Cauliflower Salad with Cashew Lime Pesto
This cauliflower salad with cashew lime pesto is a flavorful and healthy dish that is perfect for a summer picnic or potluck. The pesto is made with fresh herbs, cashews, and lime juice, and it gives the salad a zesty flavor. The salad also includes roasted cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, and avocado, making it a filling and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
- Cauliflower: You'll need one large head of cauliflower or about 4 cups of florets. Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
- Cashews: For the pesto you'll need 1/2 cup of cashews. Soak the cashews in water for at least 30 minutes before blending them into the pesto.
- Limes: You'll need the juice of 2 limes for the pesto and dressing.
- Garlic: You'll need 2 cloves of garlic minced.
- Chili pepper: You'll need 1 small chili pepper seeded and minced (optional).
- Cilantro: You'll need a small bunch of cilantro leaves chopped (optional).
- Olive oil: You'll need 3 tablespoons of olive oil divided.
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Assuming you have all of the ingredients on hand, making this cashew lime pesto is a pretty straightforward process. Start by toasting the cashews in a dry skillet over medium heat until they're nice and fragrant.
- Then, add them to a food processor along with the rest of the ingredients and pulse until everything is combined and smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then give it a final whirl in the food processor to make sure everything is evenly combined.
- If you're happy with the consistency of your pesto, go ahead and add it to your cauliflower salad. If you find that it's too thick, you can thin it out with a little bit of water or olive oil until it reaches the desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary before serving. Enjoy!