Cauliflower power

As more consumers turn to plant-based, gluten-free or

low-carb diets, food companies are replacing flour, rice or other simple carbs with cauliflower in products ranging from pizza crusts to crunchy snacks. The trend has caught the attention of everyone from The New York Times to The Washington Post, with even Fast Company weighing in with an article titled “Why trendy cauliflower products will soon dominate the entire grocery store.” They might be on to something: check out these cauliflower innovations.

 

CAULIPOWER
After achieving fast-growing popularity across the United States, Caulipower made its Canadian debut last spring with the launch of four of its naturally gluten-free cauliflower crust pizza products: Margherita, Three Cheese, Veggie, and Plain Crust. While the company is headquartered in Los Angeles, all of Caulipower’s pizzas and crusts sold in Canada are also made in Canada.

 
 
 
 
 

VEGAN ROB’S
Vegan Rob’s Probiotic Cauliflower Puffs are a crunchy plant-based snack made with organic ingredients. They’re also non-GMO, gluten free, kosher, and contain health-boosting prebiotics and probiotics. And, of course, they’re not just for the vegan crowd: as the packaging from the New York-based company says, “You don’t have to be vegan to enjoy Vegan Rob’s plant-based snacks!”

 
 
 
 
 
 

FROM THE GROUND UP
From the Ground Up is a line of cauliflower-based pretzels and crackers that also feature cassava flour and vegetable blend powders. These plant-based snacks from New Jersey’s Halen Brands are Non-GMO Project Verified and gluten-free certified. The pretzels come in twists or sticks, while the crackers are available in three flavours: Cheddar, Nacho, and Sea Salt.


 
 
 
 
 

WHOLLY VEGGIE!
Toronto-based Wholly Veggie recently introduced a few new items prominently featuring cauliflower. The company’s new Vegan Pizza line is made with cauliflower-based crusts, while their Vegan Cauliflower and Red Pepper Bites are veggie-packed mini patties that can be added to salads, pasta, rice dishes or eaten on their own.

 
 
 
 
 

HARVEST FRESH
Harvest Fresh Riced Cauliflower is naturally gluten free and has a lower calorie count than regular rice. Touting it as “the perfect replacement for rice,” Toronto-based Harvest Fresh says its riced cauliflower can be used to make risotto, side dishes, added to soups or a stir-fry. It can even be used to whip up a gluten-free pizza crust.

 

This article appeared in Canadian Grocer’s February 2019 issue.