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    Home » Comfort Food Recipes

    Spicy Bbq Cauliflower Salad Bowl

    Published: Sep 12, 2020 by Richa 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe

    This Spicy BBQ Cauliflower Salad Bowl is a medley of exciting textures and bold flavors, and so fun to eat! Oven-roasted sweet, spicy and smokey cauliflower on a bed of iceberg, apples, pecans, drizzled with creamy Vegan Ranch. Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free recipe. Jump to Recipe

     

    overhead shot of a salad bowl topped with bbq roasted cauliflower and vegan ranch dressing
    Just in case you cannot decide what to make for lunch today, give this BBQ Cauliflower Salad Bowl a try. It’s sweet, smoky, and spicy, a little creamy, a little crispy  – you will see it has got something for everyone! A delicious  vegan oven-roasted cauliflower bowl that makes for an easy, flavorful salad and that is filling enough to be served as a main!

    overhead shot of a salad bowl topped with bbq roasted cauliflower and vegan ranch dressing

    Picture fresh, crispy iceberg topped with delightful sweet & spicy BBQ roasted cauliflower florets that are packed with loads of flavor and spice.

    Really, the roasted cauliflower pretty much speaks for itself here. Trust me, it’s as flavorful as it looks with its smoky sweetness that goes so well with the creamy Ranch, sweet apples, and crisp salad. This salad will surely have you coming back for more!

    overhead shot of a spicy bbq roasted cauliflower salad bowl in a white bowl drizzled with Vegan Ranch Dressing ” width=

    bbq roasted cauliflower salad bowl drizzled with Vegan Ranch Dressing
    Print Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Spicy BBQ Cauliflower Salad Bowl

    This Spicy BBQ Cauliflower Salad Bowl is a medley of exciting textures and bold flavors!, Oven-roasted sweet, spicy and smokey cauliflower on a bed of iceberg, apples pecans, drizzled with creamy Vegan Ranch. A vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free salad recipe that is healthy. 
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time38 mins
    Total Time48 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cauliflower salad, salad bowl recipe vegan, salad with roasted cauliflower
    Servings: 3
    Calories: 383kcal
    Author: Vegan Richa

    Ingredients

    For the BBQ Cauliflower

    • 1 medium cauliflower head chopped into florets
    • 2 tsp oil
    • 1 tsp paprika half smoked, half sweet
    • 1 tsp garlic powder
    • 1/2 tsp onion powder
    • 1/2 tsp thyme
    • 1/4 tsp salt
    • 1/2 cup (120 ml) or more bbq sauce
    • 2 tsp or more hot sauce

    For the Salad

    • 1 small head of iceberg lettuce chopped
    • 1 apple peeled, and chopped small or sliced thin
    • 1/3 cup (90 g) chopped pecans or use toasted sunflower seeds/pumpkin seeds for nut free
    • 1/4 cup (60 ml) Vegan ranch or use my basil cream dressing
    • 1/3 cup (100 g) thinly sliced carrots
    • Chives for garnish

    Instructions

    • Chop your cauliflower, and set aside.
    • In a bowl, mix all your dry spices, and set aside.
    • Add the oil to the cauliflower, toss well, and rub in so that all the florets are coated well.
    • Add in the spice mixture and toss well to coat.
    • Transfer this to a greased or parchment lined baking dish.
    • Bake at 400 degrees F ( C) for 17-18 minutes, then remove from the oven.
    • Let the cauliflower cool for a few minutes, then drizzle the bbq sauce and hot sauce, and mix well. If you'd like more bbq sauce coating the cauliflower, add some more, and toss within the baking dish, spread the cauliflower out again, and bake again at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, or until the cauliflower is cooked to preference.
    • Meanwhile, prep your salad by chopping up the lettuce, apples, and carrots. Add them to a bowl, and mix well.
    • Top the bowl with your baked cauliflower, and a generous drizzle of ranch, and some garnishes like chives or black pepper, and serve!
      As salad dressing I recommend my vegan ranch(this celery ranch minus celery seeds)  !  you can also use my chipotle ranch or basil cream dressing

    Notes

    • This recipe can be made Nutfree by omitting pecans and using a Nutfree vegan ranch
    • To ensure soyfree use soyfree bbq sauce. 
    • Pears would be a great stand-in for apples. 
    • For salads, you'll want a nice crunchy apple that doesn't brown too quickly when sliced or chopped. The best apples for adding to salads are: Honeycrisp, Fuji, Pink Lady, are great choices.
    • You can change up the veggies, add some fresh, nuts or seeds as toppings and add some more fruit like blueberries for variation! 
    • Use this recipe for the vegan ranch.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Spicy BBQ Cauliflower Salad Bowl
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 383 Calories from Fat 180
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 20g31%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Cholesterol 7mg2%
    Sodium 450mg20%
    Potassium 1137mg32%
    Carbohydrates 49g16%
    Fiber 10g42%
    Sugar 30g33%
    Protein 8g16%
    Vitamin A 3746IU75%
    Vitamin C 105mg127%
    Calcium 113mg11%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Ingredients for making Vegan Spicy BBQ Cauliflower Salad Bowls:

    • cauliflower – organic if possible, chopped into florets. Make sure to cut the florets into equal-sized chunks to allow for even cooking.
    • bbq spice blend: I am using a blend of paprika, half-smoked, half sweet, some garlic powder,  onion powder, and dried thyme.
    • We amp up the bbq flavor some more by adding some bbq sauce along with some vegan hot sauce for a bit of heat. Feel free to add more or less to taste.
    • I used sliced iceberg lettuce and spinach leaves as the base for these healthy salad bowls.
    • Fresh apple, peeled and chopped into small cubes add a crunchy crisp texture and some refreshing tartness.
    • Carrots add a touch of color and natural sweetness.
    •  Chopped pecans add some healthy fat, crunch and a nice nutty aroma. Make sure to toast the nuts a bit in a dry pan over medium-low heat until they start to smell fragrant.
    • As salad dressing I recommend my vegan ranch(this celery ranch minus celery seeds)  – this dressing alone is worth giving a try!  But you can also use my chipotle ranch or basil cream dressing

    vegan bbq roasted cauliflower salad bowl being drizzled with vegan Ranch Dressing
    Tips for making this recipe:

    • Feel free to add some more seasonal greens, like kale, arugula or beet greens.
    • Pears would be a great stand-in for apples.
    • For salads, you’ll want a nice crunchy apple that doesn’t brown too quickly when sliced or chopped. Toss the Sliced apples in lemon juice. The best apples for adding to salads are: Honeycrisp, Fuji, Pink Lady, Jazz, Envy, and Empire. All of those are great choices.
    • You can change up the veggies, add some fresh, nuts, or seeds as toppings and add some more fruit like blueberries for variation!

    How to make this cauliflower salad bowl recipe:

    cauliflower florets in a white bowl next to a side dish with bbq spices

    Chop your cauliflower, and set aside. In a bowl, mix all your dry spices, and set aside.

    cauliflower florets sprinkled with bbq spices ready for roasting
    Add the oil to the cauliflower, toss well, and rub in so that all the florets are coated well. Add in the spice mixture and toss well to coat. Transfer this to a greased baking dish.


    overhead shot of a white casserole with oven roasted bbq spiced cauliflower florets

    Bake at 400 degrees F for 17-18 minutes, then remove from the oven.

    oven roasted bbq spiced cauliflower drizzled with bbq sauce

    Let Cauliflower cool for a few minutes, then drizzle the bbq sauce and hot sauce, and mix well. If you’d like more bbq sauce coating the cauliflower, add some more, and toss within the baking dish. Then spread the cauliflower out again, and bake again at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, or until the cauliflower is cooked to preference.

    spinach and iceberg salad being arranged in a white bowl to make cauliflower salad bowl
    Meanwhile, prep your salad by chopping up the lettuce, apples, and carrots. Add them to a bowl, and mix well.

    overhead shot of a salad bowl with spinach and iceberg lettuce, carrots, pecans and apples

    Top the bowl with your baked cauliflower, and a generous drizzle of ranch, and some garnishes like chives or black pepper, and serve!

    vegan roasted cauliflower salad bowl drizzled with Vegan Ranch Dressing

    More vegan bowl recipes from the blog:

    • Chili garlic Tofu Bowl with noodles and chard
    • Peanut Butter Roasted Cauliflower Bowl. GF
    • Quinoa Cauliflower Bowl with almond Sriracha sauce GF
    • Sprouted Lentil Bowl with Cajun Spied Sweet Potatoes GF
    • Turmeric Cauliflower Rice Bowl with Moroccan spice chickpeas.  GF

    overhead shot of a bbq roasted cauliflower salad bowl drizzled with Vegan Ranch Dressing

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    « Instant Pot Kitchari (Lightly Spiced Lentils and Rice)
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    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you Love the Recipe, Please consider rating it using stars in comments! It helps readers and helps more people find the recipe online! I love hearing from you all! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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    1. Mary

      August 29, 2022 at 7:16 am

      How large is a serving so I can keep within my calorie count? This sounds delicious and I’ll be making it this week.

      Reply
      • Vegan Richa Support

        September 01, 2022 at 12:20 pm

        About 115 grams

        Reply
    2. Sherry

      October 19, 2020 at 7:45 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner tonight and it was so yummy!

      Reply
      • Richa

        October 19, 2020 at 10:38 pm

        Yay

        Reply
    3. Linda

      September 17, 2020 at 3:32 am

      5 stars
      Looks delicious! Any suggestions for eliminating the oil?

      Reply
      • Richa

        September 17, 2020 at 8:37 am

        Just omit it and use aquafaba or broth instead.

        Reply
    4. Ravi Chandra

      September 14, 2020 at 2:25 am

      5 stars
      Nice recipe,will try.Pic w/o branch looks best.. eaten as a side to flavored rice dishes, evening drinks etc

      Reply
      • Richa

        September 16, 2020 at 11:26 pm

        Thanks

        Reply
    5. Emily

      September 13, 2020 at 1:52 am

      5 stars
      Made the cauliflower and served them in wraps with the ranch and lettuce. Soo good! Love the simplicity of this recipe

      Reply
      • Richa

        September 14, 2020 at 5:56 am

        Awesome !

        Reply

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