Cauliflower Rice Salad

Cauliflower is one of the most versatile vegetable that I have come across. You can use cauliflower in almost anything – salads, stir fries, roast, curries or even make it into a mash and it will still taste amazing! This is because cauliflower can take up the flavour of almost anything as well as have different textures when cooked differently. Hence, cauliflower is a staple in my fridge.

More recently, cauliflower “rice” has become the new substitute for normal rice. Not only is cauliflower rice significantly less in calories, but it also tends to leave people feeling less bloated. As a result, people, especially those wanting to lose weight are switching to cauliflower rice.

So, I would like to share with you my all time favourite cauliflower rice salad recipe.

Serves 3 to 4 people

Ingredients

For the salad:

• 1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets and then placed into a food processor to be made into “rice”;
• 1 bunch of parsley, leaves picked and chopped;
• 1 red onion, finely diced;
• 1 tbsp of cumin seeds;
• 1/2 cup of spice roasted chickpeas (you can use store-bought ones or make it yourself by following this recipe);
• 1/4 cup of currants or raisins;
• 2 tbsp of sunflower seeds;
• 2 tbsp of pumpkin seeds/pepitas;
• 1 tbsp of olive oil;

For the dressing:

• 1 tbsp of honey;
• Juice of 1 lemon or 3 tbsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice;
• 1 tbsp of tahini;
• 2 tbsp of olive oil;

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius;
2. In a large baking tray, place the cauliflower rice, diced red onion, cumin seeds and 1 tbsp of olive oil and mix thoroughly, Then, place the tray in the oven and allow to bake for 30-40 minutes or until it turns golden brown. To ensure the cauliflower rice mixture is cooked thoroughly, check the cauliflower rice mixture every 10 minutes and give the cauliflower rice mixture a stir;
3. Whislt the cauliflower rice mixture is cooking, the dressing for the salad can be made. Place all the dressing ingredients in a bowl and whisk vigorously;
4. Once the cauliflower rice mixture has cooked, allow to cook for 10 minutes;

   

5. In a large bowl, place the cooked cauliflower rice mixture, diced parsley, roasted chickpeas, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, currants/raisins and the dressing. Mix thoroughly;
6. Enjoy with grilled meat/chicken/fish, sunny side up or simply on its own 🙂