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    Home » Pairings

    What Goes Well with Cauliflower?

    Published: May 13, 2020 · Modified: Mar 15, 2021 by The Devil Wears Salad

    What Pairs Well with Cauliflower

    What Is Cauliflower?

    The ever so versatile cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable. It belongs in the same family as broccoli, kale, bok choy and Brussels sprouts.

    So, what exactly is a cruciferous vegetable anyway? Well, the word “cruciferous” is derived from the Latin word “Cruciferae”, which means “cross bearing”. And by cross bearing, they are referring to the fact that the four petals resemble a cross.

    Cauliflower is a low-growing plant and when the head of the vegetable is enclosed inside its large green leaves, it resembles a cabbage. When it opens up, it reveals its cream-coloured head with tight knit florets.

    Mark Twain described cauliflower as ‘cabbage with a college education’

    The average size of a cauliflower head is about 13-18 cm in diameter. It is dense and the florets are attached to the main stem.

    What Are the Health Benefits of Cauliflower?

    Delicious yet healthy. Now, that’s our kind of food!

    Cauliflower is an excellent source of Vitamin C, B1, B2, B3, B6 and K.

    It is fat free, a great source of dietary fibre which helps to promote gut and digestive health and high in folate (B9).

    This vegetable has anti-inflammatory effects on the body and has much needed antioxidants.

    How to Choose a Good Cauliflower

    The head of the cauliflower should be a consistent cream colour with no dark spots. A yellowish tinge is a sign that it’s not as fresh as it should be.

    It should feel heavy when you pick it up and ensure that the florets are all tight and intact.

    The leaves of the cauliflower are another good way to ascertain whether it is good. If it is starting to wilt and is not a nice healthy bright green, it’s on its way out.

    What Does Cauliflower Taste Like?

    Flavour: When eaten raw, it can have a bitter after taste. When cooked as it is, it has a mild, nutty flavour and some might even describe it as being a little bit sweet.

    Texture: Crunch. That is the first word that comes to mind. It softens dramatically the longer you cook it and it can even get to a point of being silky smooth when mashed.

    What Goes Well with Cauliflower?

    Fruit and Vegetables
    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.

    Herbs, Nuts and Spices
    Almond, basil, bay leaf, cardamom, chervil, chives, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, dill, garam masala, marjoram, mint, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, parsley, pine nuts, tarragon, thyme, walnuts.

    Protein and Other
    Anchovy, beef, blue cheese, buffalo mozzarella, butter, cheddar cheese, chickpeas, curry, farro, feta cheese, gruyère cheese, parmesan cheese, pork, quinoa, rice, saffron, tahini, tofu, turkey, turmeric, yoghurt.

    What Goes Well with Cauliflower

    How to Use Cauliflower in Salads?

    Nothing appeals to us more than a vegetable that is so incredibly diverse in how we can manipulate it and transform it. Because of this versatility, it is one of the best vegetables to use in salads.

    You can have them raw like in our Tofu Skin Salad with Cucumber and Cauliflower.

    The most popular way to have it is probably roasted of which we have many recipes showcasing roasted cauliflower.

    You can turn them into cauliflower rice which is a fantastic way to replace rice while still having very similar textures.

    We have cauliflower steaks, fried Chinese cauliflower and even baby cauliflower. It truly is endless what you can do with this incredible vegetable.

    Salad Recipes with Cauliflower

    Purple Cauliflower Salad with Lemon Mustard Tahini

    Hearty and wholesome. Two words not normally used to describe a salad. But this Purple Cauliflower Salad is exactly that due to its creaminess, roasted undertones and nutty flavours.

    Purple Cauliflower Salad with Lemon Mustard Tahini

    Baby Cauliflower and Spiced Chickpeas with Beetroot Tahini

    What could be more scrumptious than whole roasted baby cauliflower? Combine them with spiced chickpeas and beetroot tahini, and you’ll have a middle eastern inspired salad that won’t disappoint.

    Baby Cauliflower and Spiced Chickpeas with Beetroot Tahini

    Pomegranate Cauliflower Salad with Chestnuts

    Imagine little roasted florets sprinkled with red seeds against a backdrop of bright green sprouts. This Pomegranate Roasted Cauliflower Salad is a recipe bursting with contrasting flavours and textures.

    Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Chestnuts and Pomegranate

    More Ingredient Pairings

    Here are more ingredient pairing ideas for your next salad creation!

    • What Goes Well with Garlic
    • What Goes Well with Kiwi
    • What Goes Well with Parsley

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dave Herbster

      September 25, 2022 at 3:45 am

      What really makes cauliflower taste cood is a lot of butter, salt and other seasonings. That is the truth folks.

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        September 27, 2022 at 7:58 am

        Hahaha….. we don’t deny it:)

        Reply
    2. Robin

      August 27, 2022 at 6:21 am

      Pineapple tidbits and the juice pair well with cauliflower pearls. Fried in a skillet.

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        August 29, 2022 at 8:32 pm

        What a great idea!!! I’m going to have to explore that for a salad. thanks for the suggestion.

        Reply
    3. Nayomi

      March 18, 2021 at 9:01 pm

      Cauliflower has had such a glow up recently. What was once seen a bland vegetable has now become a versatile cooking ingredient. I love roasted cauliflower season with turmeric and curry.

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        March 24, 2021 at 3:14 pm

        Right? And I love all the different combinations you can have it with! Love cauliflower and turmeric too! You should try our Curried Vegan Cauliflower Steak Salad.

        Reply
    4. Jill

      March 18, 2021 at 1:03 pm

      What a wonderful article on cauliflower! I really love all of the pairing ideas! I can never think of what goes well with it.

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        March 24, 2021 at 3:12 pm

        Yeah sometimes we get stuck with how to cook with something and always end up with the same recipes. This pairing post will help you experiment with flavours a bit more.

        Reply
    5. Addison

      March 18, 2021 at 11:55 am

      Cauliflower is so versatile and flavorful! I love these ideas for one of my favorite veggies! Thank you!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        March 24, 2021 at 3:11 pm

        I totally agree with you! Always happy to try all the different ways to eat this vegetable.

        Reply
    6. Michelle / Taste As You Go

      March 18, 2021 at 9:06 am

      This post is so helpful. My family loves cauliflower but I always prepare it the same way — roasted or turned into soup. Now I have some more suggestions in terms of how to prepare it and what to serve with it. Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        March 24, 2021 at 3:10 pm

        You’re welcome! Glad you have found this useful. We are massive cauliflower lovers too and the number of ways you can prepare it is amazing. Such a versatile vegetable.

        Reply
    7. Marcellina

      March 18, 2021 at 8:08 am

      What a fantastic article on the benefits and uses of cauliflower! These recipes are mouthwatering! I totally agree and love roasting cauliflower but have never combined it with many of your suggestions. The cauliflower with pomegranate and chestnuts will be the first one I make.

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        March 18, 2021 at 8:53 am

        The weather is getting cooler where I am so cauliflower is about to make a resurgence in our kitchen very soon and yes, roasting them is one of our favourite ways to eat cauliflower. Enjoy the cauliflower with pomegranate and chestnuts salad…. it is one of our more popular recipes.

        Reply

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    The Devil Wears Salad Team

    United by a common love for salads, us 3 girls decided to embark on a journey to show you that you CAN win friends with salad!

    Tried and tested, these recipes are designed for all discerning home cooks. We have everything from no cook recipes right through to showstoppers. Something for everyone!

    More About Us →

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Korean Cucumber Salad – Oi Muchim (오이무침)
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    • Air Fryer Parsnip Fries
    • Kachumber Salad [Authentic Indian Salad]
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    FEED YOUR FOMO

    We send delicious emails & hate for you to miss out.

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