Ep 62 - Bang Bang Cauliflower Recipe & the Power of Cruciferous Veggies

Kevin and Michelle are feeling punchy after a long, dreary winter, and it shows. What starts as cold remedies (ginger, garlic, lemon, honey, and a serious kick of cayenne) turns into a fiery, flavour-packed conversation about one of Kevin’s favourite appetizers: Bang Bang Cauliflower.

In this episode, Kevin walks through his easy, three-step recipe for crispy, spicy cauliflower bites made with maple syrup, sambal oelek, and panko, perfect for the air fryer or oven. Michelle shares her own buffalo cauliflower variation using chickpea flour and a powerhouse spice blend inspired by Dr. Greger’s approach to plant-based nutrition.

But this isn’t just about flavour. The duo dives into the science behind cruciferous (yes, Kevin’s favourite word) vegetables. From sulforaphane and sulfur-rich compounds to cancer risk reduction, cardiometabolic protection, and hormone support, they break down why cauliflower, broccoli, kale, and other brassicas deserve a regular spot on your plate, even if you think you “hate” them.

You’ll also hear:

• Air fryer vs. oven experiments
• How to sneak more veggies into kids’ diets (cauliflower sheep included)
• Why lightly steaming may maximize health benefits
• A listener-submitted dad joke (and a few truly questionable ones)

Spicy food, nutrition science, vegetable art, and way too much enthusiasm for the word “cruciferous.” Just another day at Nutrition for Noobs.

Eat your greens. Make them cruciferous. Maybe add some pistachio.

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Recipes:

Bang Bang Cauliflower

Sauce: 1/2 cup mayo, 1/4 cup sambal oelek or sriracha, 2 tbsp maple syrup

Cauliflower: 1 head, chopped into florets

Batter: 3/4 cup flour, 1 tbsp sambal oelek, 1/2 cup cornstarch, 3/4 cup milk (of your choice), 2 tsp lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper, 1 tsp each onion & garlic powders

Coating: 1 cup panko breadcrumbs

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Dr Gregor's spice mix (for Buffalo Cauliflower bites): 2 tbsps nutritional yeast, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp dried parsley, 1 tbsp dried basil, 2 tsps dried thyme, 2 tsps garlic powder, 2 tsps dry mustard (mustard powder), 2 tsps paprika, 1/2 tsp ground turmeric, 1/2 tsp celery seeds

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