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Marinated Cauliflower Salad Recipe

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4.3 from 30 reviews

  • Author: Sara
  • Total Time: 45 minutes (includes marination time)
  • Yield: 8 servings
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This Marinated Cauliflower Salad is a vibrant, tangy, and fresh side dish featuring crisp cauliflower florets tossed with black olives, banana pepper rings, red bell pepper, red onion, and fresh parsley. The salad is dressed in a zesty blend of olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. Chilling the salad allows the flavors to meld beautifully, making it a perfect make-ahead option for gatherings or a healthy everyday snack.

Ingredients

Dressing

  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
  • 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Salad

  • 1 head cauliflower, leaves and stem removed, chopped into small florets (about grape-sized)
  • 1 (2.25 oz) can sliced black olives, drained
  • ½ (12 oz) jar banana pepper rings, drained
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • ⅓ cup diced red onion
  • 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dressing: In a jar or bowl, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and grated Parmesan. Whisk together or seal the jar and shake vigorously until the dressing is smooth and emulsified. Set this dressing aside to let the flavors meld.
  2. Prep the cauliflower: Remove the leaves and stem from the cauliflower, then cut it into very small florets roughly the size of grapes. Transfer these florets into a large mixing bowl.
  3. Add olives and banana peppers: Drain the black olives and banana pepper rings thoroughly and add them to the bowl with the cauliflower.
  4. Add peppers, onion, and parsley: Dice the red bell pepper and finely chop the red onion and fresh parsley. Add all these to the bowl with the other ingredients.
  5. Toss with dressing and chill: Pour the prepared dressing over all the salad ingredients and toss well to ensure everything is evenly coated. Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to blend and the cauliflower to marinate. Stir again just before serving to redistribute the flavors.

Notes

  • For best results, allow the salad to marinate for several hours or overnight to deepen the flavor.
  • Use fresh Parmesan cheese for the best taste and texture.
  • This salad keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Adjust seasoning to taste before serving, adding more salt or pepper if desired.
  • Feel free to substitute the banana peppers with mild pickled peppers if preferred.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://saraflavors.com/marinated-cauliflower-salad-recipe/