22 Cauliflower Recipes That Will Make You Want to Eat This Popular and Versatile Vegetable All the Time (2024)

Cauliflower steaks, cauliflower rice, cauliflower pizza crust...we love them all, but there are also plenty of other delicious ways to enjoy this hearty vegetable. Join us as we celebrate thecauliflower renaissance. Cauliflower is delicious roasted, steamed, or even raw, but it's also stellar in soups, salads, or riced.

Health Benefits

Cauliflower is packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, potassium, and folate. Vegans and vegetarians love the meaty nature of this hearty vegetable. Truly, it was only a matter of time before this cruciferous wonder vegetable had its chance to shine beyond its former supporting side dish status.

Shopping for Cauliflower

Though you can find cauliflower in the grocery store year round, it's true season begins in October and extends through April, giving you plenty of time to explore its many possibilities. When shopping for cauliflower—whether white, orange, or purple—look for unblemished heads with tight florets and fresh-looking leaves.

Storing Cauliflower

At home, you'll want to store cauliflower heads wrapped in plastic or areusable produce bag for three to five days. We doubt the vegetable will hang around that long, though—there are so many tempting ways to enjoy it. Need more proof? Browse our best cauliflower recipes. We're certain they'll inspire a new dinner idea.

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Grilled Cauliflower with Spiced Yogurt Sauce

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A spectacular vegetarian main starring our favorite cruciferous vegetable paired with cucumber salad and yogurt sauce. We steam, then grill the head of cauliflower to make sure the interior is tender while the exterior has a tasty brown crust.

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Cauliflower Faux-tato Salad

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A must for your next cookout! Steamed cauliflower is tossed with celery, onion, and a mustard vinaigrette for a carb-free salad with satisfyingly tender bites that gets even better the next day as the flavors meld.

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Baked Pasta with Cauliflower and Swiss Chard

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The humble cauliflower will always make comfort food more cozy. Here, it stars along with Swiss chard and Gruyère cheese in a comforting, meatless baked pasta.

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Charred Cauliflower with Clementines and Olives

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Beautiful and delicious, this dish has it all. Cutting cauliflower into steak-like cross-sections before roasting makes the vegetable feel more substantial. It's topped with Kalamata olives, clementines, fresh parsley, and a white-wine vinaigrette for a delectable Mediterranean-style side dish.

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Sweet-Potato-and-Cauliflower Mash

22 Cauliflower Recipes That Will Make You Want to Eat This Popular and Versatile Vegetable All the Time (5)

Better than mashed potatoes? Definitely a winner for color and nutrition, this mash is amped up with milk, butter, and a touch of nutmeg and cayenne.

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Wild Salmon with Edamame-Cauliflower Rice

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Turning cauliflower into rice is a great way to incorporate more vegetables into your meal. Cooking it in the oven means it comes out crispy. Make it really healthy by adding edamame and serving with heart-healthy wild salmon. And the clincher: This winner meal is made on just one sheet pan.

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Cauliflower-and-Chickpea Pitas with Creamy Yogurt Sauce

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If you hadn't considered using cauliflower as a sandwich filling, this recipe will inspire you! Cauliflower and chickpeas are roasted and spiced for this plant-based entrée that's inspired by the falafel and there's a bright, zippy lime-jalapeño yogurt sauce drizzled on top.

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Cauliflower-and-Mushroom Roast

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Our deconstructed take on a grilled cheese sandwich uses roasted cauliflower steaks as a base and crunchy toasted bread as a garnish. Umami-rich mushrooms and nutty Gruyère turn them into a satisfying vegetarian dinner.

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Tuna-Noodle Casserole with Cauliflower

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And you thought tuna-noodle casserole couldn't get any better. The classic returns with cauliflower snuggled among the pasta.

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Cauliflower Steaks with Romesco Sauce

22 Cauliflower Recipes That Will Make You Want to Eat This Popular and Versatile Vegetable All the Time (10)

Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will appreciate the appeal of this hearty knife-and-fork dish. It's made by cutting a head of cauliflower, trimmed stem and all, vertically into thick slabs, then roasting it until it's crisp and browned on the outside but still tender inside. Serve each "steak" with romesco sauce or try tapenade, chimichurri, or salsa verde.

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Cauliflower Salad with Roasted Chickpeas

We love the combination of raw cauliflower, cooked crisp-tender green beans, and crunchy roasted chickpeas in this salad. Fresh parsley and dried currants complete the dish.

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Cauliflower Crust Pizza Margherita

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Homemade pizza? Yes, please! If you haven't made a pizza using cauliflower as the crust, today is the day! Margherita is the classic topping but feel free to swap it for anything you like.

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Steamed Cauliflower with Walnut Vinaigrette

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Crisp-tender cauliflower is topped with a sensational dressing made from walnuts roasted with garlic and Parmesan, capers, parsley, and red-wine vinegar.

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Bucatini with Cauliflower, Capers, and Lemon

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Try this novel technique for a fast vegetarian meal: finely chopped cauliflower is broiled atop the pasta. Yes, it's a one-pan dinner!

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Baked Cauliflower Custards

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Why does a dish always seem fancier when made in individual portions? Here we have roasted cauliflower with dairy upon dairy upon deliciousness (plenty of butter and milk plus Gruyère and Parmesan).

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Roasted Chicken with Cauliflower "Tabbouleh"

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This creative winter salad calls for cauliflower to be grated and tossed with lemon, oil, and herbs. It's a radical and delicious take on the classic bulgur salad. Served alongside sliced roasted chicken breast over a bed of baby kale and shredded carrots, it's a standout dinner.

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Pickled Chile Cauliflower

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Is there really nothing cauliflower can't do? We think not! Case in point: It makes an excellent pickle.

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Cauliflower-Spinach Dip

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Similar to hummus, this dip replaces nutty chickpeas with rich, buttery cauliflower and nutrient-dense spinach but keeps the tahini. The result is a dip that's—dare we say it?— even better than hummus and definitely prettier.

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Potato, Cauliflower, and Cheddar Bake

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Potatoes and cheese have been friends for years, but why not add cauliflower to the mix? Here, our favorite vegetable adds a pleasant crunch and nutty flavor to this creamy casserole.

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Creamy Cauliflower Soup

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Oh so easy and so smooth, this super simple recipe calls for cooking florets in chicken broth then blending. There's no dairy—the cauliflower magically creates a creamy texture.

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Roasted Cauliflower with Flageolets, Turnips, and Pistachios

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Purple cauliflower is a moody, delicious accompaniment to flageolet beans in this colorful plant-based dish that's as balanced as it is beautiful.

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Easy Cauliflower Gratin

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This casserole is simple to make and comforting to eat. Your family will enjoy it paired with any protein!

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22 Cauliflower Recipes That Will Make You Want to Eat This Popular and Versatile Vegetable All the Time (2024)

FAQs

Why is cauliflower so versatile? ›

When eaten raw, cauliflower is crunchy, and it has a mild, fresh flavor. This makes it very easy to season or flavor any way you like! It is also a well of nutritional benefits. Cauliflower has only 25 calories per cup, and it contains Vitamin C, folate, and potassium among other nutrients.

Why is cauliflower good for you? ›

It's high in vitamins C and K, and is also a good source of folate, which supports cell growth and is essential during pregnancy. Cauliflower is fat-free and cholesterol-free. And it's low in sodium. A one-cup serving contains only 25 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrates and 2 grams of dietary fiber.

Why has cauliflower become so popular? ›

Cauliflower—a naturally gluten-free food that just requires heavy (if also gluten-free) seasoning—became an alternative for those looking for substantial and filling alternatives to what they'd be eating before.

Why do people like cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower contains many nutrients and plant compounds that may reduce the risk of several diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Cauliflower is an extremely healthy vegetable that's a significant source of nutrients. Additionally, it's weight loss-friendly and incredibly easy to add to your diet.

Why is cauliflower better than broccoli? ›

On the nutrient front, broccoli is slightly healthier, although cauliflower contains more folate and potassium. Both should be consumed regularly as they contain a slightly different balance of nutrients, antioxidants and phytonutrients and are extremely healthy options.

What are three facts about cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower is rich in vitamin C which is good for skin, healing, and gum health. It is a cruciferous vegetable which helps prevent colon cancer. Cauliflower means “cabbage flower” because it is a flower that has not fully developed. Cauliflower is related to broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and cabbage.

What part of cauliflower is not edible? ›

Every part of a cauliflower is edible, even the tough outer skin. However, we do recommend peeling this part before cooking as it's a bit tough to chew.

What organ is cauliflower good for? ›

Cauliflower Benefits

Fiber helps maintain healthy digestion, reducing your risk of digestive disorders. It also promotes the growth of good bacteria in your gut. A healthy balance of gut bacteria helps lower inflammation in your body and reduces your risk of heart disease, dementia, and obesity.

Are there any negatives to eating cauliflower? ›

Andrews says the biggest pitfall with cauliflower is the possibility of digestive discomfort like bloating, gas or cramping, especially if you are sensitive to other cruciferous vegetables. Cauliflower can also cause issues in people with an allergy to cruciferous vegetables or those vulnerable to kidney stones.

Why is cauliflower better than potatoes? ›

Nutritionally, cauliflower is lighter in calories and carbs than potatoes and is more nutrient-dense. That's why it's popular among the low carb and weight loss communities.

Why do I feel weird after eating cauliflower? ›

Side Effects

Stomachaches are just one side effect from eating large amounts of cauliflower or other fiber-rich foods. Other side effects include gas, bloating and diarrhea. The most effective way to sidestep the side effects is to increase your fiber intake slowly.

What pairs well with cauliflower? ›

Apples, asparagus, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, capsicum, carrots, celery, corn, garlic, ginger, jack fruit, kale, lemon, lime, mango, mushroom, olive, onion, orange, pea, pomegranate, potato, pumpkin, spinach, sweet potato, tomato.

Does cauliflower detox your body? ›

Not only is cauliflower a smart and tasty alternative to grains and pastas like flour and rice, it also has some pretty significant health benefits. Cauliflower provides antioxidant nutrients and sulfur-containing nutrients to boost liver detoxification.

What is the most versatile vegetable in the world? ›

10 Versatile Foods with Limitless Possibilities
  • Mushrooms. Mushrooms are the fungi everyone wants at the party. ...
  • Potatoes. ...
  • Peppers. ...
  • Cabbage. ...
  • Eggplant. ...
  • Tofu. ...
  • Carrots. ...
  • Cauliflower.

What is unique about cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower is rich in vitamin C which is good for skin, healing, and gum health. It is a cruciferous vegetable which helps prevent colon cancer. Cauliflower means “cabbage flower” because it is a flower that has not fully developed. Cauliflower is related to broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and cabbage.

Why can't some people eat cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower, a cruciferous vegetable, is packed with fiber and nutrients. It's a digestive ally for adults, promoting regularity and detoxification. Yet, some adults may experience bloating or gas, often due to the high fiber content. This isn't toxicity; it's your gut flora throwing a party with the fiber.

Is it okay to eat cauliflower every day? ›

The fact that it's a vegetable makes cauliflower automatically good for you. Additionally, cauliflower is packed with nutrients that give it unique benefits, such as fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and choline. These properties give you a good reason to eat it frequently or even daily.

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