Plant Based Eats

These days food seems to be complicated.  Everywhere you look there are research articles saying that gluten is bad, dairy is harmful, meat is worse and white carbs are still the enemy.  With all that dietary chaos out there…what’s a health-conscious athlete supposed to eat??!  Well, I tell you…there isn’t one report out there screaming that fruits and veggies should be avoided!  In fact, the one constant that I do keep hearing is that we all ought to be eating more plants.  So, in the words of food author extraordinaire, Michael Pollan, here are your 3 rules of eating – “Eat food.  Not too much.  Mostly plants.”  And…here’s a recipe (courtesy of Cook’s Illustrated) to help you do just that!  It’s real food, it’s plant-based, it’s unbelievably yummy!

Baja-Style Cauliflower Tacos

Serves 4-6

3c coleslaw mix
½ mango, cut into ¼-inch pieces
1 T chopped cilantro
2 T lime juice
1 T minced jalapeno
Salt & Pepper
1c unsweetened shredded coconut
1 c panko bread crumbs
1 c canned coconut milk
1 t garlic powder
1 t ground cumin
¼ t cayenne
½ head cauliflower, cut into 1-inch pieces
8-12 corn tortillas, warmed

Cilantro Sauce
Combine all in a bowl…
1/4c vegan mayo (or regular mayo if not concerned w/ vegan)
¼ c dairy-free sour cream (or regular sour cream if not concerned w/ vegan)
3 T water
3 T minced cilantro
¼ t salt

1. Heat oven to 450 degrees.  Combine coleslaw mix, mango, cilantro, lime juice, jalapeno & ¼ t salt in bowl, cover & refrigerate.
2. Oil rimmed baking sheet w/ vege oil.  Combine coconut & panko in shallow dish.  Whisk coconut milk, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne & 1 t salt together in bowl.  Add cauliflower to coconut milk mixture, toss to coat well.  Remove 1 piece of cauliflower at a time, letting excess drip back into bowl.  Place into coconut/panko mixture & coat well, pressing gently to adhere; transfer to prepared sheet.
3. Bake until cauliflower is tender, golden & crisp, 20-25 minutes, flipping cauliflower and rotating sheet halfway through baking.
4. Divide slaw evenly among warm tortillas & top w/ cauliflower.  Drizzle w/ cilantro sauce & serve.