Creamy Cajun Cauliflower 'Potato' Salad

A light and airy version of the original, my creamy Cajun cauliflower 'potato' salad satisfies with authentic south Louisiana tastes and textures, y'all. Steamed florets, cooled then tossed with boiled egg, Cajun trinity veggies and a mess of pantry sauces, spices, and seasonings. Served warm or customarily chilled, this super easy side or gumbo topping is a welcome sight for those living life on the lower carb side. Yep and yay...

A perfect warm-weather treat, this Creamy Cajun Cauliflower 'Potato' Salad also pairs perfectly with south Louisiana gumbos and stews.

We Eat It All Year Long Down Here, Y'all...

It's September again, y'all. Which means cooler south Louisiana temperatures, lowered humidity, and potato salad bowls being moved from the side of grilled dishes to the tops of piping hot gumbos. Yep. 

Well, I'm thinking ahead this year. And, planning on serving this lighter, mock potato salad version right alongside the traditional one. Cause while Cajun potato salad is one of my top 10 favorite foods, sometimes a refreshing, cruciferous vegetable change is also just as good.

Full of all of the flavors and textures of the original dish, this creamy Cajun cauliflower 'potato' salad is just as easy to whip together. And, equally as tasty if you're one of those people who love all things cauliflower. Oh, and you can also prep all or some of the ingredients ahead of time. So, this recipe is definitely for you if you want a light, easy dish that's full of flavor and easy to piece together just a few minutes here and there throughout your busy schedule. 

The lightness of the cauliflower allows the true tastes and textures of all of the supporting ingredients to shine through.

How to Make Creamy Cajun Cauliflower 'Potato' Salad

Start by chopping the florets, Cajun trinity veggies, and parsley. Then, gather the remaining ingredients. 

This mock cauliflower potato salad recipe incorporates fresh florets with traditional south Louisiana Cajun pantry sauces, spices, and seasonings.

Bring a few inches of water to boil. Then, add the florets. 

Steaming the cauliflower florets in just a few inches of water helps them retain their shape for the salad.

Cover the lid about ¾ of the way, leaving just enough room for the steam to escape. 

Covering the cauliflower almost all of the way while it is cooking ensures more even tenderization and a decreased cooking time.

Then, drain the fork-tender florets.

The hot, steamed florets are cooled and ready to be added to the salad about 10 minutes after draining.

Now, add the florets to the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. 

All of the beautiful colors of this dish make it a beautiful addition to your buffet or serving table.

Finally, stir until all of the ingredients are combined. Then, use a potato masher to mash roughly half of the salad, if desired. 

Mashing half of the salad adds a more interesting texture experience throughout the dish.

And that's it, y'all!!

The first thing that you notice about this creamy Cajun cauliflower 'potato' salad is its beautiful presentation. Next, as you take your first bite, you're reminded immediately of its potato salad cousin.

Then, you begin to savor all of the indivdiual components in the dish. And, you start to realize that you can literally serve this alongside sooo many dishes throughout the year. Yep. So much so that like me, you'll likely remember to make this one again and again and again.

Share this creamy Cajun cauliflower salad with those who bring unexpectedly new and welcome refreshment into your life. Much food love, and see y'all on the yum side...

Vary your taste and texture experience by swapping out Cajun Potato Salad for this dish throughout the seasons.

Creamy Cajun Cauliflower 'Potato' Salad

All of the flavors of Cajun potato salad in a hearty, satisfying creamy cauliflower salad that goes just as great with BBQ as it does with south Louisiana gumbos and stews.

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Cajun

Keyword: cajun cauliflower salad, cauliflower mock potato salad, cauliflower potato salad, cauliflower salad, creamy cauliflower salad

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Author: Lyn Corinne Liner/A Sprinkling of Cayenne

Ingredients

• 3 cups raw cauliflower florets, about one medium head, see notes
• 2 chopped hard-boiled eggs
• 2 tablespoons each chopped onion, green bell pepper, celery, and roasted red peppers or pimentos
• 1 tablespoon chopped kosher dill pickles or pickle relish
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
• ¼ teaspoon dried paprika
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• ½ teaspoon Zatarain's Creole mustard
• 2 tablespoons gluten free ranch dressing
• salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste

Instructions

• Boil about 4 inches of water in a large pot.
• When boiling, add the raw cauliflower florets.
• Cover the pot about ¾ of the way with a clear lid, see post. (Do not leave the pot unattended after this step.)
• Steam the cauliflower florets for about 5 to 9 minutes, or until desired tenderness. Stick a fork into some of the florets every minute after the 4-minute mark to ensure that they reach the exact consistency that you would like for the salad.
• Drain the cauliflower florets, and let them cool for about 10 minutes.
• When cooled, pour the florets into the bottom of a large bowl with a fitted lid.
• Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl.
• Stir until well-combined.
• Enjoy warm or cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours for the classic, cooled salad side or topping.

Notes

This recipe keeps well in the fridge for up to 2 days. It does not freeze well.

This post was originally published on April 14, 2016 and updated and republished on September 15, 2022. 

This is a very subjective texture-specific recipe. I like a little crunch left on my florets, whereas my husband only likes it when the florets are falling apart tender. So, if want really soft, mashed potato-like cauliflower florets, you might want to try this recipe with steamed frozen florets instead of raw ones. 

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