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Home » Recipes » Salads

Easy Cauliflower Rice Salad

Published: Jul 5, 2022 Modified: May 15, 2023 by Isabel

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My easy Cauliflower Rice Salad is a flavorful and light side dish complete with Greek salad-inspired toppings and a vinaigrette! Ready in under 15 minutes from start to finish, this is an easy side dish salad you are sure to love.

mixing cauliflower rice salad in a bowl
Jump to:
  • Best Riced Cauliflower Salad
  • Cauliflower Rice Salad FAQs
  • Cauliflower Salad Ingredients
  • How to Make Cauliflower Rice Salad
  • Recipe Tips
  • Best Side Dish Salads
  • Salad Dressings for Riced Cauliflower Salad
  • Easy Cauliflower Rice Salad

Best Riced Cauliflower Salad

My favorite dishes to experiment with during warmer weather are side salads! There are so many possibilities for what you can combine, and a good, light salad side dish is always a welcome addition to any main course.

This riced cauliflower salad is a testament to how delicious side dish salads can be! Using cauliflower rice and the same flavors as a traditional Greek salad, it is truly tasty. Not to mention, it's so easy to make!

Everyone I mention it to - who hasn't made it yet - is surprised to learn how simple it is to rice cauliflower for a salad. If you have yet to make riced cauliflower salad, you will be pleasantly surprised at just how little effort it takes. Learn how to make it following my Greek cauliflower rice salad recipe, and you can customize it however you like to enjoy your favorite salads with crunchy and delicious cauliflower rice.

cauliflower rice salad ready to be dressed

Cauliflower Rice Salad FAQs

Can I cut cauliflower ahead of time for cauliflower rice salad?

Cauliflower can be washed and cut into florets up to 3 days in advance before making cauliflower rice salad. Additionally, you can rice it ahead of time to have it ready to use in the salad.

What type of cauliflower should I use for cauliflower rice salad?

There are three varieties of cauliflower you can use to make cauliflower rice salad - the typical white cauliflower, orange cauliflower, or purple cauliflower. Each one will lend your salad a more colorful look and slightly different taste. Orange cauliflower is more sweet and mild than white cauliflower, while purple cauliflower is a gorgeous purple color and cooks very quickly - more quickly than white cauliflower! You can use any variety of cauliflower for cauliflower rice salad, and I recommend trying them all.

Cauliflower Salad Ingredients

  • Cauliflower or pre-made cauliflower rice
  • Olive oil
  • Baby arugula
  • Cherry or grape tomatoes
  • Green onions
  • Feta cheese
  • Pitted olives (optional)
  • Fresh parsley
  • Salt and pepper

For the vinaigrette, you will need:

  • Lemon juice
  • Red wine vinegar
  • Dried oregano
  • Salt and pepper

How to Make Cauliflower Rice Salad

  1. If using a head of cauliflower, first remove the florets, then place them in a food processor. Pulse until it reaches the size of grains of rice. Transfer the cauliflower to a microwaveable bowl and add olive oil with a pinch of salt and pepper.
    adding olive oil to cauliflower rice
  2. Microwave, loosely covered, for 2.5 minutes, and allow to cool while you prepare the rest of the salad. Alternatively, follow our directions on How to Make Cauliflower Rice for more preparation options.
    cauliflower rice in a white bowl
  3. Once the cauliflower rice is cooled, top with baby arugula, sliced tomatoes, diced green onions, crumbled feta cheese, pitted olives, and fresh parsley.
  4. Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, and salt and pepper. Taste and adjust as needed. Drizzle with vinaigrette, serve, and enjoy!
dressing cauliflower rice salad with vinaigrette

Recipe Tips

  • If making ahead of time, you can prepare the cauliflower rice 2-3 days in advance.
  • The dressing may also be prepared ahead of time (up to 2 weeks).
  • I recommend not mixing the salad until ready to serve, or at least leaving it dry until serving, then dress. If you plan on having leftovers, store the cauliflower rice separately from the other ingredients and only dress served portions of the salad.

Best Side Dish Salads

Try more of the best side dishes:

  • Mediterranean Bean Salad
  • Asian Slaw
  • Rocket Salad with Pear
  • Black-Eyed Pea Salad
  • Burrata Salad
  • Easy Potato Salad Recipes
  • Spinach Salad Recipe

Salad Dressings for Riced Cauliflower Salad

  • Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing
  • Honey Balsamic Dressing
  • Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
  • Vietnamese Salad Dressing

If you like rice, try my Instant Pot Rice, Mushroom Risotto, Homemade Rice-a-Roni, or guide on How to Cook Rice Perfectly!

Did you try this recipe? Let us know in the comments below, and leave a rating! We love to hear from you.

cauliflower rice salad in a white bowl overhead

Easy Cauliflower Rice Salad

Isabel Laessig
Learn how to make cauliflower rice salad to serve as a perfect side dish salad for warm weather! Ready in under 15 minutes!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 3 minutes mins
Total Time 13 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 199 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Food processor or box grater, for ricing cauliflower

Ingredients
  

Cauliflower Rice Salad

  • ½ medium cauliflower equals 12 ounces or about 1.5 cups once riced; or use premade Cauliflower Rice
  • 4 Tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 cup baby arugula
  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes; halve or quarter if large
  • 3 green onions diced
  • ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • optional: ¼ cup pitted and sliced olives

Red Wine Vinaigrette

  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ Tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • If using a head of cauliflower, first remove the florets, then place them in a food processor. Pulse until it reaches the size of grains of rice. Transfer the cauliflower to a microwaveable bowl and add olive oil with a pinch of salt and pepper.
    adding olive oil to cauliflower rice
  • Microwave, loosely covered, for 2.5 minutes, and allow to cool while you prepare the rest of the salad. Alternatively, follow our directions on How to Make Cauliflower Rice for more preparation options.
    cauliflower rice in a white bowl
  • Once the cauliflower rice is cooled, top with baby arugula, sliced tomatoes, diced green onions, crumbled feta cheese, pitted olives, and fresh parsley.
    cauliflower rice salad ready to be dressed
  • Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, and salt and pepper. Taste and adjust as needed. Drizzle with vinaigrette, serve, and enjoy!
    dressing cauliflower rice salad with vinaigrette

Notes

  • If making ahead of time, you can prepare the cauliflower rice 2-3 days in advance.
  • The dressing may also be prepared ahead of time (up to 2 weeks).
  • I recommend not mixing the salad until ready to serve, or at least leaving it dry until serving, then dress. If you plan on having leftovers, store the cauliflower rice separately from the other ingredients and only dress served portions of the salad.
  • Try making cauliflower rice salad using your favorite salads as a base!

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 199kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 3gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 351mgPotassium: 156mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 730IUVitamin C: 19.6mgCalcium: 119mgIron: 0.9mg
Keyword cauliflower rice salad, cauliflower salad, riced cauliflower salad
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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About Isabel

Isabel Laessig, better known as Family Foodie and the founder of the Sunday Supper Movement, is passionate about food and family! She is the author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook, and hosts Family Foodie Friday on WTSP's Great Day Tampa Bay along with other television appearances to spread her mission of bringing Sunday Supper back around the family table in every home.

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Hello! I'm Isabel, aka Family Foodie. I want to be your go-to source for every side dish recipe you need!

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