March 9, 2015 Dinner

Thai Cauliflower Rice Salad with Peanut Butter Sauce

Name: Thai Cauliflower Rice Salad with Peanut Butter Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: For the salad; 1 medium cauliflower head; 1 cup coconut milk; 1 small onion (finely diced); 2 garlic cloves (minced); 1 small bunch fresh parsley; 2 spring onions (roughly chopped); 1/4 cup toasted almonds (chopped); 1 mango (peeled and cut it small cubes); 1 bell pepper (cut in small cubes); 1/2 cup red cabbage (finely chopped); 1 tsp coconut oil; For the sauce; 2 tbsp peanut butter; 1 inch ginger piece (peeled); 2 limes (juice only); 1 tsp organic raw honey; 1/4 cup water; 1/2 tsp sea salt

By: Ana / 72 / Dinner, Gluten Free, Lunch, Quick & Easy, Salads, Spring, Vegan,

Spring bloomed in force over here, turning all of us upside down. All of a sudden, the temperature raised from 0 to 13 degrees, the lilac bushes got tiny green sprouts, and the parks got crowded. After such a long time without seeing the face of the sun, its first rays put me in the mood to plan for holidays. No, we’re not going to Thailand yet (although I’d love to), but I’m celebrating the beginning of spring with colors, in my kitchen.

In my family, cauliflower was far from being popular. We only ate it gratin from time to time, and I pretty much hated it. Last year, I decided to give cauliflower another chance, and roasting it was one of my bigger revelations. Ever since, I add it to salads, patties, or curries, but this time, I thought I’d do something really different. I first saw the cauliflower rice idea at Oh My Veggies and I found it genius, especially because I’m on a vegan diet right now (I’m fasting until Easter), and I try to reduce the temptation of having a high carb intake and replace as much as possible with vegetables.

When I introduced cauliflower into my diet, I also found out more about its amazing nutritional values. The humble cauliflower is no less than its popular cruciferous relatives (kale, brussels sprouts, or broccoli), and it has exceptional effects on our bodies’ health, especially when eaten raw or lightly cooked.

One of the main benefits of cauliflower is its implication in prevention of many types of cancer (bladder, breast, colon, prostate, and ovarian cancer), especially because it’s loaded with powerful antioxidants, but also for its nutrients that stimulate the natural detox function of our bodies. The glucosinolates in cauliflower activate the enzymes responsible for detoxification and regulate their activity. Some of these are metabolized into sulforaphane, a compound that prevents bacterial overgrowth of Helicobacter pylori in the stomach.

Cauliflower is loaded with vitamin C (1 cup provides about 70 percent of the daily recommended intake), a core antioxidant that helps our bodies reduce the oxidative stress in our cells, but also with a broad spectrum of other antioxidants (such as beta-carotene or quercetin) that supports our detoxification function and reduces the risk of chronic diseases like cancer.

Most of the cauliflower’s nutrients are available when we consume it raw or lightly cooked, because heat destroys nutrients like vitamin C, for instance. To obtain the cauliflower rice, you simply have to cook it for five minutes on low heat with coconut milk a safe and recommended method which preserves most of the nutrients. Cooking it lightly is also a good method to maintain a crispy texture and to get rid of the sulphur smell. The phytonutrients release this smell when heated, and the more you cook the cauliflower, the stronger the smell.

This cauliflower rice had a fantastic taste and that ginger-peanut-lime sauce took everything to a new level. And oh, those colors!

For more nourishing salad recipes check out my Roasted Veggie Salad for Hormone Balancing, Vegan Pasta Salad, the Very Green Version or the Sprouts Salad. Or as a twist, you can try using my pistachio butter recipe instead of peanut butter, it will taste different but equally good!

I love seeing your take on my recipes, so if you make this salad don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @theawesomegreen so I can see it and share with the community.

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4.50 from 12 votes