A low-carb and healthier take on old-fashioned potato salad, this cauliflower potato salad is sure to be a crowd pleaser at summer cookouts. Made with a creamy cashew dressing instead of mayo, the recipe is low carb, dairy-free, gluten-free, and paleo friendly!
Potato Salad is the Perfect Summer BBQ Recipe
When I think of summer and cookouts, I think potato salad. Have you ever had potato salad not in the summer? Personally, I think I’ve only had it at family reunions, picnics, barbecues, cookouts… all during the summertime!
This cauliflower potato salad is paleo and healthy version of my Nanny’s old-fashioned potato salad. While I love her version, I have to admit that it’s not the healthiest. I swapped potatoes for cauliflower to make this low carb, and skipped the mayo and dairy to make this a delicious, healthy side!
I like to make the recipe with eggs for an added boost of protein. With the eggs added, each serving has 12 grams of protein! You can easily make this a vegan dish by leaving out the eggs.
Dairy-free Cashew Dressing Instead of Mayo
The creamy cashew dressing is what makes this salad truly awesome – in my opinion. I feel like nine times out of ten, it’s the dressing that can make or break a salad. Even if you have a ton of great ingredients in the salad itself, if the dressing doesn’t complement the other components, the whole salad can go downhill and lack flavor.
Needless to say, I’m pretty excited about this creamy cashew dressing that tastes perfect in this cauliflower potato salad. It’s inspired by the dressing I used for my broccoli raisin salad (side note: if you haven’t made that yet, add it to your list for summer cookout dishes because it’s SO good!). If you prefer to make a mayo-based dressing, just substitute ½ cup mayo (I like avocado oil mayo) in place of the cashews, and don’t add any water.
Nutrition Facts of Traditional Potato Salad vs Cauliflower Potato Salad
Traditional Potato Salad
1 serving (about 1 cup)
286 calories
22g carbs
16g fat
5g protein
Cauliflower Potato Salad
1 serving (about 1 cup)
214 calories
12g carbs
14g fat
12g protein
Not dramatically different, but the differences definitely makes an impact if you’re a potato salad lover like me. Are you brave enough to bring this to your next potluck barbecue? I would even dare you to make it, bring it, and don’t let anyone know that you subbed out the potatoes – it’s so good you won’t even notice that it’s healthy (aren’t those recipes really the best?). Let me know what your crowd thinks in the comments!
If you try this recipe for cauliflower “potato” salad, please leave a comment and star rating and let me know how it turns out! I LOVE getting your feedback and it helps other EBF readers, too!
Low carb, dairy-free potato salad made with cauliflower and a creamy cashew dressing instead of mayo.
Ingredients
5 cups cauliflower florets
3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
½ cup chopped celery
¼ cup chopped green onion
¼ cup chopped red onion or shallot
2 Tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
Creamy Cashew Dressing
1 cup soaked raw cashews*
2 ½ Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon prepared mustard (yellow or dijon)
2 Tablespoons fresh dill
1 Tablespoons shallot
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon ground pepper
⅓ cup water
Instructions
Place cashews in a bowl. Cover with water and soak for about 1-2 hours. Drain and rinse thoroughly.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook until tender but still firm, about 10 minutes. Drain, run cold water over the cauliflower to cool. Drain completely.
Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil; cover, remove from heat, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove eggs from hot water, cool, peel and chop.
Meanwhile, in a blender combine all dressing ingredients and blend until smooth.
In a large bowl, add the cauliflower, eggs, celery, green onion, shallot and dill.
Add dressing, mix together well and refrigerate until chilled. Serve and enjoy within 1-2 days.
Notes
For a mayo based dressing, just sub ½ cup mayo (I like avocado oil mayo) in place of the cashews and don’t add any water.
I’ve made this recipe 3 times now for different occasions and it’s always been a huge hit! I’d eat the whole bowl myself if I could. The sauce alone is worth bathing yourself in. Thanks for such an awesome (and better) alternative to potato salad!
Ahh!! This makes me so happy! I’m obsessed with the cashew dressing too! Have you tried my broccoli raisin salad? It’s a good one too and uses a similar dressing.
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Just one question…in the dressing, is the mustard “dry mustard” or the prepared, yellow mustard? Thanks!
Oh, I just watched the video and see that it is indeed the yellow prepared mustard!
Sorry for the delay, but I’m glad the video was helpful. It is prepared mustard!
I’ve made this recipe 3 times now for different occasions and it’s always been a huge hit! I’d eat the whole bowl myself if I could. The sauce alone is worth bathing yourself in. Thanks for such an awesome (and better) alternative to potato salad!
Ahh!! This makes me so happy! I’m obsessed with the cashew dressing too! Have you tried my broccoli raisin salad? It’s a good one too and uses a similar dressing.
Hello,
Where is potato?.m
Love this recipe. Will definitely be making again. Thank you 🙂
★★★★★
Ahh! So glad you liked it, Michelle. Thanks for coming back to let me know how it turned out for you! <3
Such a creative and unique idea…cauliflower is SO versatile! Can’t wait to try….I’m excited about the cashew-based dressing too!
Thank you, Brittany! Isaac said he likes it more than regular potato salad! Hope you get to try it soon. 🙂