Chestnut Free Ginger-Lime Cauliflower Apple Salad
Bright, zippy, and packed with contrasting textures, this raw cauliflower and apple salad is the kind of dish that makes you rethink what a salad can be. The cauliflower is shaved or grated down into delicate, slaw-like pieces that soak up the ginger-lime dressing beautifully after just a short rest, turning tender without losing their fresh bite. Crisp apple slices bring a juicy sweetness that plays perfectly against the heat of freshly grated ginger and the earthy warmth of turmeric. Scallions, torn cilantro, and fresh mint layer in brightness and herbal complexity that make every forkful feel lively and interesting. The dressing itself — lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, honey, and sea salt — comes together in minutes and does all the heavy lifting. Every single ingredient here is naturally free from tree nuts, so there's no label-scanning or substitution stress involved, just clean, whole produce and pantry staples. This one is equally at home as a light lunch on its own or as a vibrant side alongside grilled fish or roasted chicken.
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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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