15 Creative Plant-Based Cauliflower Recipes

Just a head of steamed or sautéed cauliflower seasoned with a little salt and pepper can be all you need to make a perfect side dish. You don’t have to do anything else.

But, that doesn’t mean you can’t. This seemingly mild member of the Brassica family can take on a whole other life of its own and sparkle and shine as the star of your meal.

Take a look at these OGP recipes that take cauliflower to new heights with curries, calzones, tots, and tacos.

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 20,000 delicious recipes it is the largest meatless, vegan, plant-based, and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help you get healthy! And, don’t forget to check out our Bean Archives!

1. Buffalo Cauliflower Calzones with Cashew Blue Cheese

Source: Buffalo Cauliflower Calzones with Cashew Blue Cheese

Buffalo cauliflower is the key to changing the minds of those who refuse to believe vegan food could taste good. Buffalo Cauliflower Calzones with Cashew Blue Cheese by Kristy Turner are the key to blowing their minds! With that super-spicy “Buffalo” flavor, no one cares whether it’s chicken or cauliflower—especially when it’s coated in a nutty chickpea flour crust and stuffed in a soft, doughy pizza pocket along with a healthy amount of tangy Cashew Blue Cheese. Need to impress an omnivore? Make this.

2. Black Bean, Cauliflower, and Sweet Potato Stew

Source: Black Bean, Cauliflower, and Sweet Potato Stew

This protein-rich Black Bean, Cauliflower, and Sweet Potato Stew by Julie Zimmer is seasonal, hearty, and has a secret ingredient. That’s right, the base is mixed with beer. Simple, yummy, and perfect for a holiday party.

3. One-Pot Thai Cauliflower Curry

Source: One-Pot Thai Cauliflower Curry

This One-Pot Thai Cauliflower Curry by Katia Martin is super tasty, easy to make, and there is minimal clean-up after too. You would think that a meal jam-packed with flavor like a curry would take a lot of time to make and clean up after. But not this one-pot wonder!

4. Indian-Spiced Cauliflower

Source: Indian-Spiced Cauliflower

Tender and hearty cauliflower flavored with Indian spices. This Indian-Spiced Cauliflower by Taavi Moore is super easy, simple, and the perfect weeknight dinner.

5. Harvest Veggie Pizza

Source: Harvest Veggie Pizza

This white sauce garlic pizza is complete with all the in-season veggies your heart could ever desire! The Harvest Veggie Pizza by Alexandra and Eian is the perfect way to celebrate the upcoming harvest season!

6. Cajun-Spiced Cauliflower Tacos

Source: Cajun-Spiced Cauliflower Tacos

These Cajun-Spiced Cauliflower Tacos by Taavi Moore are filled with smoky and crispy Cajun-spiced baked cauliflower and topped with a citrusy corn salad. Charred and crispy cauliflower, light and citrusy corn salad, fresh cilantro, and lime, aka a dream combo. These tacos are full of flavor and scream sunny weather and outdoor BBQs.

7. Cauliflower Steaks With Sweet Pea Purée

Source: Cauliflower Steaks With Sweet Pea Purée

For a unique dinner entrée, give these Cauliflower Steaks With Sweet Pea Purée by Helyn Dunn a try. Baked to crispy perfection and seasoned with paprika, coriander, and black pepper, they are zesty and flavorful. Sweet pea purée adds a delicious freshness to the dish as well.

8. Cauliflower Fried Rice

Source: Cauliflower Fried Rice

A healthy and nutritious Cauliflower Fried Rice by Pavani Nandula that is colorful, filling, and great to pack in the lunch box.

9. Golden Roasted Cauliflower Turmeric Coconut Soup

Source: Golden Roasted Cauliflower Turmeric Coconut Soup

This Golden Roasted Cauliflower Turmeric Coconut Soup by Tara Weir is creamy and comforting and infused with a wonderful deep, rich flavor from the roasted cauliflower. Honestly, caramelizing your cauliflower first is a total game-changer! This soup is dairy and gluten-free and suitable for vegan, paleo, and keto diets. Better still, it’s easy to make and packed with vitamins and minerals, disease-fighting antioxidants, healthy fats, and fiber.

10. Sesame Cauliflower Bites

Source: Sesame Cauliflower Bites

These Sesame Cauliflower Bites by Annie Kimmelman are sweet, filling, sticky, and so flavorful.

11. Roasted BBQ Cauliflower, Pepita Dressing, and Cilantro-Lime Quinoa

Source: Roasted BBQ Cauliflower, Pepita Dressing, and Cilantro-Lime Quinoa

Trt making this Roasted BBQ Cauliflower, Pepita Dressing, and Cilantro-Lime Quinoa by Denise Perrault. Roasted BBQ cauliflower with homemade spicy barbacoa sauce bakes in the oven while you whip up cool pepita dressing to plate up with cilantro-lime quinoa.

12. Tahini-Roasted Cauliflower With Lemony Herb Oil

Source: Tahini-Roasted Cauliflower With Lemony Herb Oil

For a stunning centerpiece that looks as amazing as it tastes, you have to try this Tahini-Roasted Cauliflower With Lemony Herb Oil by Maikki Vasala. Along with being gorgeous, it is craftily spiced, rubbed down with a nutty tahini coating, drizzled with lemony herbs, and eventually garnished with roasted almonds. This whole roasted cauliflower will be a crowd-pleaser at your next dinner party––or maybe you’ll want to keep it all to yourself!

13. Harissa Butter Grilled Cauliflower Steaks

Source: Harissa Butter Grilled Cauliflower Steaks

The main flavor for these Harissa Butter Grilled Cauliflower Steaks by Megan Calipari is harissa. Harissa is a North African hot chili paste. It has other spices and garlic in it as well making it flavorful. So, it’s the perfect thing to add flavor to cauliflower steaks- which need a LOT of seasoning.

14. Buffalo Cauliflower Taco Bowl

Source: Buffalo Cauliflower Taco Bowl

You might have to use a fork for this kind of Taco Tuesday. This deconstructive healthy Buffalo Cauliflower Taco Bowl by Robin Browne is packed with veggies, spice, and a creamy sauce. Add some zest and heat to your weeknight dinners as you dig into this vegan taco bowl.

15. Cauliflower Tots With Herbed Tofu Dip

Source: Cauliflower Tots With Herbed Tofu Dip

Tater tots were a coveted high school lunch staple for many of us. Well, these Cauliflower Tots With Herbed Tofu Dip by Lenia & Dimitra are like tater tats 2.0 — and they’re so good, you’ll never want to share them with anyone. Cauliflower is cooked then blended with bread crumbs and plenty of seasoning, then shaped and baked until crispy on the outside. These baked tots paired with the herbed tofu dip make a great appetizer for game day, movie night, or a weekend snack.

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