Epic Gourmet Italian Cauliflower Salad

Here’s a Gourmet Italian Cauliflower Salad recipe.  This salad is so delicious, fresh, and fancy.  It’s definitely better than some deli versions of the recipe.  This cauliflower salad recipe is perfect for picnics, potlucks, BBQs, and work lunch side dishes.

This is a NO mayo recipe so it’s perfect for mayo haters (we all know some, myself included).

Italian Cauliflower Salad Recipe Ingredients

This salad is great for using whatever you have on hand.  If you don’t have olives, no worries, leave them out.  Or if you don’t have artichoke hearts the recipe will still turn out amazing.

Here’s what you’ll need (pick and choose based on your tastes or what you have on hand):

• A whole head of cauliflower
• Can of olives
• Fresh (or canned) mushrooms
• Red onion
• Marinated artichoke hearts
• Salami slices
• Fresh tomatoes (optional)
• The best homemade Italian Salad Dressing

How to Make Italian Cauliflower Salad Recipe

I like to partially cook the head of cauliflower.  If you like raw cauliflower, then use raw, but if you’re like me and you prefer your cauliflower semi-cooked then either steam the head or do semi cook it the lazy way as I do.

How to Partially Cooking Cauliflower

Remove all stems from cauliflower.  Cut a little of the core out so the cauliflower cooks more evenly.

Flip cauliflower upside down and run it under the faucet.  Wrap cauliflower in plastic wrap.  I wrap it twice so it’s nice and sealed.  Wrap it in one direction and then turn it halfway and wrap it in the other direction so all sides are sealed.  Microwave for four minutes or so.  The cauliflower will steam.

The goal is to partially cook the cauliflower, you still want some of that delicious crunch.

Preparing Other Italian Cauliflower Salad Ingredients

Slice the olives and place them in a large bowl.  I’m using a clear bowl so it looks like the olives are laying on the counter by they are not.  Lol

Next, chop the onions and add them to the bowl.

When the cauliflower is done partially cooking, let it sit for a few minutes and then drain it on a paper towel.  Be careful unwrapping the plastic because the cauliflower will be extremely hot.

Add sliced mushrooms, salami cut into small pieces, and tomato (I forgot to take a picture of this step).

When the cauliflower is cool enough to handle, chop it into bite-sized pieces and add to the salad bowl.

Add marinated artichoke hearts.

Below is what the salad should look like at this point.

Now it’s time to make THE BEST ITALIAN SALAD DRESSING.  This Italian salad dressing is seriously so easy to make and tastes better than anything your can buy.  My husband always tells me that if we could bottle this salad dressing and sell it in stores it would be our ticket “outta here”.

Pour the dressing over the chopped Italian Cauliflower Salad.  Toss to combine.   I always use the whole recipe of dressing but you may use as much or as little as you prefer.

Next, season salad for taste.  I often have to add a little salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.

Italian Cauliflower Salad Optional Addins That’ll Take This Recipe to the Next Level

• Green onions
• Fresh parsley
• Cubed sharp cheddar, provolone, or mozzarella cheese
• Diced bell pepper
• Marinated bell pepper
• Boiled al dente pasta

Italian Cauliflower Salad

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 16 minutes

Cook Time: 4 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Gourmet Italian Cauliflower Salad recipe perfect for picnics, bbq's and potlucks.

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Ingredients

• 1 head Cauliflower
• 1 can Black olives, drained and sliced
• 1/2 ea Red onion, minced
• 1 cup Fresh Mushrooms, sliced
• 1 cup Marinated artichoke hearts, cut Into bite sized pieces
• 8 slices Salami, cut Into bite sized pieces
• 3 ea Tomatoes, cut Into bite sized pieces
• 1 ea Recipe of The Best Italian Salad Dressing

Instructions

1. Remove leaves from whole cauliflower. Remove some of the Inner core. Turn cauliflower upside down and run under faucet. Wrap cauliflower twice (sealing It) In plastic wrap and microwave four minutes.
2. Prepare remaining Italian Cauliflower Salad Ingredients.
3. Slice olives.
4. Dice red onions.
5. Slice mushrooms.
6. Cut marinated artichokes Into bite-sized pieces.
7. Cut salami and tomatoes into small pieces.
8. Drain partially cooked cauliflower on paper towels. Be careful, the cauilflower will be extremely hot.
9. Cut cauliflower Into bite sized pieces.
10. Prepare Italian Salad Dressing, or use your favorite store bought brand.
11. Toss all Ingredients. Taste for salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
12. Refrigerate and serve.

Nutrition Information

Yield 6 servings Serving Size 1 serving
Amount Per Serving Calories 115Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 14mgSodium 487mgCarbohydrates 9gNet Carbohydrates 5gFiber 4gSugar 4gProtein 6g

Nutritional data is not always accurate! This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix on 11/12/2021

Everyone's Favorite Italian Salad Dressing

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Quick and easy Italian Salad Dressing recipe.

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Ingredients

• 3/4 cup canola oil
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 3/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients into a glass jar. Stir or shake to combine. You can cover the Italian Salad Dressing and let this sit on the counter a few hours or serve it right away. Before serving shake or stir the dressing.

Nutrition Information

Yield 6 servings Serving Size 1 serving
Amount Per Serving Calories 287Total Fat 30gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 26gCholesterol 7mgSodium 539mgCarbohydrates 3gNet Carbohydrates 3gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 3g

Nutritional data is NOT always accurate. This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix on 11/12/2021

 

What is your favorite cauliflower recipe?  Drop a link in the comments.

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