Who knew raw cauliflower could be so good?! This easy, flavorful Grated Cauliflower Salad with Ginger Lime Dressing packs a punch of flavor.
If you had told me as a kid that I would be eating raw cauliflower salads in the future, I would have sworn that you were some terrifying vision, like the ghost of Christmas present, who had come to scare me into being a well-behaved, submissive child. Never would I have believed that I'd actually be digging into piles of raw cauliflower voluntarily...willingly...with gusto, even!
From the first time that I tasted this Grated Cauliflower Salad with Pepper, Carrots and Capers, I was hooked. The flavors, the texture, everything screamed for me to eat "more".
When grated, the cauliflower takes on a light, feather texture that complements other crunchy, raw vegetable really well. I'm not usually a big fan of raw zucchini, but after eating it in my Tricolor Thai Salad with Zucchini, Summer Squash & Red Pepper, I had a feeling that it would work really well in this salad. Be sure to dice all of the vegetables finely so that maintain that light texture. Who wants to crunch through a big chunk of carrot in a delicate salad?!
If you've seen some of my favorite recipes, such as Mini Hoisin Turkey & Zucchini Meatloaf Muffins and Spicy Asian Slaw, you likely know that I am a fan of recipes that are even remotely Asian-inspired. There is a constant supply of fresh ginger, garlic and soy sauce in my fridge, and it seemed only right to use some of that ginger for the dressing, along with the tang of lime juice and a little heat from some diced jalapeño.
Serve this versatile salad alongside any chicken, fish or pork dish, or on its own as a light lunch. It's vegan and gluten free, too. It would also be fantastic alongside my one of my favorite ground turkey recipes (an awesome weeknight skillet meal!)
Other healthy cauliflower recipes:
Cauliflower in Puttanesca Sauce
Whole Wheat Orzo, Cauliflower & Kale Soup {Vegan}
Printable Recipe
Grated Cauliflower Salad with Ginger Lime Dressing
Ingredients
The Salad:
- 3 cups grated cauliflower
- ½ finely diced carrot
- ½ cup finely diced red bell pepper
- ⅓ cup finely diced zucchini
- ¼ cup minced flat-leaf parsley
The Dressing:
- 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons agave nectar
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon minced jalapeño pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
The Salad:
- In a large bowl, stir together the cauliflower, carrot, red bell pepper, zucchini and parsley.
The Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, ginger, jalapeño, agave nectar, salt and pepper.
- Toss with the dressing. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Marion Pniel
This recipe is fresh, clean, delicious. Thank you. its a big hit in our family and has opened our minds and tastebuds up for a new love affair with cauliflower. a staple in healthy eating.
Leslie
This salad sounds amazing and will be making it soon. Wondered though why we're unable to 'pin' anything from this page so we're able to add and save this recipe?
Dara
Hi Leslie, I hope you enjoy it! Hmm, I just checked the pinning and was able to pin, both using the bookmarklet and using the pin button immediately above the photo in my post. I'm not sure what to suggest, other than waiting a little bit. Sometimes Pinterest can be a little glitchy.
Shannon
This is delicious! I made it with orange "cheddar" cauliflower I picked up at the Farmer's Market. The dressing is amazing! I was fortunate to have lime-infused olive oil, so it added so much more to the salad. It's very refreshing and a perfect salad to take to a potluck or serve with a grilled meat.
kellie | The Suburban Soapbox
This looks heavenly....I love cauliflower and am always looking for new and interesting ways to use it.