Creative Cauliflower Recipes

By Brandi Dye
Updated September 26, 2020

Cauliflower is a versatile veggie: it comes in a variety of hues, it's in season year-round and its mild flavor makes a great low-carb swap. Check out some of our favorite ways to use cauliflower!

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Pan-Roasted Cauliflower with Salt Pork and Capers

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This roasted veggie dish is a lunch favorite for Minnesota chef Amy Thielen. It's from her cookbook The New Midwestern Table (clarksonpotter.com).

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Roasted Cauliflower and Tomatoes with Olives and Garlic Breadcrumbs

Credit: Brie Passano
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The details that elevate this recipe from a typical roasted dish are the briny olives and crispy breadcrumbs. Any olive works, but chef Abra Berens, author of Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables, uses a bright green Sicilian variety called Castelvetrano.

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J Cole Cauliflower Mash

Credit: Adam Albright
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These mashed potatoes are a staple on the menu of Soul Bowl in Minneapolis. Chef and co-owner Gerard Klass roasts cauliflower to bring nutrition and nutty sweetness, but powdered ranch seasoning adds the real X factor.

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Curried Cauliflower Soup

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Let your imagination roam to India when it comes to toppers for this mildly spicy soup: toasted unsweetened coconut, coarsely chopped cashews, a dollop of yogurt and warm naan bread for dipping. The recipe comes from La Soupe, a nonprofit cafe in Cincinnati.

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Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli with Spicy Yogurt Sauce

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A creamy sauce is just the contrast these cruciferous veggies need. Paprika adds boldness to the relatively mild flavors of the cauliflower and broccoli.

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Cauliflower Crusted Pizza

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Cauliflower "dough" is a tasty way to cut carbs and up vitamin C intake.

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Roasted Cauliflower with Peppadews

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Sweet-and-spicy jarred red peppers add festive color and wake-you-up flavor to a veggie standby. When he makes this dish, Andy Schudlich of Michigan's Epicure Catering and Cherry Basket Farm uses a mix of purple and white cauliflower, but all white is just fine!

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Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Fritters

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This sweet and savory side dish to easy make ahead of time. Just reheat in a 350-degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

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Mashed Garlic Cauliflower

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Mash cauliflower florets with sour cream, butter, garlic salt and pepper for a super-easy side dish.

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Crispy Cauliflower Steak Sandwiches

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Sliced into 1-inch slabs, a head of purple cauliflower becomes cauliflower "steaks," a perfect filling for this hot sandwich.

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Cauliflower Hummus

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Cauliflower gives hummus more vitamins, less fat and fewer calories than the more-traditional base of chickpeas.

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Sweet and Spicy Chicken and Cauliflower Curry

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A 10-minute simmer towards the end of cooking helps blend the flavors of ginger, cinnamon and curry powder.

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Roasted Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

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Homemade sauce coats the noodles and veggies in cheesy delight. Red pepper flakes add just enough kick.

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Shrimp and Cauliflower Bake

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Feta and dill add Mediterranean flair to this low-carb main dish.

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Curried Cauliflower, Apples and Chickpeas

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Cinnamon and curry powder balance Granny Smith apples in this roasted cauliflower mixture.

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Cauliflower Pilaf

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Pulsing cauliflower in the food processor yields an uncanny, 100-percent-good-for-you alternative to rice. Our version has Middle Eastern-inspired flavorings, but you can make a plain version by sautéing the ground cauliflower in a bit of oil and seasoning with salt.

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Chicken and Roasted Cauliflower Chowder

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This is a hearty soup for a chilly day. Garlic and cumin mean a fragrant kitchen as the chowder simmers.

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Cauliflower Gratin

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Tossing cauliflower with bread crumbs, Dijon, cheddar, herbs and almonds makes this humble veg holiday-special.

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Smoky Cauliflower Soup with Crumbled Bacon

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Because cauliflower is in season year-round, this dish can always be made with fresh produce. Even when it's soup weather!

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By Brandi Dye