Marinated Cauliflower Salad Recipe
This Marinated Cauliflower Salad is a flavorful, crisp, and refreshing dish combining fresh cauliflower florets with vibrant red bell pepper, banana pepper rings, black olives, and a zesty homemade dressing made from olive oil, red wine vinegar, and Italian seasoning. Tossed with Parmesan cheese and herbs, this salad is perfect as a healthy side or light lunch that improves in flavor after marinating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
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
- 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
- Prepare the dressing: In a jar or bowl, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and grated Parmesan. Whisk together or secure the jar lid and shake well until all ingredients are blended. Set aside to allow flavors to meld.
- Chop the cauliflower: Remove leaves and stem from the cauliflower head, then cut into very small florets roughly grape-sized. Place the florets into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the olives and banana peppers: Drain the sliced black olives and banana pepper rings well. Add them into the bowl with the chopped cauliflower.
- Incorporate additional vegetables and herbs: Dice the red bell pepper, finely dice the red onion and chop fresh parsley. Add them all to the bowl with the other ingredients.
- Toss with dressing and marinate: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture and toss thoroughly to coat all pieces evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to infuse. Stir again just before serving for best flavor distribution.
Notes
- This salad gets better the longer it marinates, so prepping ahead is recommended.
- Ensure to chop the cauliflower into small florets to allow the dressing to penetrate better.
- Adjust salt and seasoning after marinating if needed.
- Store covered in the refrigerator and consume within 3 days for optimal freshness.
Keywords: marinated cauliflower salad, cauliflower salad, vegetarian salad, Mediterranean salad, healthy side dish, no-cook salad
Find it online: https://frommamamaya.com/marinated-cauliflower-salad-recipe/
