A simple Sicilian recipe for Purple Cauliflower Salad (purple cauliflower is optional!) with kalamata olives, capers, fresh herbs, a grain of choice, topped with pickled red onions. Add Marcona almonds or shaved pecorino to add richness, or keep it vegan! Either way, you’ll love the Sicilian flavors in this recipe!

I stumbled on the most beautiful purple cauliflower at the farmer’s market the other day.  I still marvel at how nature produces such remarkable hues, it’s kind of incredible, really.  Anyways, this is what became of the purple cauliflower and as I type I’m munching on the leftovers. So tasty! Know that you can make this salad with regular cauliflower, or even a pink one – whatever strikes your fancy.

Purple Cauliflower Salad (Sicilian Style!) with olives, grains, capers, parlsely scallions and pickled onions. This vegan healthy salad is easy to make and keeps for several days, perfect for meal prep! | #cauliflowersalad #vegansalad #roastedcauliflowersalad #purplecauliflower

But if the opportunity arises which, I have a feeling it will – because well, that is how the universe works-  where the most beautiful purple cauliflower catches your eye, now you have something to make with it!

And bringing something new and different into the kitchen even as simple as a purple cauliflower makes cooking delightful. So prepare yourself for delight, friends. I’m so excited to see how many of you stumble on a purple cauliflower this week!

If I were a bride, I would have these as my centerpieces. I would hold one as my bouquet. Ok maybe a bit much, but you get the idea, they really are flowers!

 

Purple Cauliflower Salad (Sicilian Style!) with olives, grains, capers, parlsely scallions and pickled onions. This vegan healthy salad is easy to make and keeps for several days, perfect for meal prep! | #cauliflowersalad #vegansalad #roastedcauliflowersalad #purplecauliflower

Roast the cauliflower and cook your grain of choice.

Today I picked black rice, but feel free to use quinoa, farro, freekah, wheat berries, wild rice… anything you like!

Purple Cauliflower Salad (Sicilian Style!) with olives, grains, capers, parlsely scallions and pickled onions. This vegan healthy salad is easy to make and keeps for several days, perfect for meal prep! | #cauliflowersalad #vegansalad #roastedcauliflowersalad #purplecauliflower

You can toss everything into a big bowl along with the dressing, or you can layer the salad as I do here for a pretty presentation, to show off the cauliflower – perfect if taking to a potluck or gathering.

Purple Cauliflower Salad (Sicilian Style!) with olives, grains, capers, parlsely scallions and pickled onions. This vegan healthy salad is easy to make and keeps for several days, perfect for meal prep! | #cauliflowersalad #vegansalad #roastedcauliflowersalad #purplecauliflower

Layer the cooked grain on the bottom. Add the roasted purple cauliflower, olives, capers.

Purple Cauliflower Salad (Sicilian Style!) with olives, grains, capers, parlsely scallions and pickled onions. This vegan healthy salad is easy to make and keeps for several days, perfect for meal prep! | #cauliflowersalad #vegansalad #roastedcauliflowersalad #purplecauliflower

Sprinkle with the scallions and herbs.

Purple Cauliflower Salad (Sicilian Style!) with olives, grains, capers, parlsely scallions and pickled onions. This vegan healthy salad is easy to make and keeps for several days, perfect for meal prep! | #cauliflowersalad #vegansalad #roastedcauliflowersalad #purplecauliflower

Add the pickled red onions, and spoon the dressing over top!

Purple Cauliflower Salad (Sicilian Style!) with olives, grains, capers, parlsely scallions and pickled onions. This vegan healthy salad is easy to make and keeps for several days, perfect for meal prep! | #cauliflowersalad #vegansalad #roastedcauliflowersalad #purplecauliflower

Toss right before serving.

Purple Cauliflower Salad (Sicilian Style!) with olives, grains, capers, parlsely scallions and pickled onions. This vegan healthy salad is easy to make and keeps for several days, perfect for meal prep! | #cauliflowersalad #vegansalad #roastedcauliflowersalad #purplecauliflower

So easy, so fun to make.

Purple Cauliflower Salad (Sicilian Style!) with olives, grains, capers, parlsely scallions and pickled onions. This vegan healthy salad is easy to make and keeps for several days, perfect for meal prep! | #cauliflowersalad #vegansalad #roastedcauliflowersalad #purplecauliflower

Go visit your local farmer’s market, find the purple cauliflower of your dreams and give this  Purple Cauliflower Salad a try this week! Hope you are having a joyful week.  Hint: it’s in you. The joy, I mean… find it!;)

xoxo

Related: 

35 Must-Try Farmers Market Recipes!

Make-Ahead Vegan Salads!

 

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Purple Cauliflower Salad (Sicilian Style!) with olives, grains, capers, parlsely scallions and pickled onions. This vegan healthy salad is easy to make and keeps for several days, perfect for meal prep! | #cauliflowersalad #vegansalad #roastedcauliflowersalad #purplecauliflower

Purple Cauliflower Salad- Sicilian Style

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 9 reviews
  • Author: Sylvia Fountaine
  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: salad, vegan salad
  • Method: roasted
  • Cuisine: Italian

Description

Purple Cauliflower Salad (Sicilian Style!) with kalamata olives, capers, grains parsley scallions and pickled onions. This vegan healthy salad is easy to make and keeps for several days, perfect for meal prep!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 head cauliflower, purple if possible
  • olive oil to coat
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • zest of one lemon
  • —–
  • 2 cups cooked grain- black rice, quinoa, freekah, farro, etc….
  • 2 scallions, sliced
  • 1/2 cup sliced kalamata olives
  • 2 tablespoons capers
  • 1/2 cup Italian parsley, chopped

Dressing:

Optional Garnishes: Pickled onions, marcona almonds, chili flakes, shaved pecorino


Instructions

Preheat oven to 425F

Set grains to cook on the stove. Cook and cool to room temp.

Cut cauliflower into bite-sized florets, lightly toss in olive oil, salt and lemon zest. Spread out on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast 25 minutes, or until fork-tender, turning halfway through. Let cool.

Make the dressing, whisking all in a bowl.

Feel free to toss salad ingredients the dressing in a bowl or layer them in a shallow bowl. If layering, start wth the grain, add the cauliflower, olives, capers, scallions, parsley, pickled onions, optional almonds/pecorino and sprinkle with chili flakes.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 216
  • Sugar: 2 g
  • Sodium: 570.9 mg
  • Fat: 13.8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 21.8 g
  • Fiber: 3.8 g
  • Protein: 3.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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Comments

  1. We grew a purple cauliflower in our garden!! It was beautiful but I had no idea what to do with it, until I came upon your recipe. We have a new baby at home so I’ve also been trying to incorporate more barley and brown rice into my diet and barley worked great in this and I’m sure brown rice would too. I had some probiotic lemon olives instead of kalamata and they added a nice touch. I also added the young tender leaves from around the cauliflower to the salad as well as all the little crumbles/rice that are left on the cutting board after cutting into florets went in the salad raw. The juxtaposition of the bright purple incredibly fresh and sweet raw cauliflower and the deeper purple rich roasted florets was incredible. I omitted salt completely until serving and it was the hit of our bbq!! I wish I could add pictures here…Thanks for the recipe, your website is a great find.






  2. This is beyond fabulous. One of the best recipes of yours that I’ve tasted and that’s a high bar. Thank you so much!






  3. My family (with kids 7 and 9) really loved this. Added all the extras listed above. Used quinoa and a large head of cauliflower. Husband added aleppo pepper. We’ll be making it again.






  4. This is our new household favorite! We made it with black rice and threw in some sun-dried tomatoes for good measure and it was absolutely delicious.






  5. Excellent salad- made it with regular white cauliflower as I cant find purple where I live. Flavors were stunning.






  6. Eating the leftovers for lunch today and have to say, this just made my whole day. It gets even better as it sits. Awesome recipe!






  7. Made this last weekend and it was a huge hit. So beautiful and delicious! Such an easy recipe- thanks!






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