Shaved Cauliflower Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette & Video

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Raw Shaved Cauliflower Salad from Spinach Tiger

My inspiration for this shaved cauliflower salad came from Adele’s in Nashville. I only had it once, and I never stopped thinking about it. This is my version based on their very good idea, which is why I’m reposting it.

At a recent cookout,  I needed a side for burgers. I didn’t want any starch, and a salad seemed too formal. No one around here likes mayonnaise based salads (except me). That delicious cauliflower salad came to mind when my friend texted me from Adele’s during brunch. I looked at the ingredients in their on-line menu and went from there.

Watch the Video for Raw Shaved Cauliflower Salad

Now normally I would not make anything with raw cauliflower, because it has no taste, and isn’t pleasant to eat. However once you add a strong vinegar based dressing, pistachios, golden raisins and scallions, it becomes a pretty addicting salad.

Raw Cauliflower Salad with Raisins and PIstachios

Here’s what I Learned about Raw Shaved Cauliflower Salad.

You almost can’t add enough vinegar and you need to let it marinate overnight. If not, it ends up being fairly tasteless. If you can wait or you plan ahead, it’s amazing, especially if you add nuts for crunch, and dried fruit for sweetness and texture.

You also needs lots of scallions, and a strong mustardy dressing.  I used a ratio of vinegar to oil 1 to 2. Normally I use much less vinegar, but this salad needs a lot of acid. It also needs salt, but add the chopped nuts first (which are salted) before you add too much.

I used a large whole cauliflower and sliced each floret as thinly as possible. I tried both slicing with a knife and a mandolin. The mandolin works better and I use this one also featured below.

As far as nuts, I used chopped, salted pistachios. Harder nuts seem to work better in this salad, and you could also use chopped peanuts or sliced almonds. If you use almonds, sautè them first to intensify their flavor. I added in some red chili flakes for heat.

Shaved Cauliflower Salad stays crunchy and is the perfect side dish to take to a party or pot luck.

I find that people really appreciate healthier choices at parties. This will be added to my list of salads that travel well, that include this Potluck Autumn Kale Salad and this Brussels Sprouts Salad with Raw Beet Pesto.

 More Spinach Tiger Cauliflower Recipes

Popcorn Cauliflower

Cauliflower Parmesan

Purple Cauliflower Salad with Walnut Vinaigrette

More Spinach Tiger Salad Recipes HERE

Print Recipe
4.67 from 6 votes

Shaved Cauliflower Salad with Champagne Mustard Vinaigrette

Raw Cauliflower Salad with pistachios, golden raisins, scallions, and a zesty dijon mustard champagne vinaigrette.
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Author: Angela Roberts

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower
  • 1/2 cup chopped salted pistachios
  • 1/3 cup golden raisins
  • 2 bunches of scallions
  • 1/2 cup champagne vinaigrette see recipe below
  • sea salt
  • pepper
  • red pepper flakes as needed

Champagne Mustard Vinaigrette

  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 3 tablespoons champagne vinegar more as needed
  • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • Cut out the bottom core of cauliflower. Discard
  • Slice cauliflower as thin as you can. Mandolin is best, but you can slice with good sharp knife.
  • Toss with vinaigrette.You will want the vinegar to be pronounced. I found that the cauliflower doesn't hold the vinegar taste.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add in chile flakes.
  • Add golden raisins, chopped scallions, nuts, (reserve some nuts for garnish).

Vinaigrette Instructions

  • Infuse olive oil with chopped garlic for 20 minutes.
  • Put mustard in a jar and mix well with vinegar.
  • Slowly add olive oil. Mix well.
  • Add red pepper flakes.
  • Season with salt and pepper.

Video

Notes

Depending on how large your cauliflower is, you may need more dressing. Once you taste, you may need to add vinegar, but I found I didn't need to add in more olive oil.
You might also want to add in more nuts, raisins depending on your own taste.
It's important to refrigerate this salad for several hours or overnight to marinate the cauliflower.

Please follow me on instagram. If you make this recipe,  please tag me #spinachtiger.

If you love this recipe, please give it five stars. It means a lot. xoxo


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26 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This salad is so good! I have had it at Adeles and was searching for a look-a-like to serve at a dinner party. Have made it several times since, always with rave reviews. Thank you for posting!

  2. 5 stars
    So excited I found this recipe online but actually the vinegar should be 25 year old aged white balsamic vinegar got that directly from the chef at Adele’s in Nashville this last weekend

    1. Thank you for writing. It is extremely rare to find a 25 year old aged white balsamic, and It’s really not necessary.
      Champagne vinegar works well in this recipe, giving it the lift and brightness it needs and I don’t think the salad is compromised at all.
      I do love a good 25 year old aged balsamic (not white). I’ve purchased those here and in Italy for over $100, and they are worth it for certain things, but truly I’ve never heard any big fuss on aged white balsamic.
      When I’m figuring out a recipe for my readers, I do my best to replicate in a way that makes sense for me and for home cooks. I would never suggest a vinegar that is hard to find or just not necessary.

4.67 from 6 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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