Sicilian Cauliflower Salad

4.60 from 45 votes
1 hour
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Sicilian Cauliflower Salad is super easy and made with simple pantry ingredients you may already have on hand.  It’s a light and tasty salad that keeps for days in your refrigerator!

Wow! My wife and I couldn’t stay away from it. This awesome salad will be a regular at our table.

Photo of Sicilian Cauliflower Salad in white serving bowl with serving utensils.

The thing that I love most about Italian food and cooking is that hardly anything ever goes to waste.  The Italians find creative ways to make everything stretch!  This salad is inspired by the Italian “reinforcement salad” which exemplifies that no-waste philosophy!

What is Sicilian Cauliflower Salad?

The Sicilian Cauliflower Salad (or Insalata Rinforzata as this salad is inspired by) is often served at Christmastime in southern Italy and Sicily.  I think it’s perfect at any time of the year and especially now because you can make it with things you may already have in your pantry.  Best of all, it holds beautifully!

In the “old days,” it was customary to make this type of salad as an antipasto and then as the holiday season went on, additional vegetables or condiments would be added.

This version is inspired by Mary Ann Esposito of Ciao Italia on PBS who says that if any is leftover you can add things from your refrigerator like carrots or asparagus to give it new taste nuances.

No matter what you call it, I call it delicious!

Photo of Sicilian Cauliflower Salad in white serving bowl garnished with parsley sprigs.

How to make Sicilian Cauliflower Salad:

  • Make a simple vinaigrette of olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice and garlic.
Photo of vinaigrette in glass bowl.
  • Cut a large head of cauliflower into bite-sized florets.
Photo uncooked cauliflower florets in white colander.
  • Blanch the florets in salted boiling water for approximately 1 minute.
  • Transfer the hot cauliflower florets to a large mixing bowl then pour the vinaigrette over the cauliflower.
  • Give it a stir so that all the cauliflower is evenly coated with the vinaigrette and it “marinates” as it cools to room temperature.
Photo of blanched cauliflower in glass bowl.
  • Add the other ingredients:
    • Diced red onion
    • Diced roasted red bell pepper
    • Halved kalamata olives
    • Capers
    • Diced sun-dried tomatoes
    • Chickpeas
    • Chopped fresh parsley
    • Crushed red pepper flakes
Photo of ingredients for Sicilian Cauliflower Salad in glass bowl.
  • Stir and that’s it!  Adjust to your taste with salt, pepper or a little extra vinegar or lemon juice.
Photo of Sicilian Cauliflower Salad in white serving bowl with serving utensils garnished with parsley sprigs.
Close-up photo of Sicilian Cauliflower Salad in white serving bowl garnished with parsley sprigs.

So good… and the perfect salad to make with all those pantry ingredients you have!  You could also add:

  • Canned tuna
  • Anchovies
  • Pepperoncini or cherry peppers
Close-up photo of Sicilian Cauliflower Salad in white serving bowl with serving utensils.

More cauliflower salads you’re sure to love!

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Sicilian Cauliflower Salad - Overhead close-up shot of salad garnished with parsley sprigs

Sicilian Cauliflower Salad

4.60 from 45 votes

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By: Carol | From A Chef’s Kitchen
Sicilian Cauliflower Salad is super easy and made with simple pantry ingredients you may already have on hand.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Side Dishes – Salads
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 -8
Calories 229 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar - or more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice - approximately 1 large lemon
  • 4 cloves garlic - minced
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste
  • 1 large head cauliflower - cut into small florets (7-8 cups)
  • 1/2 large red onion - finely chopped (approximately 1 cup)
  • 1 jar (12-ounce) roasted red peppers in olive oil and garlic - drained and chopped
  • 1/2 cup pitted and halved Kalamata olives
  • 5 sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil - drained and chopped (approximately 1/4 cup)
  • 1/4 cup capers - drained
  • 1 can (15-ounce) chickpeas - (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
  • 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions
 

  • Whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic and salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste in a large bowl.
  • Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil.
  • Drop the cauliflower florets into the boiling water and cook 1 minute. Drain well.
  • Transfer the blanched cauliflower florets to the bowl with the vinaigrette. Toss to coat with the vinaigrette and let cool.
  • When cooled to room temperature, add the next 8 ingredients (red onion to crushed red pepper flakes). Stir to combine.
  • Adjust seasoning with salt, black pepper and additional red wine vinegar if desired.

Recipe Notes

ADDITIONS YOU COULD MAKE: 
  • Canned tuna
  • Anchovies
  • Pepperoncini or cherry peppers
MAKE AHEAD:
  • This salad keeps for 3-4 days (at least) in the refrigerator.  Stir from the bottom up before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 229kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Sodium: 434mg | Potassium: 514mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 348IU | Vitamin C: 77mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg

These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

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4.60 from 45 votes (35 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




24 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This cauliflower salad is outstanding. Made this for a party we hosted and needless to say, there was none left. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

  2. 5 stars
    This is one amazing, colorful, nutritious salad! Chock full of the best ingredients accompanied with a delicious lemony vinaigrette… perfect paring! This is my go to!❤️

    1. Hi, Janice, Thanks so VERY MUCH! So happy you love this recipe and appreciate your taking the time to come back and comment and rate.

  3. 5 stars
    Holy moly this salad is so yummy! I couldn’t help but taste it while the cauliflower was still a little warm and I ended up eating a whole bowl. A yummy and fresh change of flavor during this cold winter here in Minnesota.

    1. Hi, Joanna, Thanks so very much and so happy you enjoyed it! I know about snowy and cold being from Wisconsin. I really appreciate your taking the time to come back and comment. Thanks again!