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.
WATCH THIS CAULIFLOWER POTATO SALAD VIDEO:
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!
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PinDescription
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 mustard
- 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.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 214
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 582mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 164mg
Keywords: low carb potato salad, cauliflower potato salad
Brittany Audra @ Audra's Appetite says
June 17, 2018 at 11:36 pmSuch a creative and unique idea…cauliflower is SO versatile! Can’t wait to try….I’m excited about the cashew-based dressing too!
Brittany Mullins says
June 18, 2018 at 10:50 amThank you, Brittany! Isaac said he likes it more than regular potato salad! Hope you get to try it soon. 🙂
Michelle says
June 22, 2018 at 8:26 pmLove this recipe. Will definitely be making again. Thank you 🙂
★★★★★
Brittany Mullins says
June 23, 2018 at 12:39 pmAhh! So glad you liked it, Michelle. Thanks for coming back to let me know how it turned out for you! <3
Lana says
October 2, 2018 at 3:08 amHello,
Where is potato?.m
Erika says
October 12, 2018 at 6:51 pmI’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!
Brittany Mullins says
October 12, 2018 at 7:20 pmAhh!! 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.