Mexican Cauliflower Casserole is a fantastic side dish. There are many spices and accent vegetables that blend just right. Easy to make and healthy too.
Just looking at this photo makes me want to go to the kitchen and make this cauliflower casserole again.
It’s 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 a 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.
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.
Very flavorful! I did add a half cup of canned salsa sauce. It is a recipe I will make again.
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!
You and I are on the same page — I just — JUST made a cauliflower side dish! This looks delicious! A must make!
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.
I’m a cauliflower fan so obviously this looks delicious! Saving for later:)
We love cauliflower! Always looking for new ways to make it!
This looks so delicious and flavorful. Would love to try it.
Thanks Charlotte! You are going to love it!
Sounds wonderful…definitely a must try for me! Awesome pics and super directions! Thanks for the share Ginny!
Yes, Patricia! That would work perfectly.
Can this be put together, refrigerated and baked the next day?
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. 🙂
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!
Looks great! Vegetable sides for Mexican food aren’t that easy to find. Pinned this to try for my personal chef clients.
I cook cauliflower all the time, and I am always looking for new recipes. This one looks fantastic!
That roasted cauliflower looks perfect! Love the idea of tossing it in with other vegetables and Mexican seasoning.
All about cauliflower! This is what I’ll be eating this week.
I can’t get enough cauliflower! I love being inspired by new flavors for it!
I love cauliflower and this looks like such a yummy way to prepare to it! Love the flavor combination!
Thank you very much Shelley! It really is a nice side dish especially when you want to change it up.
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! 😀
Thanks so much Annie! It is a fun recipe to make too 🙂
Love the flavours you’ve got going on here. I’ve never tried Mexican cauliflower, but it looks delicious!
You are the sweetest Sina! Thanks so much!
Looks so delicious! I can’t believe cauliflower can look this good! I really need to try your recipe, Ginny! 🙂
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.
i”d like for you to send me your receipes
Thankx