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    Home » Vegan Side Dish Recipes

    Cauliflower Ceviche

    By Maggie Updated May 16, 2021 · Published Jan 30, 2019

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    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe

    Cauliflower ceviche is a vegan and gluten-free appetizer or side dish. Serve with tortilla chips, as a taco filling or on top of a green salad.

    Cauliflower Ceviche

    Here in balmy Minnesota we are heading into our 4th day off school. Not because of snow but, wait for it...because it's too cold.

    We're talking -35F degree temperatures and -50F degree wind chills. Besides being off our regular school/work obligations and snuggling in with my kids for a few days, there's nothing fun about this kind of weather. It really makes you think about whether you really need to run to the grocery store, or if that could just wait until, say, summer?

    Craving something to lift some of this cabin fever we're feeling, I started rummaging and realized I had all the ingredients for one of my favorite dishes ever, cauliflower ceviche. What are the chances?!?  I didn't even have to contemplate that grocery store run for this one. Score! Ceviche is a dish from warmer climates, and one bite will whisk you out of your frozen tundra and onto a tropical island with birds singing and ukuleles strumming peaceful tunes. At least for a moment. But any tropical island is better than none, even if it's a daydream. Right?

    Alright, I'll admit that I don't actually have anything to compare this cauliflower ceviche to since I've never eaten the "real deal." But, I do know it's delicious. And once I brought it to a party and someone asked: who brought the ceviche?  When I said it was me, they asked incredulously: There's really no seafood in this?!

    So, that's my story and how I know it can definitely hold it's own at any appetizer table. Or Superbowl table. By the way...did you know Superbowl is this weekend? Of course you did. I didn't, until a few days ago. Oops. Not big football fans over here. But we are big food fans. So, double-score on this frozen day: a healthy Superbowl snack for everyone to make this weekend.

    Jump to:
    • Cauliflower Ceviche Ingredients
    • How to Make Ceviche
    • Ways to Serve
    • What is Ceviche?
    • More Vegan Appetizers
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Cauliflower Ceviche Ingredients

    You will need these simple ingredients to make cauliflower ceviche:

    • Cauliflower - You'll use both the stem and florets for this ceviche recipe. I used raw fresh cauliflower for this recipe, once you let it sit with all the juices it will soften.
    • Jalapeno - Depending on how spicy you want your ceviche you can add more or less jalapeno as well as the seeds.
    • Lime Juice - Fresh lime juice is always best bet you can use bottled in a pinch!
    • Cilantro - You can leave this out if you don't like cilantro!
    • Tomatoes
    • Red Onion
    • Avocado
    Cauliflower Ceviche

    How to Make Ceviche

    Making cauliflower ceviche is simple! Here's how it's done:

    1. Combine all ingredients except avocado and cilantro in a large bowl. 
    2. Mix thoroughly to coat with lime juice. 
    3. Add the avocado and cilantro and toss gently, taking care not to mash the avocado.
    4. Cover and chill for at least one hour and up to 12 hours. 

    Ways to Serve

    This vegan ceviche is delicious when served with chickpea tortilla chips or corn chips!

    You can also serve it as a side dish along blackened tofu tacos or smoky chickpea cauliflower tacos.

    For an extra veggie and flavor packed meal add it on top of a green salad!

    What is Ceviche?

    While there are many different ways to make ceviche, traditional ceviche is from Latin America and typically contains raw fish or shrimp marinated in citrus juices. The seafood is then then mixed with onions, chiles, cilantro and tomato and sometimes avocado.

    Here's the deal, even though my friend was not fully convinced there wasn't fish or shrimp in this cauliflower ceviche, it doesn't taste like seafood. The cauliflower lends the texture of shrimp to this dish and can fool an unknowing person's brain into thinking it's seafood. Most of the rest of the ingredients: tomato, lime juice, cilantro, and onion are classic ceviche ingredients, again fooling the unsuspecting taste buds. But, no seafood taste here. Just deliciousness.

    Since we all know that I love cilantro and am not so keen on super spicy foods, I tend to amp up the cilantro and tone down the spice in this recipe. The recipe below is a happy medium. Feel free to play with the amounts of everything to suit your tastebuds.

    I typically serve this cauliflower ceviche with tortilla chips, but it can certainly hold it's own and be eaten directly from the serving bowl with a fork. Ahem, not that I would ever do that, but you know...I'm just saying that would work.

    I hope everyone out there is is warmer than we are here in Minnesota. ENJOY!!

    Cauliflower Ceviche

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    Did you make this recipe?
    Please leave a rating and tell us how you liked it!

    📖 Recipe

    Cauliflower Ceviche

    Cauliflower Ceviche

    Cauliflower Ceviche makes a great appetizer with tortilla chips or as a side dish at your next meal. 
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
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    Ingredients

    • 3 cups diced cauliflower (about 1 small head) stems and florets
    • 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
    • ½ cup red onion, diced
    • 1 jalapeno, seeds removed and diced
    • 3 tablespoons lime juice (about 2 small limes)
    • ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
    • 2 avocados, diced
    • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
    • Tortilla Chips, for serving

    Instructions

    • Combine all ingredients except avocado and cilantro in a large bowl.  Mix thoroughly to coat with lime juice.  Add the avocado and cilantro and toss gently, taking care not to mash the avocado.
    • Cover and chill for at least one hour and up to 12 hours.  Serve with tortilla chips as a side dish with tacos, or on top of a green salad.  ENJOY!
    Did you make this recipe? Share your experience! Mention @AlternativeDish on Instagram or Facebook, or drop a comment below—I'd love to hear from you!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 135kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 216mg | Potassium: 606mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 555IU | Vitamin C: 42.8mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 0.7mg

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    Comments

      5 from 11 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Lyndsay says

      April 29, 2019 at 11:18 pm

      5 stars
      I made this to go along with my son’s birthday dinner (tacos), and it was soooo good! My mom thought it should definitely be added to the cabin menu this summer.....mmmmmm!

      Reply
      • Maggie says

        April 30, 2019 at 12:34 pm

        Thank makes me so happy to hear!! Thanks for the feedback Lyndsay. This has been a winner at our house too!

        Reply
    2. Sa says

      October 10, 2023 at 10:29 am

      5 stars
      Hi,
      I made this recipe, and it's delicious.

      Reply
      • Sarah Pilley says

        October 11, 2023 at 2:50 pm

        That's great! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    Headshot of Sarah Pilley.

    Hi, I'm Sarah!

    I’m so excited you stopped by! I'm thrilled to share my passion for tasty vegan food with you on the Alternative Dish. I focus on creating recipes that everyone can enjoy with allergy-friendly tips! 

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