Good Food? Bad Food? You Only THINK You Don't Like Salmon, Tofu And Cauliflower

Whether it's their moderate-to-loud flavor, unusual slipperiness or surprising sweetness, some people don't quite know what to make of beets. But Page and Dornenburg love their earthy taste and the soft-firm texture they take on when cooked. The best way to make these antioxidant-rich vegetables taste delicious is by pairing them with contrasting ingredients. That can be a salty, creamy cheese (e.g., goat or blue), toasted nuts (e.g., walnuts or almonds) -- or both. "The creamy and crunchy elements serve as counterpoints to the beets," the husband-and-wife team say. Get the recipe: Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Arugula

A Thanksgiving staple for many, these mini cabbages are bitter and very "vegetal" tasting, in the words of Page and Dornenburg. They also turn gray and stinky, taking on a sulfurous odor, if you overcook them. For this much-maligned vegetable, we asked James Peterson -- who went from studying chemistry at Berkeley to teaching home cooks the finer points of flavor -- which ingredient is most likely to convert skeptics. Bacon, says Peterson, the author of Kitchen Simple: Essential Recipes for Everyday Cooking, without missing a beat. The crisp, smoky, salty meat is the perfect complement to Brussels sprouts' inherent (really!) sweetness. To combat texture issues, try slicing them thinly (julienne style) and sautéing them in olive oil with garlic so they soften without getting mushy.Get the recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Turkey Bacon

"Frightful memories!" That's the only way Peterson can describe a childhood spent choking down this cruciferous vegetable, which, like the Brussels sprout, acquires a strong sulfury taste when cooked too long. Now, though, Peterson puts cauliflower in a soufflé-like gratin with plenty of Parmigiano-Reggiano and Gruyère. "This preparation makes it more about cheese; the cauliflower just becomes a sort of medium for it," he says. Get the recipe: White House Cauliflower Gratin

Some people may be genetically predisposed to dislike cilantro, but the intense aromatics of this herb -- a cornerstone in Mexican and Thai cuisine -- can be tamed. Page and Dornenburg suggest tempering it with olive oil, such as in a cilantro pesto made with olive oil and cotija cheese, which you can then use to top chicken or fish. Or go the more tried-and-true route, pairing it with a compatible loud flavor, such as chilies, so they balance each other out. Get the recipe: Chile-Lime Crab Salad with Avocado and Cilantro

Salmon is popular the world over, but skeptics remain wary of its strong flavor. Rick Moonen, co-author of Fish Without a Doubt, finds sweet or spicy accents can tame salmon's fishiness. One example: a jalapeño salmon burger, which Moonen serves with guacamole on pita bread. You'll still taste the salmon, but it'll be balanced by the chili's heat and smoothed out by the avocado and lime. He also likes to introduce people to salmon via his hoisin glaze, made with lime juice, honey and a little bit of spice. Its sweetness is a good match for the smoky taste of salmon cooked on the grill. Get the recipes: Jalapeño Salmon Burgers and Hoisin Glaze

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, cooking teacher and author of The 30-Day Vegan Challenge, says people can be turned off by tofu's occasionally slimy texture. And the dizzying varieties available at supermarkets -- silken, soft, medium, firm, extra-firm, super-firm -- can be overwhelming. Patrick-Goudreau says the trick is to match the texture with the dish. So if you want a creamy texture (e.g., for lasagna), buy silken. If you want a hearty texture (something that will stand up in a stir-fry or curry), pick extra-firm. If you're looking for a chewy texture (say you're crumbling it in chili or marinara sauce), buy firm, extra-firm or super-firm and put it in the freezer, unopened, for at least 24 hours. Then let it thaw on the counter for four to five hours. Open the package, hold the block of tofu over the sink and squeeze out all the water. This creates pores that can then be filled with another liquid (such as a marinade); it also gives you a chewier texture, perfect for grilling, baking, sautéing or even crumbling and salting for a Greek salad. Get the recipe: Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's Tofu Scramble