Make cauliflower taste good! This raw cauliflower salad is loaded with bite-sized cauliflower florets, crunchy radish, green onions, and a creamy dressing! Bring this easy cauliflower salad to a potluck, gathering, or party and even the kids enjoy it! 
Cauliflower recipes can taste incredible like this cold cauliflower salad or Cauliflower Pizza Crust. You can make broccoli cauliflower salad or sneak radish into salad seamlessly when it comes to cauliflower. However, bacon Broccoli Salad can easily be converted to a cauliflower bacon salad if you add some bacon crumbles to this too.
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What is Cauliflower?
Have you ever wondered what to do with cauliflower or how to prepare cauliflower? Cauliflower salad is a cold salad recipe that you can eat raw and season in a cinch! It’s so easy and simple to make and highly versatile as you can alter the toppings of choice, like making a cauliflower salad with bacon or cucumber! The cauliflower sauce is so basic for a dressing and you probably have all the ingredients right in your fridge!
The benefits of cauliflower are many and it’s a good-for-you vegetable low in carbs. Cauliflower is a white compact vegetable with white flower buds that resemble broccoli. Its head is the size of a cabbage and it’s high in vitamin C and K. Cauliflower can be cooked or eaten raw as seen in many cauliflower salad recipes. This fresh cauliflower salad is combined with radish and green onions and is an incredibly delicious raw salad during the hot summer months!
Cauliflower Radish Salad:
Furthermore, this cauliflower salad recipe was created from my favorite tomato and cucumber salad only with a cauliflower and radish concoction. I combined a fresh head of cut-up cauliflower, a handful of crunchy radishes, and fresh green scallions into a super simple sour cream and mayo dressing. The secret to sour cream and mayo-based dressing is to add vinegar for a super flavorful salad dressing! My children were even asking for seconds!
It’s a super versatile salad and like broccoli, you can dress this cauliflower up with other salad topping add-ins like cucumber, bacon, purple onion, and dried cranberries! My husband loves radishes and I personally love the simple and fresh ingredients of a few vegetables–which makes this a super easy salad with radishes too!
How To Cut Cauliflower:
To cut up cauliflower you’ll need a sharp knife and a large cutting board. You don’t want to chop up the florets too small or too large. Cauliflower salad tastes best with medium-sized florets that are crunchy to the bite but not overpowering or too tiny like cauliflower rice. To separate the florets first remove the leaves from the head and then cut off the stem as close to the bottom of the florets as you can. The florets should fall apart however, I sometimes halve them to make bite-sized pieces.
Ingredients For Cauliflower Salad:
- Fresh Head of Cauliflower- when choosing the right cauliflower heads, look for firm and tightly packed florets. Avoid heads with dark spots or any browning that could be a sign of spoilage as cauliflower heads are very white and pale.
- Radish- trim off any roots or stems before washing and slicing.
- Green Onions- chives, or scallions are best for a crunchy radish and cauliflower salad.
- Salad Dressing- wondering how to season? A combination of mayonnaise and sour cream is used. Feel free to use lemon juice for the vinegar.
How To Make Cauliflower Salad:
This cauliflower salad is made with fresh ingredients and takes a good quality knife to prepare. Begin making the salad dressing ingredients first to let the flavors marinate while you prepare the cauliflower.
- Make the salad dressing by combining all the dressing ingredients.
- Cut the cauliflower head into florets. Slice the radishes and green onions.
- Combine everything into a large salad bowl.
- Serve immediately.
Note: this salad can keep in the fridge for up to 2 days after it’s been mixed with dressing. If you prefer softer florets give it time to wilt by intentionally preparing the salad ahead of time to wilt.
Cauliflower Variations:
- Cauliflower Salad with Bacon: add 12 oz of cooked bacon.
- Loaded Cauliflower Salad: omit the radish and do a 50/50 ratio of mayo and sour cream. Then add 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, and 8 oz of cooked bacon.
- Dried Cranberry Cauliflower Salad: add 1/2 cup of dried cranberries.
- Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad: add 1 cup of diced tomatoes, 1/2 English cucumber, 2 cloves garlic, and 1 juice of a lemon.
What To Serve with Cauliflower Salad:
Wondering what to make with cauliflower salad? Cauliflower is a very versatile vegetable that can go with just about any main dish! It’s neutral enough to serve almost any cuisine! Besides mayo and sour cream a basic way to make a creamy dressing that will pair with almost any main dish!
- BBQ Braised Ribs
- Oven-Baked Potato Wedges
- Grilled Chicken Kabobs
- Easy Meatloaf Recipe
- Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls (cabbage roll casserole)
- Costco Copycat Cauliflower Pizza Crust (rice cauliflower pizza) is a tasty baked cauliflower recipe.
More Salad Recipes to Make:
- Pomegranate Salad with Ranch Dressing
- Potato Salad
- Couscous Salad with Shrimp and Feta (make quinoa salad instead by switching the grain)
- Carrot Salad Recipe
- Pickled Peppers (is like a marinated peppers salad)
You can eat raw cauliflower florets as a snack dipped into ranch dressing or in a raw cauliflower salad. It is safe to eat and incorporate into your diet without cooking. So, you don’t have to steam cauliflower or boil it in order to enjoy it. However, do always clean cauliflower before eating. Radishes are very crispy vegetables so, the key to cutting radishes is to use a sharp smooth blade. This helps to make even slices when slicing. First, trim off any roots or stems using a knife, then using a potato peeler trim off any rough or scabby parts. I then switch back to the knife and cut the radish in half, then slice each half into slices. Radishes taste super crisp and mildly spicy. If you do not wish to use them substitute with an English cucumber instead. This radish salad recipe goes very well with cauliflower so if you are unsure about it try it first! However, it will still be tasty if you do decide to substitute cucumber for radish salad here. Whether you’re assembling this cauliflower salad for a party or meal prep, you can easily arrange all the ingredients except for the dressing into a platter until needed. The dressing can then be added before serving. Start with a fresh head of cauliflower. To tell if cauliflower is bad, look for dark spots or browning. How long does cauliflower last? Whole heads of cauliflower can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 7 days and precut florets are best by 4 days. It is best to make this side dish the day before if you are planning to precut the cauliflower, so it doesn’t get brown. Q&A
Can You Eat Cauliflower Raw?
How To Cut Radishes?
Can I Substitute Radish?
Can I Make Ahead?
How To Store Cauliflower?
More Salad Recipes To Try:
- Chicken Salad Recipe- for sandwiches
- Potato Salad Recipe
- Broccoli Salad Recipe
- Taco Salad Recipe
- Imitation Crab Salad Recipe
- Pea Salad Recipe With Carrots
Tips for Making Cucumber Salad:
- To wilt, the cauliflower keeps in the dressing for up to 2 days.
- Use the pre-cut cauliflower for an easy shortcut.
- Using a mandoline slicer can help you save time for slicing all those radishes.
- To make ahead salad, prep the florets and dressing separately and keep it in the fridge until the next day. Make sure to cover veggies tightly.
- Garnish the salad with a handful of fresh dill or add a tablespoon of dried dill for superb flavor!
- Need Summer salad recipes? This radish salad has easily available ingredients all year round!
- This recipe is best served right away if you want to retain the crunchy veggies, however, if you like a cold and refreshing salad for the hot summer days pop it in the fridge a couple of hours before serving.
- Do you grow cauliflower? Lets us know how you harvest cauliflower and any tips!
How To Make Cauliflower Salad:
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Cauliflower Salad
Equipment
- 1 Spatula
- 1 Wire Whisk, (for salad dressing)
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 head of cauliflower, (cut into florets)
- 10 radishes, (cut into half slices)
- 1 cup scallions, (sliced)
Salad Dressing:
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tsp white distilled vinegar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
Instructions
Directions:
- Make the salad dressing by whisking everything together. Set aside.
- Combine the cauliflower, radishes, and green onions into a large salad bowl. Toss with the dressing and serve.
Notes
- To Make Ahead: keep salad separate from dressing for up to 3 days. Toss together before serving.
- Leftovers can keep up to 2 days. The cauliflower will slightly wilt and the dressing may get runnier just stir together to revive.
- Omit Radishes and add 3/4 of an English cucumber.
Nutrition (per serving)
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