protection, or blessings to body, home or new relationships. Use it when there is conflict or negative energies in a situation. It is commonly used in ritual baths , especially for the dead.
Contraindications: Avoid large/therapeutic doses in pregnancy
Blackbird's Backyard Pharmacy 