Moroccan-style Spiced Cauliflower & Raisin Salad (Paleo, Vegan)

This Moroccan-style cauliflower salad is made with warm spices, sweet raisins, citrus dressing and a hint of orange zest. It’s paleo, gluten-free, and a perfect side dish.


Spiced Cauliflower Salad With Raisins & Citrus Dressing
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This week, I had half a head of cauliflower leftover from making some cauliflower rice and I wanted to make something new with it. I love roasting cauliflower but as we don’t have an oven in the van, I thought that perhaps I can pan-fry it until crispy and golden brown and then throw in a few bits and pieces to make a salad.

I decided to go with a Moroccan theme here and thought that the earthiness of warm spices like cumin and cinnamon would go well with nutty cauliflower. I then wanted to give it some sweetness – that’s where raisins come in – and balance it out with a little citrus zing. I had an orange, so I added a little zest and juice, and this salad took on a slightly autumnal, and almost Christmasy, feel.

 

Moroccan-style cauliflower salad with raisins and citrus dressing (paleo, gluten-free, healthy)
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Cook’s notes

You have a choice of pan-frying or roasting the cauliflower. The recipe below provides instructions for cooking it in a frying pan, but if you use the oven, heat it to 200 C / 400 F and mix the cauliflower pieces with the spices and olive oil before spreading it on a flat baking sheet and cooking it for about 20-25 minutes.

Raisins could be replaced with diced dried apricot or sultanas.

I’ve added some shaved almond flakes but these are optional if you want to make a nut-free version.

The recipe below is for this salad as a side dish between 2-4 people but you can also make a larger batch of this. This goes well most proteins but especially with chicken or lamb.

Try it as a side dish to crispy skin baked chicken with herby sauce or my slow-cooked Moroccan lamb stew. And, if you love cauliflower and want more recipes with it, check out my shrimp and cauliflower fried ‘rice’, these low-carb cauliflower hash browns, or this popular crack cauliflower with spicy sauce.

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Spiced Cauliflower Salad With Raisins & Citrus Dressing
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Spiced Cauliflower & Raisin Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Author: Irena Macri | Eat Drink Paleo
Servings: 3
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Moroccan
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Calories: 260kcal
This Moroccan-style cauliflower salad is made with warm spices, sweet raisins, citrus dressing and a hint of orange zest. It’s paleo, gluten-free, and a perfect side dish.

Ingredients 

  • Coconut oil or olive oil for cooking
  • 1/2 head cauliflower cut into small florets (cut the bigger florets in half)
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon coriander seed powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • Pinch of pepper
  • 1 tablespoon almond flakes optional

For the salad dressing

  • 1/2 small red onion thinly sliced
  • 1 small clove of garlic crushed or finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons raisins or sultanas
  • 1/2 teaspoon of orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons of orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon honey can be halved, use maple syrup for vegan version
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Heat coconut oil or olive oil (about 2 tablespoons) in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the cauliflower florets to the pan (I put them flat side down first) and cook for about 5 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Use tongs or a fork to turn each piece over and cook for 3-4 more minutes.
  • Evenly, sprinkle the spices and salt over the cauliflower pieces and add the almonds. Stir through over heat for a minute, allowing the spices to release their aromas. Turn the heat off and set aside.
  • While the cauliflower is cooking, make the salad dressing. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and set aside to infuse.
  • Transfer the warm cauliflower to the salad bowl and mix through, making sure everything is well coated. Serve with some fresh herbs on top or as is.

Nutrition

Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Sodium: 421mg | Potassium: 474mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 194IU | Vitamin C: 58mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg
Keywords: Cauliflower, Side Dishes, Vegetarian, Appetizers, Warm Salad
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Moroccan-style spiced cauliflower salad with raisins and citrus dressing (paleo, gluten-free, healthy)
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Irena Macri
By Irena Macri

About the author: Hi, I’m Irena Macri. I share delicious recipes that I have cooked and loved. I am a published cookbook author, have been food blogging for over 10 years and have a Diploma in Nutrition. You will find many healthy recipes as well as my favourite comfort food. More about me here | Subscribe to my newsletter and freebies

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