This Roasted Cauliflower Salad with a hummus and tahini dressing is flavored with mint and orange and parsley. If you love lots of flavor, you will love this salad.
Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables. Salad is one of my favorite foods.
You know where this is going, right? Recently while scanning magazines, which it seems are piling up, I came across this fabulous take on a roasted cauliflower salad.
There isn't much to say about it, because frankly my mouth is full-of cauliflower that is.
This is that good. It will have you taking bite after bite.
Even Manservant who leaves his salad until the end of the meal-and no, he is not French, sang its praises.
Roasted Cauliflower Salad
This roasted cauliflower salad with tahini dressing has crunch. This salad has rich and herby undertones. This salad has flavor that rocks.
It is full of chickpeas for those who love hummus.
The orange zest that is only added as a garnish, is a necessary component, that has one looking for the bite with the orange flecks.
It is spicy, but not too spicy. Look. It is really so simple. This roasted cauliflower salad is meant to be devoured.
I made minor modifications to the original recipe which called for using all raw cauliflower.
Frankly, eating a salad of all raw cauliflower sounds like a lot of chewing to me.
So I roasted some of it and mixed it with the raw. The contrast in textures works!
And the flavor punch from the roasting is heavenly.
Even the little one wanted to get close. So close he licked the spoon. What a great helper, eh?
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| This spoon tastes pretty good. |
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| Why did she take that spoon away? |
One other substitution was using za'atar for sumac. I love za'atar in this!
But if you love sumac by all means use it. It has such a nice lemony flavor.
I eliminated lettuce and tomatillo because I didn't have any.
No reason to cry. It wasn't missed. This roasted cauliflower salad tastes just fine, just fine indeed.
Let me know what you think.
More Chickpea/Garbanzo and Cauliflower Recipes:
Smoky Pumpkin Hummus
Hummus
Roasted Chickpeas with Za'atar
Moroccan Fish with Saffron Aioli and Chickpeas
Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower, Pine Nuts and Raisins
Cauliflower Chutney
Need some more cauliflower?
Check these out: Lea Ann at Cooking on the Ranch has a classic version with this cheesy creamy tangy microwave cauliflower. Melissa's Southern Style Kitchen has a Swiss cauliflower broccoli salad that sounds amazing, too.
Please Share the Cauliflower!
Recipe
Cauliflower Salad with Hummus and Tahini Dressing
- Prep Time: 40 Minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 Minutes
- Yield: 4 - 6 Servings 1x
- Category: Salads/Sidedish
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Roasted Cauliflower Salad with a hummus and tahini dressing is flavored with mint and orange and parsley. If you love lots of flavor, you will love this salad.
Ingredients
Dressing:
¼ c canned chickpeas/garbanzos rinsed and dried
1 T rice vinegar
1 crushed garlic clove
3 fresh lemon juice
2 T tahini
½ c fresh Italian parsley leaves
½ c fresh mint leaves
1 c olive oil
1-2 t za'atar
½ t Aleppo pepper flakes or chili flakes
Salt and pepper
Salad:
1 medium head of cauliflower - ½ of it sliced like steaks and the other into florets
2 T olive oil
½ c canned chickpeas/garbanzos, rinsed and dried
½ fresh Italian parsley leaves
½ c fresh mint leaves
Kosher salt to taste
½ of an orange zested
Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400. Place 2 T olive oil in a shallow pan. Take cauliflower steaks and oil them on both sides. Sprinkle with salt. Place in oven and roast for 30 minutes or until golden on the bottom. Flip over and roast until other side is light golden.
Make dressing by combining chickpeas, vinegar, garlic, lemon juice, tahini, parsley and mint in blender or food processor. With motor running slowly drizzle in olive oil and blend until smooth. Dressing will be thick. Add the za'atar and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
In a good sized bowl, toss raw cauliflower florets, roasted cauliflower broken into smaller pieces, chickpeas, parsley and mint together with about ⅓ to half of dressing. Taste for salt. Transfer to a shallow serving bowl and garnish with freshly ground black pepper and orange zest. This salad does keep well overnight as long as you don't use to much dressing! Enjoy!
Notes
Adapted from: Food and Wine, May 2015
SavoringTime in the Kitchen says
Cauliflower is a favorite of mine too! It's my favorite veggie on a crudites platter. I love that you roasted some of the cauliflower - I think I'd opt for roasting all of it, it sounds so good! Love that taste-tester 😉
Cheri Savory Spoon says
Hi Abbe, oh I love roasted cauliflower and this salad is amazing, love Za' tar too! have a great week!
Abbe Odenwalder says
It was a good one Cheri. i just finished the rest of it today!
Sippity Sup says
Why did you take that spoon away? I guess you neededn't something to scarf that cauliflower with. I know I sure would. GREG
Abbe Odenwalder says
Works with fingers, too Greg! Or you could just stick your head in!
Joanne says
Hearty salads like this are my FAVORITES! Even more so when cauliflower and hummus are involves. YUM.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Joanne! This really is a great salad!
Chris Scheuer says
It looks fantastic. I could definitely make a meal out of this!
Abbe Odenwalder says
I did, Chris!
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says
I'm with you about loving cauliflower. And this salad looks wonderful. And great idea to roast it. Pinned. And as always love the pup photos.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Lea Ann. He kind of steals the show!
shannon weber says
totally love this! I'm a cauliflower fan also, but if given the choice, i'd definitely roast it versus eating it raw because you're right - SO MUCH CHEWING! 🙂 i love everything about this: i make something similar with a roasted cauliflower/ chickpea / tahini / parsley thing going on, but it's pretty basic...yours sounds way more exciting.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Shannon coming from you that is a great compliment. The orange zest and pepper on top really make it!
dedy oktavianus says
sumac dressing probably will be suits my licking..
damn delicious!!!
Dedy@Dentist Chef
Abbe Odenwalder says
You are so smart, Dedy!
La Table De Nana says
I know I would love this..and would probably lightly roast it all so it is not too crunchy..
I have trouble with that..
It looks fantastic.
I am Pinning and making..maybe for Father's Day w/a roasted vegetable orzo salad.
I need tahini..fnished mine..
Thanks Abbe!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Tell me how you like it Monique! Would be great with a bunch of salads, even as a meze!
Daniela Grimburg says
This is such a great idea! Love this cauliflower salad with a surprising oriental twist.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Daniela! Great twist and I know you'd love it!
Medha Swaminathan says
This looks so delicious! Cauliflower is so where it's at! And cute pup 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Medah! And thanks for dropping by! I love cauliflower, much more than broccoli! And Geordie says thanks! I think all the compliments are going to his head!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
You know I am all over this Abbe. Love that you roasted the cauliflower - very smart! I put sumac in my za-atar - love it!!! It's also great on butternut squash - yummmmy. Have a lovely weekend!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Sumac and za'atar work! I loved that post you did on the squash! We should do a blog with just Ottolenghi's recipes. This isn't one, but s so similar!
Bam's Kitchen says
Your puppy is just adorable! I am sure you don't have to worry if you happen to have a slight moment lack of muscular coordination and you happen to drop something on the floor... I love this salad and roasting the cauliflower makes it so sweet and delicious and with a little zest from the sumac a lovely substantial dinner. Just shared and pinned!!!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Bobby! I subbed in za'atar for sumac, because I was out. If you use sumac it will make it more lemony! And you may not want to use quite as much.
Emanuele @ guyslovecooking says
I am with you with cauliflower, they are so good. And very healthy too, which helps.
I agree with your mixing raw and roasted cauliflower, I don’t think I would enjoy otherwise.
Thanks for sharing
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Emanuele! It definitely rocks!
Angie Schneider says
Absolutely delicious and so healthy too, Abbe. Roasting must have brought out the best flavour of cauliflower and that dressing is simply irresistible.
So, why did you take that spoon away? Should give him back with MORE dressing 🙂 Man, he is so darn cute!
Abbe Odenwalder says
He is cute! Now you know why it is so hard to train pups, but he is learning! He learned not to go for the bowl!
GiGi Eats Celebrities says
I could simply eat that dressing with a spoon - ha ha!
Abbe Odenwalder says
You could Gigi and also use it as a dip for veggies!
Karen Harris says
Mmmm, this sounds wonderful! I love cauliflower too. My sister used to make a raw cauliflower, broccoli, red onion and black olive salad all dressed in ranch dressing and it was amazing. This sounds just as good.
Abbe Odenwalder says
That does sound good Karen! My MIL did something like that too! This is more trendy but just as good, i think!
Kitchen Riffs says
Although raw cauliflower is swell, roasted is much, much better. Good call! This looks like a terrific dish -- loads of flavor. Cute pictures of the little one!
Abbe Odenwalder says
It really did add a flavor punch and the textures were amazing! Thanks John! I think the real kids are getting jealous!