Nutrition: 221 Calories | 1.8g Carbs | 10.1g Protein
A zesty Italian pasta salad alternative, this easy recipe for Pickled Cauliflower Salad is filled with pepperoni, salami, provolone, capers and olives.
Summer is just around the corner, which means it’s almost picnic and potluck season. Summer is a great time for enjoying the outdoors and spending time with friends and family. Pasta salad and potato salad comes to mind. They are easy to make ahead and take along. The problem with pasta and potato salads is they are packed with carbs. My family’s favorite is Italian salad with pepperoni, cheese and olives. This pickled cauliflower salad is our new favorite. It has all the same great flavors without the carbs.
Drain the Canned Ingredients
Pickled cauliflower salad is a great Italian pasta salad alternative. Basically, switch out the cooked pasta for pickled cauliflower, and you have a great low-carb side. To prepare your salad, first drain your canned and jarred ingredients. Then, add the pickled cauliflower, capers, and black olives to a large bowl. Reserve some of the pickled cauliflower juice to make the dressing.
Dice the Meats and Cheeses
Next, cut up some pepperoni, salami and provolone cheese into bite size pieces. Then, add these to the bowl too.The beauty of this salad is you can change up the ingredients any way you like. What are your favorite Italian pasta salad ingredients? Think about switching out the provolone for mozzarella or some pepper jack. A combination of cheese is good too. Some other delicious add-in ideas are: artichoke hearts, pickled asparagus, marinated mushrooms, and grape tomatoes. The possibilities are endless depending on what you like and what you have in the pantry.
Toss Everything in Dressing
Once you have all your salad ingredients in the bowl, it’s time to add in the dressing. Start with a base of Italian dressing. Store bought or homemade dressing works well. Then, add in some dried Italian seasoning (herbs) and a couple tablespoons of the reserved pickled cauliflower liquid. Finally, toss it all together. You can serve the pickled cauliflower salad right away. Or, refrigerate it for later. It tastes even better after the flavors have had a chance to meld together.
Easy Pickled Cauliflower Salad – Italian Pasta Salad Alternative
A zesty Italian pasta salad alternative, this easy recipe for Pickled Cauliflower Salad is filled with pepperoni, salami, provolone, capers and olives.
Total Time: 15 min
Prep Time: 15 min
Ingredients
- 32 oz Pickled Cauliflower
- 8 oz Sliced Provolone Cheese
- 3.5 oz Capers
- 3.8 oz Can Sliced Black Olives
- 6 oz Sliced Pepperoni
- 6 oz Sliced Hard Salami
- 4 Tbsp Italian Dressing
- 1/2 tsp Dried Italian Seasoning
Directions
- Drain the pickled cauliflower, reserving 2 tablespoons of the juice. Add the cauliflower to a large bowl. Drain the capers and black olives, and add them to the bowl too.
- Dice the provolone, pepperoni, and salami, and add them to the bowl. Mix everything together.
- Add the Italian dressing, dried Italian herbs and reserved pickled cauliflower juice. Stir thoroughly until all the ingredients are coated. Serve immediately or refrigerate for later. Enjoy.
Nutrition:
Yield: 12 servings, Serving Size: about 1/2 Cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 221, Total Fat: 18.5g, Saturated Fat: 8.1g, Cholesterol: 44.5mg, Sodium: 1255mg, Carbohydrates: 1.8g, Fiber 0g, Sugars: 0.4g, Protein 10.1g