Cauliflower Potato Salad

Name: Cauliflower Potato Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 lb. cauliflower florets (cut into bite-size pieces); 1 cup celery (chopped); 1 small red onion (diced); 1/2 cup dill pickles (diced); 1 cup mayonnaise; 1 tablepsoon Dijon mustard; 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic; 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or 1/2 teaspoon sea salt); 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 4 hard-boiled eggs (cut into chunks)

Last updated: May 10, 2023 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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Cauliflower potato salad is ready in about 20 minutes, and this includes prepping the ingredients.

It tastes so much like the real thing and you can hardly taste the cauliflower. It amazes me every single time I make it!

Cauliflower potato salad served in a white bowl.

Cauliflower is such an amazing vegetable. It makes a wonderful substitute for starchy side dishes.

Mashed cauliflower, cauliflower rice, and cauliflower tots are all great examples. It can even replace meat in this recipe for cauliflower steak.

You might think that a potato salad made with cauliflower sounds suspicious. I thought so too until I actually tried it! But give this recipe a try and you'll be amazed.

The flavor and texture are so similar to the real thing. It's true comfort food and just as satisfying as the original.

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Ingredients
Instructions
Expert tip
Frequently asked questions
Variations
Serving suggestions
Storing leftovers
Related recipes
Recipe Card

Ingredients

Here's an overview of the ingredients you'll need to make this tasty side dish. Scroll down to the recipe card for the exact measurements.

Fresh cauliflower: I don't recommend using frozen cauliflower in this recipe.
Celery: Adds wonderful crunch and also some color to the salad.
Red onions: Make sure to dice them - no one wants to bite into big chunks of raw onions.
Dill pickles: Sour pickles are an acceptable alternative.
Mayonnaise: I prefer avocado oil-based mayo, but any mayonnaise will work.
Dijon mustard: This traditional French mustard is creamier, thicker, and less vinegary than yellow mustard.
Minced garlic: Mince it yourself, or use the stuff that comes in a jar. Both work, although freshly minced tastes better.
Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you should reduce the amount you use, or the salad could end up too salty.
Hard-boiled eggs: I prefer them fully cooked, so when using this guide for cooking hard-boiled eggs, I leave them in the hot water for 12-14 minutes.

The ingredients needed to make cauliflower potato salad.

Instructions

Making cauliflower potato salad is easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

Your first step is to cook the cauliflower pieces in the microwave until tender-crisp and drain them.
Next, transfer the cooked cauliflower to a large serving bowl. Stir in the celery, pickles, and onions.
In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add the creamy dressing to the cauliflower and mix to combine.
Gently stir in the eggs. Serve immediately, or chill before serving.

A six-photo collage showing the steps for making cauliflower potato salad.

Expert tip

This salad tastes great right after you've mixed it, so it's fine to serve it immediately. But it tastes even better after the flavors have had a chance to meld.

So if you can, cover it and refrigerate it for an hour or so. Make sure to give it another stir before serving.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Greek yogurt in the dressing?

I actually don't recommend that. I tried, and it's a bit too tangy. I also missed the fat from the mayonnaise and/or sour cream, even when I used full-fat yogurt.

Can I make this salad without mayo?

Yes. You can replace the mayonnaise with sour cream. Make sure to use full-fat sour cream and pour out any liquids from the top of the container before adding the sour cream to the dressing.

Can you taste the cauliflower?

Hardly. It's truly amazing - much like potatoes, the cauliflower is relatively bland. So with the other pronounced flavors going on in this dish (mayo, onions, pickles), what you end up tasting is VERY close to regular potato salad.

Variations

Here are a few ideas for you for varying the basic recipe:

Use equal parts sour cream and mayonnaise in the dressing.
Scallions or chives are a good alternative to red onions.
Add ¼ cup of bacon bits.
Make it spicy by adding ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the dressing.
Add a smoky flavor and some additional color with ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika.
Top the finished salad with chopped parsley or cilantro.

Serving suggestions

I serve this tasty salad with any dish that would go well with regular potato salad. A few of my favorites are:

Storing leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days. Give them a gentle stir before serving them. I don't recommend freezing this salad.