A Thai cauliflower rice salad that makes for the perfect side dish during your Whole30. It's full of nutrient dense vegetables, fresh herbs and a touch of fruit. This healthy and delicious salad is grain free, dairy free, paleo and Whole30 compliant.
If your starting the whole30 diet you should definitely have a look at my whole30 meal plan!
With summer basically here, I knew it was time to start incorporating more Whole30 recipes into my arsenal. I've been a big fan of making cauliflower rice dishes for quite some time now.
I love the fact it's so nutrient dense and keeps you feeling full without having all of the carbohydrates that regular rice has. In fact, the recipe I created for
Paleo & Whole30 Fried Cauliflower Rice proves to be one of the most popular recipes on my entire site.
The dressing for this dish is made with creamy, roasted cashews and plenty of fresh lime juice to take it up a notch.
The Thai curry paste and coconut aminos in the dressing are true standouts. You are going to feel like you should be eating this cauliflower rice salad from some sort of tropical island.
Seriously. Wouldn't that be nice??
I've teamed up with the awesome folks at Taylor Farms to bring you the star of this dish: cauliflower pearls.
I love the size of the pearls as they are a bit larger than the bags of cauliflower rice I've used.
When they are cooked over low heat, they do not break down and become mushy at all. Because of their shape and size, they hold up very well and make the perfect base for this cauliflower rice salad.
You can chop up some fresh cauliflower if you'd like instead. You will need about 2 large heads to get the same amount shown in this recipe.
More like this:
Paleo Whole30 Cauliflower Fried Rice
I know I am going to want more Whole30 compliant dishes like this on hand for our postpartum journey. We were told many times by other new parents how helpful it is to have a meal train in place for after the baby comes.
Unfortunately, we live far from close friends and family, so we don't think this is going to be an option for us. Instead, Tim has already offered to do plenty of cooking and cleaning while I spend the majority of my time resting and breast feeding.
Luckily, Tim is a VERY good cook. I'll be handing him the recipe for Thai cauliflower rice salad for sure.
The dressing I made for this recipe is the same sauce I used for these lettuce wraps last year. When I was developing this recipe, it dawned on me how wonderful of a combination the two would make!
I can envision myself letting our baby girl try this salad when we start incorporating solid foods. It has so many nutrient dense ingredients, and I'd feel confident and excited in letting her try it.
I'm always one to incorporate fresh herbs into salads. I feel like it's a complete game changer in flavor town, so don't be shy with the parsley.
You can choose to add basil and mint as well if that tickles your fancy. I know those flavors would fuse well with the rest in this dish.
Be sure to add Thai cauliflower rice salad into your weekly meal rotation whether or not you are conquering a Whole30.
It's got all of the flavor and nutrition to boot. Let's get to cookin', shall we?!
This post is sponsored by the lovely folks at Taylor Farms. Thank you for allowing me to continue creating such incredible content by supporting relationships with incredible brands and companies that The Movement Menu enjoys working with! Opinions will always remain 100% my own!
Thai Cauliflower Rice Salad (Whole30!)
Ingredients
Salad
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil split in two
- 1/2 red onion finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 bags Taylor Farms Cauliflower Pearls
- 1/2 cup canned coconut milk
- 1/2 cup bone broth- Find Here!
- 3/4 cup pineapple finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 2 green onions chopped
- 1 small bunch fresh parsley chopped
- 1/4 cup pine nuts toasted
Dressing
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro packed
- 2/3 cup roasted cashews
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon canned coconut milk
- 2 small limes juiced
- 1 small lime zested
- 2 heaping teaspoons red curry paste
- 1 1/2 tablespoons coconut aminos
Instructions
Salad
- Heat the oil in a large skillet, add the onion and garlic and stir fry for just one minute.
- Add the cauliflower pearls, coconut milk and broth. Stir to combine and cook for 7-10 minutes over lower heat. You want the cauliflower to feel tender but not become mushy. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
- Once cool, transfer the cauliflower mixture, pineapple, bell pepper and green onions in a large bowl and mix to combine.
- Prepare the dressing (see instructions below.) Pour over the cauliflower salad and toss carefully, to combine well. Top off with fresh parsley and toasted pine nuts. Serve right away.
Dressing
- Add the all of the sauce ingredients into the bowl of a food processor or high-speed blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust as needed, adding more coconut milk if needed and it is too thick. This can be saved and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi! I’m Monica – recipe developer, matcha addict and lover of all things chocolate, kombucha and any & all puns. I am also the blogger, real food lover, & bonafide hustler behind the blog ‘The Movement Menu.’ I’m so excited to welcome you to my happy space, where my appreciation of creative recipes and healthy & mindful eats come together to inspire you to live a healthy, balanced life.
I need these salad bowls in my life - like yesterday!
This was wonderful! I added shrimp for protein, but otherwise followed the recipe. I thought I might not love it because I really dislike coconut/coconut milk, but it was delicious. My elderly dad, who doesn't eat much, had thirds. I'll definitely make it again soon. Thanks!
That makes me OH SO HAPPY to hear!!! You are so welcome... feel free to rate the recipe using the star system on card. It helps my readers and I out tremendously! 🙂