Nitrate & Nitrite Free Ginger-Lime Cauliflower Apple Salad
This bright, crunchy salad is a serious crowd-pleaser — the kind of dish that looks impressive but comes together with minimal effort and a handful of fresh ingredients. Shaving the cauliflower on a box grater transforms it into a tender, slaw-like base that soaks up the zippy ginger-lime dressing beautifully after just a short rest. Crisp apple slices add a juicy sweetness that plays perfectly against the heat of fresh ginger and the earthy warmth of turmeric. Scallions, cilantro, and mint keep every bite lively and aromatic, so the whole bowl feels fresh and vibrant from start to finish. For anyone navigating a diet free from nitrates and nitrites, this recipe is a natural fit — every single ingredient is a whole, unprocessed food with nothing cured, preserved, or packaged in a way that typically introduces those additives. The dressing is whisked together from scratch using lime juice, olive oil, honey, and spices, so there are no hidden preservatives to worry about. It's the kind of clean, confident cooking that makes eating well feel genuinely easy and delicious rather than like a compromise.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
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.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!