Black Pepper Free Ginger-Lime Cauliflower Apple Salad
Bright, zippy, and genuinely refreshing, this shaved cauliflower and apple salad is the kind of dish that makes you rethink what a salad can be. The cauliflower gets grated down into delicate, slaw-like pieces that soak up a punchy lime-ginger dressing beautifully, softening just enough to feel tender without losing their bite. Crisp apple slices add a sweet crunch, while fresh cilantro and mint keep every forkful lively and aromatic. The dressing leans hard on fresh lime juice, grated ginger, and a touch of honey and turmeric — bold, layered flavor with zero need for black pepper to carry the heat. For anyone navigating a pepper-free lifestyle, this is the kind of recipe that proves you're not missing a thing, because the ginger and citrus do all the heavy lifting. It comes together in well under half an hour and requires nothing more than a box grater and a good mixing bowl. Serve it immediately so the apples stay crisp and the herbs stay bright.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- 1 small head cauliflower (about 1 lb), core removed
- 2 medium crisp apples (such as honeycrisp or fuji), cored and thinly sliced
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly torn
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, roughly torn
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 tsp honey
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
Instructions
- 1
Using a box grater (large holes) or a mandoline set to 1/8-inch, shave or grate the cauliflower florets into thin, rice-to-slaw-sized pieces directly into a large mixing bowl. You should have about 4 cups of shaved cauliflower.
- 2
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, grated ginger, honey, turmeric, and 1/2 tsp salt until the dressing is smooth and the honey is fully dissolved.
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