Caulfilower Cocktail wfpb appetizer

Cauliflower Cocktail-Vegan Appetizer

Oh, Man! This Cauliflower Cocktail is a winner, winner appetizer for dinner type of recipe!  

Wahoo! I couldn’t be more excited to share this Cauliflower Cocktail-Vegan Appetizer with you.  As the holidays roll in, so does my love of snacking.  My family has the grand tradition of snacks, snacks, and more snacks on Christmas.  Grazing and snacking were always one of my favorite parts of Christmas Day!  The shrimp cocktail with the spicy cocktail sauce was a regular appetizer to pass.  

Now I can have the winning combination without the cruelty (or cholesterol**!)  Cauliflower FTW! (for the win!)

Boiled Cauliflower on a white plate with a side of ketchup based cocktail sauce

Cocktail without the Shrimp!

This is one of my favorite recipes that we’ve ever created. I like to teach my clients in our Successfully Plant-Based Membership to make foods that bring back nostalgia. Especially when attending parties or social events, bring a dish that will help you stick with eating the foods that best align with your goals. 

This cauliflower cocktail wins on all accounts!

Boiled Cauliflower on a white plate with a side of ketchup based cocktail sauce

Cauliflower Cocktail

This recipe has been adapted from America's Test Kitchen, a pound of cauliflower serves roughly two hungry people; this was only about 1/3 of our head of cauliflower.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2- 1 teaspoon salt (OPTIONAL)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasonings (see below for salt-free spice blend)
  • 1/8 teaspoon Kelp Granules
  • 1 pound cauliflower, cut into large bite size pieces
  • Cocktail Sauce

Instructions

  1. Bring lemon juice, bay leaves, salt, peppercorns, old bay and 4 cups of water to a boil
  2. Add cauliflower and boil for about 7 minutes, or until cauliflower is tender
  3. Remove cauliflower from heat and add ice to chill the cauliflower
  4. Serve with your favorite cocktail sauce (or just a simply mix 1/2 cup ketchup, 1-2 tablespoons horseradish, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/2-1 teaspoon hot sauce).
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g
© veginspired
This recipe can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to two days.

Cauliflower Cocktail for Health

**Cauliflower is a healthier option clocking in with fewer calories and cholesterol AND raising the bar on vitamin C.  Stock up on some cauliflower and bring it as a fancy, plant-based dish to pass at your next holiday party!  You won’t be disappointed!  

Please be sure to share pictures of your Cauliflower Cocktail on Instagram or Facebook and tag @VegInspired and use #veginspiredfoodie. 

With this recipe, I feel as though I have opened up a world of possibilities, and I can’t wait to get back in the kitchen.   

Live VegInspired!

XO,

Kathy

 

P.S Here is a salt-free “Old Bay” Inspired Spice Blend

Salt-Free Homemade “Old Bay” Style Spice Blend

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons sweet paprika
  • 1 1/4 tablespoons dry mustard, sifted
  • 1 1/4 tablespoons celery seed
  • 3/4 teaspoons bay leaf powder or ground bay leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/16 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/16 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/16 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/16 teaspoon ground ginger