Mediterranean Marinated Cauliflower Salad Recipe
A vibrant and refreshing Mediterranean Marinated Cauliflower Salad featuring blanched cauliflower florets tossed with cherry tomatoes, olives, red onion, and fresh parsley, all coated in a zesty olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing infused with herbs and garlic. Perfect as a healthy side dish or light meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Blanching and Mixing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into small florets
- 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Olives
- ⅓ cup black olives (Kalamata)
- ⅓ cup green olives
Dressing
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Blanch Cauliflower: Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the cauliflower florets. Blanch them for 1-2 minutes until they are tender-crisp, then immediately transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking process and retain their color and crunch.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the blanched cauliflower with halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onions, black and green olives, and chopped fresh parsley. Gently toss to distribute evenly.
- Prepare Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes until well emulsified.
- Toss and Marinate: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture and toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving.
Notes
- Blanching helps soften the cauliflower slightly while maintaining crunch and bright color.
- The salad can be prepared a few hours in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator.
- Feel free to adjust the level of red pepper flakes for preferred spice heat.
- This salad makes a great side dish for grilled meats or can be enjoyed on its own for a light lunch.
Keywords: Mediterranean salad, cauliflower salad, marinated salad, healthy side dish, gluten free salad
