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
- â…“ 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.
Lauren Kelly Nutrition
You have seriously blown me away with this salad! Perfection!
Christie - Food Done Light
Beautiful colors in this salad. I love the combination of lime and ginger.
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch
This looks phenomenal - and so few calories for all this flavor!
That dressing sounds like something I could eat with a spoon - ginger and lime are just the best with so many benefits!
Angie
What a beautiful salad! We don't eat cauliflower nearly enough, and I can't wait to try this!
KalynsKitchen
Oh yes, please. I am all over this idea! And thanks for the mention of my cauliflower fried rice. That was so much better than I had imagined fried cauliflower could be.
Stephanie
What a great flavor combination. This salad looks fabulous.
Pinning!
Brianna
This looks so yummy, Dara! Love all of your super flavorful healthy dishes!
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen
Instead of a hearty sandwich or creamy soup at this time of the year, I love light, refreshing salads like this!! Pinned for later!
Melissa Falk
I love cauliflower! I also love the combo of ingredients in this recipe. Thanks!
shelly (cookies and cups)
This salad looks AMAZING!!! I am making this tonight for dinner!!