Mexican Spicy Cauliflower is a fantastic casserole. There are many spices and accent vegetables that blend just right. Easy to make and a healthy vegan Mexican cauliflower side dish.
Just looking at this photo makes me want to go to the kitchen and make this cauliflower casserole again.
It’s also a great side dish to many other recipes that are not Hispanic in nature.
Just imagine it alongside a Spicy Green Lentil Burger. The perfect foil. Or how about next to the very Best Lentil Meatloaf or this Empanada recipe? Pretty darn good.
Let me sneak in a photo of the empanadas. I really think you’ll love those.
A Fun Spice Combination
I remember when I was trying out the spice combination. Oh, man! It was a bit strong in the cloves department. So way less of that and a little more of this.
You may think cinnamon isn’t in the world of cooking in the Hispanic world but it is. Think Mexican hot chocolate.
- ground cloves
- chili powder
- ground cinnamon
- salt and pepper
The fresh breadcrumbs work well too because they also help soak up the flavors and give more texture.
If you’ve never had anything like this before you have got to try it. I have looked on the internet trying to find anything similar and I think it is truly unique.
So different and so good. Now my stomach’s growling.
That’s the way he likes his cauliflower casserole and now everybody is happy.
Cauliflower Rice is going to be a recipe that I put on some day. As I said, it has lots of dairy-free butter and I’ll add some things so that we’ll all want a bowlful. Not spicy but flavorful.
I’ll link to that recipe as soon as I get it on my blog.
So let’s get back to this spice filled Mexican Cauliflower recipe because it deserves our attention. It’s easy to make it and then dive in with a fork and enjoy every bite.
Helpful Tools for Making Mexican Cauliflower Casserole
- Steamer pot – perfect for so many things including cauliflower, broccoli, and seitan.
- You know how often you’ll use these! Stainless Measuring Spoons
- 10″ Skillet for sautéing the beautiful vegetables and spices.
- So that you can spread out the cauliflower with all its ingredients for baking. A sturdy Casserole dish.
I’m a little cauliflower crazy and it kind of come to me later in life. More like when I started cooking for myself and experimenting with recipes.
It seems there isn’t anything you can’t do with cauliflower. For instance, these Ranch Cauliflower Tacos are filled with lots of wonderful flavors and one of the stars is cauliflower.
Let me show you what it looks like. Right here below and indeed it’s some good stuff.
It looks pretty tempting, heh? Well, I need to reel myself in or I’ll be showing you cauliflower recipes all day. Okay, I’m focusing. Check out the video for this casserole. It’s short and sweet.
Then not too far down below here is the recipe. It’s a spice bonanza.
Mexican Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 cauliflower head, separated into bite-size florets
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 onion yellow, diced
- 1 green bell pepper small, diced
- 15 ounces tomatoes canned diced with juice
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs fresh
- 1/4 cup dairy-free cheddar cheese grated
Instructions
- Lightly oil a 9" x 10" casserole dish or close to it.
- Steam the cauliflower florets for 15 minutes. They will be done when easily pierced with a fork.
- Heat oil in a large skillet.
- Saute the onion and bell pepper for about 10 to 15 minutes or until the onion looks translucent.
- Stir in the tomatoes and cook 5 minutes. Add the spices and cook 3 more minutes.
- Put the cauliflower in the prepared casserole.
- Pour the mixture from the skillet on top of the cauliflower.
- Combine the breadcrumbs and dairy free cheese and sprinkle over the casserole.
- Bake at 350° for 15 minutes.
- Put under broiler for 1 minute to brown up the top. Watch very closely.
Video
Nutrition
Can You Freeze Mexican Cauliflower?
A big fat yes to that!
IF FREEZING:
Let cool to room temperature. Package in rigid sided containers.
TO PREPARE AFTER FREEZING:
Remove from the freezer and put in the refrigerator 6 to 8 hours before baking. To bake – cover with foil and put in a 350°oven for 35 minutes. Take off the foil for the last 10 minutes of baking. Ready to serve.
Loren Ericksen
Very flavorful! I did add a half cup of canned salsa sauce. It is a recipe I will make again.
Kathleen Brown
Just made this and amended to a smaller version with some changes. I used chili powder, cumin, oregano and garlic powder.i had garden tomatoes and canned green chilis and it was amazing, worthy of an entertaining side dish. Had it with tacos and highly recommend!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
You and I are on the same page — I just — JUST made a cauliflower side dish! This looks delicious! A must make!
Julie
Such a delicious dish. I love cauliflower and think the addition of the seasonings here would be a perfect fit for our style of eating.
Tina Lindquist
I’m a cauliflower fan so obviously this looks delicious! Saving for later:)
Suzy
We love cauliflower! Always looking for new ways to make it!
Roxana
This looks so delicious and flavorful. Would love to try it.
Ginny McMeans
Thanks Charlotte! You are going to love it!
Charlotte from AZ
Sounds wonderful…definitely a must try for me! Awesome pics and super directions! Thanks for the share Ginny!
Ginny McMeans
Yes, Patricia! That would work perfectly.
Patricia
Can this be put together, refrigerated and baked the next day?
Ginny McMeans
That is wonderful Kelly. Yes, it is quite a mix of spices and it sure was fun creating the recipe. So glad you and your husband liked it. 🙂
Kelly
Tried this tonight. My husband and I liked it very much. At first I wasn’t sure about the combination of spices, but they came out great!
Carol Borchardt
Looks great! Vegetable sides for Mexican food aren’t that easy to find. Pinned this to try for my personal chef clients.
Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence
I cook cauliflower all the time, and I am always looking for new recipes. This one looks fantastic!
Susan
That roasted cauliflower looks perfect! Love the idea of tossing it in with other vegetables and Mexican seasoning.
[email protected]
All about cauliflower! This is what I’ll be eating this week.
Cynthia/What A Girl Eats
I can’t get enough cauliflower! I love being inspired by new flavors for it!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet
I love cauliflower and this looks like such a yummy way to prepare to it! Love the flavor combination!
Ginny McMeans
Thank you very much Shelley! It really is a nice side dish especially when you want to change it up.
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens
What a great side dish! I’m so excited to find this recipe! Seems so much like the comfort-food classic Mexican rice dishes, but with the added nutrition of cauliflower. Yum! And I love how easy it is, too! 😀
Ginny McMeans
Thanks so much Annie! It is a fun recipe to make too 🙂
Annie @ Annie's Noms
Love the flavours you’ve got going on here. I’ve never tried Mexican cauliflower, but it looks delicious!
Ginny McMeans
You are the sweetest Sina! Thanks so much!
Sina @ Vegan Heaven
Looks so delicious! I can’t believe cauliflower can look this good! I really need to try your recipe, Ginny! 🙂
Ginny McMeans
That is wonderful and really easy. Go to the top of my blog page on the right side. There is a box that says SUBSCRIBE. Enter your email address and click below that where it says Click here to Subscribe. There will be a confirmation letter sent to your email address. Click on the link that says you want to subscribe and that is it. My new recipes will be sent to you in your email. Thanks so much for your interest.
huguette
i”d like for you to send me your receipes
Thankx