• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Salads with Anastasi logo
  • SALAD RECIPES
  • SALAD COLLECTIONS
  • SALAD DRESSINGS
  • SALAD VEGGIES
  • ABOUT
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Home » Gourmet Salads

Heavenly Purple Cauliflower Recipe

Made by Anastasia - Serves: 4 Filed Under: Gourmet Salads, Salad Index, Winter Salads

Share
Pin12
Tweet
Share

Our Purple Cauliflower Recipe is packed with aromatic flavours and looks sensational with its vibrant violet hues. Teamed with green olives, almonds and coriander seeds, it's ideal for impressing guests at a dinner party.

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
Purple cauliflower salad in shallow dark grey patterned salad bowl with parsley sprigs on the top right corner.

The star of the show is, of course, the purple cauliflower. This veggie is loved for its naturally sweet and nutty flavour, and its rich colour is just the icing on the cake.

In this purple cauliflower recipe, we've paired it with green olives, almonds and coriander seeds for a mix of textures, flavours and aromas that all work together beautifully.

However, if you prefer an Asian-style cauliflower, then you have got to give our Miso Cauliflower Salad a try or for a delightfully crunchy salad, try our yummy Cauliflower Tabbouleh or for something fragrant, try our Roast Cauliflower salad.

JUMP TO
  • What Makes Purple Cauliflower Purple?
  • What's the Difference Between White and Purple Cauliflowers?
  • Ingredients & Substitutions
  • You Will Need
  • How to Make our Purple Cauliflower Recipe
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Common Questions (FAQs)
  • Looking for More Brassica Salad Inspiration?
  • Recipe Card

What Makes Purple Cauliflower Purple?

While you may be fooled into thinking that it has been genetically modified to get its bright purple colour, it is not the case.

Just like all purple-hued fruits and vegetables, like red cabbage and blueberries, purple cauliflower gets its gorgeous violet hues from anthocyanin, a flavonoid-rich in antioxidants.

Jump to our FAQ section for the scoop on choosing cauliflower, where to buy it, and the differences between white and coloured cauliflower. Or, if you want even more info, check out our cauliflower post!

Did you know that the edible florets of cauliflower
are referred to as the "curd"?

What's the Difference Between White and Purple Cauliflowers?

Purple cauliflower is higher in antioxidants than regular white cauliflower. It is milder tasting with a sweeter and nuttier taste without any of the pungent aroma or bitter taste that the white has.

Purple cauliflower salad in shallow dark grey patterned salad bowl with parsley sprigs on the top right corner.

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Purple Cauliflower - I could not resist this gorgeous bright purple beauty at the farmers market when I saw it, and it truly does make this salad special. However, you can certainly swap it for white or orange cauliflower, green cauliflower (broccoflower) or even Romanesco here.
  • Parsley - added as colour contrast and for its fresh green flavour. Fresh mint or coriander/cilantro are great alternatives.
  • Green Olives - added here for their tanginess, they can be replaced with any of your favourite olive varieties such as Kalamata or Sicilian. Hate olives; not a problem; try capers instead.
  • Almonds - added for some crunch, pistachios, brazil nuts, or hazelnuts are a great alternative.
  • Coriander Seeds - added for their earthy aroma and warmth, utterly different to fresh coriander/cilantro. Cumin, caraway or fennel seeds are also great options.
  • You can add some pomegranate arils for a pop of colour or sliced chilli.

You Will Need

Labelled ingredients needed to make purple cauliflower salad.

💡 Top Tips 💡

To prevent your cauliflower from changing colour, add a squeeze of lemon juice while you are cooking it.

How to Make our Purple Cauliflower Recipe

Step 1 - How to Cut a Cauliflower

Wash the cauliflower, remove the core and leaves and cut it into small florets. You need to pat it dry; otherwise, it will spit at you when you add it to the frypan.

HANDS REMOVING THE CORE FROM PURPLE CAULIFLOWER ON A WOODEN BOARD WITH RED KNIFE ON SIDES
WASH & REMOVE THE CORE
HANDS CUTTING PURPLE CAULIFLOWER INTO FLORETS WITH A RED KNIFE ON A WOODEN CHOPPING BOARD
CUT INTO FLORETS

Step 2 - Cook the Cauliflower

Heat a large non-stick frypan on medium heat, add the oil and heat until warm, then add the cauliflower with a squeeze of lemon juice, season with salt and pepper, then sauté until golden brown. (Approximately 10-15 minutes, you will notice it darkening in colour).

ADDING PURPLE CAULIFLOWER TO A HOT PAN
ADD CAULIFLOWER TO A HOT PAN
COOKED PURPLE CAULIFLOWER FLORETS IN PAN
COOK TILL GOLDEN BROWN

Step 3 - Add the Aromatics and Herbs

In the meantime, roughly chop the green olives and almonds, do this next to the stovetop so you can keep an eye on your cauliflower.

Then add the coriander seeds and stir through until well distributed throughout the cauliflower florets; cook the seeds until golden, crispy and fragrant. You know they are ready when you can smell their gorgeous earthy, fruity aroma.

Time to add your chopped green olives and almonds, the zest and the remaining juice. Now, stir everything through the florets and pan-fry until the cauliflower is tender. (Approximately 5-10 minutes).

I just love ❤️ how the cauliflower changes colour from violet to bright purple as you are cooking it!

In the meantime, wash the parsley, shake or pat it dry, and then roughly chop.

Remove cooked cauliflower from the heat, toss through the chopped parsley and if it is looking a bit dry, add 2-3 tablespoons of oil.

Arrange in a salad bowl, drizzle with some oil and a sprinkle of chopped parsley. Serve either hot or cold - I like mine piping hot from the stove!

CHOPPED GREEN OLIVES ON A WOODEN BOARD WITH A KNIFE AND HALVED OLIVES IN A WHITE DISH
CHOP THE GREEN OLIVES & ALMONDS
ADDING CORIANDER SEEDS TO PAN WITH PURPLE CAULIFLOWER
ADD THE CORIANDER SEEDS
ADDING OLIVES, ALMONDS & ZESTTO PAN WITH PURPLE CAULIFLOWER
ADD OLIVES, ALMONDS & ZEST
Roughly chopped parsley leaves on a wooden board with a stainless steel knife on the side.
ROUGHLY CHOP PARSLEY
ADDING LEMON JUICE TO HOT PAN WITH CAULIFLOWER
ADD LEMON JUICE & ALLOW TO SIZZLE
ADDING PARSLEY TO PAN WITH REMAINING PURPLE CAULIFLOWER SALAD INGREDIENTS
ADD THE PARSLEY
Purple cauliflower salad in a dark grey bowl with parsley on the side.
SERVE & ENJOY!

Serving Suggestions

This Purple Cauliflower recipe is a great side dish for cooler weather - its regal colours make it perfect for your Christmas or Thanksgiving table.

It pairs deliciously with Turkey roasts, stews, and casseroles. Why not try it with a pork belly porchetta, a hearty beef cassIt'se or a warming tagine? It's sure to be a hit!

Common Questions (FAQs)

Where can I buy coloured cauliflower?

As cauliflower is in season during autumn/fall and winter, you are farmer's to find it at a farmer's market or at a specialty greengrocer. 
I surprisingly stumbled across mine at a farmers market during the summer months and then ran across a stack at my supermarket.

How do I choose the best purple cauliflower?

Just like you would any other cauliflower variety, make sure that the leaves are fresh and not limp and droopy.
Look for heads that are tightly closed and firm, without any blemishes or brown spots.
It should smell fresh and grassy but not sulphur-like, and it should be bright and evenly coloured.

Can I use white cauliflower instead?

can't problem at all; if you can't find a coloured caullie then, by all means, you can replace it with a white, orange, green or even with romanesco instead.
As they are so similar, there is nothing to change in the recipe.

Can I make this Purple Cauliflower Recipe ahead?

It all depends; if you want to serve this as a hot side, then no, it really cannot be made ahead. However, if you are going to serve this as a cold side, then it can be made several hours in advance.
Prepare all the components to this salad the day before and keep them in individual airtight containers in the fridge.
On the day, bring everything to room temperature before serving.
Also, add the parsley just before serving so that it does not wilt or discolour.

How can I store it?

Any leftover salad still tastes great after several days in the fridge just store it in an airtight container.
To change it up you can chop up any leftovers and to use as a filling in a frittata with some crumbled feta.
Or even stir it through some cooked pasta with cream, Parmesan cheese and minced garlic.

What diets is Purple Cauliflower best suited to?

This is a great salad for Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian and Whole30 eaters.
For Low Carb and Keto eaters, it contains 19 grams of total carbs or 9 grams of net carbs

Looking for More Brassica Salad Inspiration?

CLOSE UP OF BROCCOLINI SALAD WITH CRISPY CHORIZO & FETA
BROCCOLINI, CHORIZO & FETA
ROMANESCO SALAD IN PINK SALAD BOWL WITH PARSLEY AND PARMESAN FLAKES IN PINK BOWL ON THE SIDE
ROMANESCO SALAD
KALE AND BROCCOLI SALAD IN PORTRAIT
KALE & BROCCOLI SALAD

Recipe Card

Purple cauliflower salad in a dark grey bowl with parsley on the side.

Purple Cauliflower Recipe

Our Purple Cauliflower Recipe is packed with aromatic flavours and looks sensational with its vibrant violet hues. Ideal for impressing guests at a dinner party. 
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
* Times are an estimate and will depend on your skill level
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keyword: almonds, cauliflower, green olive
Difficulty: Capable Cooks
Diet: Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian,, Whole30
Servings: 4 as a side
Calories: 408kcal
Author: Anastasia
Ingredients
  • 900 grams purple cauliflower (approximately 6 cups, 32 ounces)
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • Sea salt and cracked pepper
  • 2 tablespoons coriander seeds
  • ½ cup almonds roughly chopped
  • ½ cup green olives roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • ⅓ cup lemon juice fresh
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
Metric - Imperial
Instructions
  • Wash the cauliflower, remove the core and leaves and cut into small florets, then pat dry. You don’t want it to spit at you when you add it to the frypan.
  • Heat a large non-stick frypan on medium heat, add the olive oil and heat until warm, then add the cauliflower a squeeze of lemon juice and sauté until golden brown. (Approximately 10-15 minutes, you will notice it darken in colour).
  • In the meantime, roughly chop the green olives and almonds.
  • Add the coriander seeds and stir until well distributed throughout the cauliflower florets; cook them until golden and fragrant.
  • Add green olives, zest and lemon juice, stir through the cauliflower, and cook until the cauliflower is tender. (Approximately 5-10 minutes).
  • In the meantime, wash the parsley, shake or pat dry and roughly chop.
  • Remove the cooked cauliflower from the stove, toss through the chopped parsley and add 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil if it looks dry.
  • Arrange in a salad bowl and serve when you are ready. I

Video

Notes

To prevent your cauliflower from changing colour, add a squeeze of lemon juice while you are cooking it.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Calories: 408kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 307mg | Potassium: 732mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 66IU | Vitamin C: 280mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 8mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @salads_with_anastasia or tag #salads_with_anastasia!
Share
Pin12
Tweet
Share

More Gourmet Salads

  • Walnut Pomegranate Salad with Green Olives
  • Arugula Fig Salad with Blue Cheese
  • Asian Zucchini Salad with Green Mango
  • Verdant Snow Pea Salad Perfect for Spring

About Anastasia

Anastasia is a home cook introduced to cooking at a young age (8 years old) and hasn’t gotten out of the kitchen since! She had her own coffee shop and ran her own catering business for over a decade. Her love of salads developed as she was always the one responsible for making the salads for family get-togethers and friends functions.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

ANASTASIA FROM SALADS WITH ANASTASIA

Hi, I’m Anastasia,
Let me show you how to transform your salads from boring and limp to bright, fresh and exciting using in-season produce.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Looking for a recipe?

Greek Salad Collection

NARROW PICS OF VARIOUS GREEK SALADS WITH A TEXT OVERLAY

Cheesy Salad Collection

Various salads with cheese and a text overlay.

Green Salad Collection

VARIETY OF GREEN SALADS WITH TEXT OVERLAY

Asian Salads

ASIAN SALAD COLLECTION WITH TEXT OVERLAY

Footer

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Me
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Site Credits
  • Contact Me

Sign-up for new salad recipes!

Recipes & Tools

  • Salads
  • Dressings
  • Spices & Condiments
  • Salad Tools
  • What's in Season
  • Let's Shop!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2020 · Salads with Anastasia · All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsOKAY
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT