Marinated Cauliflower Salad Recipe
A vibrant and tangy Marinated Cauliflower Salad featuring crisp cauliflower florets, black olives, banana pepper rings, red bell pepper, and red onion, all coated in a flavorful Italian-seasoned dressing with Parmesan. This refreshing salad is perfect as a light appetizer or a healthy side dish, and its flavors deepen after marinating for at least 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- 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
- 1 2.25 oz. can sliced black olives
- ½ 12 oz. jar banana pepper rings
- 1 red bell pepper
- ⅓ cup diced red onion
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a jar or bowl, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and grated Parmesan. Whisk together or close the jar and shake vigorously until fully combined. Set aside to allow the flavors to meld.
- Prepare the cauliflower: Remove the outer leaves and stem from the cauliflower head, then break it into very small florets approximately the size of grapes. Place these florets into a large mixing bowl.
- Add olives and peppers: Drain the sliced black olives well and remove banana pepper rings from their jar, draining excess liquid. Add both to the bowl with the cauliflower.
- Add fresh vegetables: Dice the red bell pepper into small pieces. Finely dice the red onion and chop the fresh parsley finely. Add all these into the bowl with the other ingredients.
- Toss and marinate: Pour the prepared dressing over the combined salad ingredients. Toss thoroughly to coat everything evenly. Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the cauliflower to marinate and the flavors to deepen. Stir well before serving to redistribute the dressing and ensure balanced flavor.
Notes
- For best flavor, allow the salad to marinate for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
- Use fresh Parmesan cheese for the best taste and texture.
- Adjust salt and pepper according to your taste preference.
- This salad can be made a day ahead and kept refrigerated, making it perfect for meal prep or entertaining.
- If you prefer, substitute banana peppers with pepperoncini for a slightly different tangy flavor.
Keywords: marinated cauliflower salad, cauliflower salad with olives, easy Italian salad, no-cook vegetable salad, healthy side dish, vegetarian salad
Find it online: https://freshrecipehub.com/marinated-cauliflower-salad-recipe/
