Low-Carb Cauliflower Potato Salad
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Published Jun 17, 2018, Updated Sep 20, 2022
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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!
More Healthy Salad Recipes
- Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
- 18 Hearty Vegan Salads
- Ranch Pasta Salad
- 6 Tasty Salads with Corn
- Tuna, Broccoli and Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
More Unique Cauliflower Recipes
- 17 Genius Ways to Use Cauliflower Rice
- Dessert Baked Sweet Potato
- Roasted Curried Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Tabbouleh Salad
- Kung Pao Tofu with Roasted Cauliflower
Low Carb Cauliflower Potato Salad
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.
Video
Notes
- Mayo: 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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. 🙂
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
Hello,
Where is potato?.m
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.
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!
My mom made this with veganaise instead of the cashews, it was absolutely delicious! I might even like this more than regular potato salad! Highly recommend and can’t wait to make this recipe myself.
So glad this recipe was a hit!! Thanks for making it and for the review, Abbey. I so appreciate it!
Better than the real deal! I decided to do a trial run on this prior to bringing to a July 4th cookout and I must say it is delicious! I followed the recipe exact, only cut it in half. I love the dressing! Next time I make it I may add some chopped green olives to it.
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed this cauliflower potato salad, Christine! Thanks for trying it and coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it!
This dressing is worth the effort. I’ve tried other cauliflower mock potato salads and it’s this dressing that raises the bar. Love it, thank you for sharing!
Michelle
Woo! I’m happy to hear you loved this recipe, Michelle! Thanks for coming back to leave a review and star rating. It means the world to me!