These cauliflower tacos are a delightful twist on traditional tacos, offering a flavorful and healthy alternative. Roasted cauliflower seasoned with chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika provides a satisfying base, while shredded red cabbage, avocado, and cilantro add fresh and vibrant toppings. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a fun weekend meal.
If you don't usually have smoked paprika or cumin in your pantry, you might need to pick these up at the supermarket. These spices are essential for giving the cauliflower its rich, smoky flavor. Additionally, make sure to grab fresh cilantro and avocado to complete the dish.
Ingredients For Cauliflower Tacos Recipe
Cauliflower: The main ingredient, cut into florets, provides a hearty and nutritious base for the tacos.
Olive oil: Used to coat the cauliflower, helping it roast to perfection.
Chili powder: Adds a spicy kick to the roasted cauliflower.
Cumin: Provides a warm, earthy flavor that complements the chili powder.
Smoked paprika: Gives the cauliflower a smoky depth of flavor.
Salt: Enhances the overall taste of the dish.
Pepper: Adds a bit of heat and balances the flavors.
Corn tortillas: The base for the tacos, providing a soft and slightly sweet contrast to the savory filling.
Shredded red cabbage: Adds a crunchy texture and vibrant color to the tacos.
Avocado: Sliced and added for a creamy, rich topping.
Cilantro: Chopped and sprinkled on top for a fresh, herbaceous note.
Lime wedges: Served on the side for a zesty finish.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When roasting cauliflower, ensure the florets are evenly coated with olive oil and spices. This helps achieve a uniform crispiness and enhances the flavor. Spread the florets in a single layer on the baking sheet to avoid steaming and ensure they roast properly.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
Cauliflower - Substitute with broccoli: Broccoli florets provide a similar texture and can be roasted with the same spices for a comparable flavor profile.
Olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor, making it a good alternative for roasting vegetables.
Chili powder - Substitute with chipotle powder: Chipotle powder adds a smoky heat that complements the other spices well.
Cumin - Substitute with ground coriander: Ground coriander offers a citrusy flavor that can add a different but pleasant twist to the spice mix.
Smoked paprika - Substitute with regular paprika: Regular paprika will provide the color and some of the flavor, though it lacks the smokiness.
Salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a salty and umami flavor, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
Corn tortillas - Substitute with flour tortillas: Flour tortillas are softer and can be a good alternative if corn tortillas are not available.
Red cabbage - Substitute with green cabbage: Green cabbage has a similar crunch and can be used as a direct replacement.
Avocado - Substitute with guacamole: Guacamole provides a creamy texture and rich flavor, similar to sliced avocado.
Cilantro - Substitute with parsley: Parsley offers a fresh, slightly peppery taste that can replace cilantro in a pinch.
Lime wedges - Substitute with lemon wedges: Lemon wedges can provide a similar acidic brightness to the dish.
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How to Store or Freeze Your Tacos
- To keep your cauliflower tacos fresh, store the roasted cauliflower separately from the other ingredients. Place the cooled cauliflower florets in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Store the corn tortillas in a resealable plastic bag at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate them for up to a week.
- Keep the shredded red cabbage in a separate container in the fridge. It will stay crisp and fresh for up to 5 days.
- Slice the avocado just before serving to prevent browning. If you have leftover slices, sprinkle them with lime juice and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Chopped cilantro can be stored in a small container or wrapped in a damp paper towel and placed in a plastic bag. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week.
- For freezing, place the roasted cauliflower in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months.
- When ready to enjoy, thaw the cauliflower in the fridge overnight and reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes until warmed through.
- Assemble the tacos with the reheated cauliflower, fresh shredded cabbage, avocado slices, and chopped cilantro. Serve with lime wedges for a burst of freshness.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Oven Method: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread the leftover cauliflower on a baking sheet and cover with aluminum foil to prevent drying out. Warm for about 10-15 minutes until heated through. For the tortillas, wrap them in foil and place them in the oven for the last 5 minutes of heating.
Stovetop Method: Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the cauliflower and cook, stirring occasionally, until warmed through, about 5-7 minutes. For the tortillas, warm them in a separate dry skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds on each side.
Microwave Method: Place the cauliflower in a microwave-safe dish and cover with a damp paper towel to keep it moist. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. For the tortillas, wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave for about 30 seconds.
Air Fryer Method: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the cauliflower in the air fryer basket and heat for about 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even heating. Warm the tortillas in the air fryer for the last 2 minutes.
Toaster Oven Method: Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the cauliflower on a tray and cover with foil. Heat for about 10 minutes until warmed through. For the tortillas, wrap them in foil and place them in the toaster oven for the last 5 minutes of heating.
Essential Tools for This Recipe
Oven: Used to roast the cauliflower florets until they are tender and slightly crispy.
Baking sheet: Provides a flat surface for spreading the cauliflower florets evenly for roasting.
Mixing bowl: Used to toss the cauliflower florets with olive oil and spices.
Measuring spoons: Ensures accurate measurement of the olive oil, chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika.
Dry skillet: Used to warm the corn tortillas over medium heat.
Knife: Essential for cutting the cauliflower into florets and slicing the avocado.
Cutting board: Provides a safe surface for chopping the cauliflower, avocado, and cilantro.
Tongs: Useful for flipping the cauliflower on the baking sheet and handling the warm tortillas.
Serving platter: Used to assemble and present the tacos with all the toppings.
Lime squeezer: Helps to extract juice from the lime wedges for serving.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Pre-chop ingredients: Chop the cauliflower, cabbage, and cilantro in advance and store them in airtight containers.
Batch cook: Roast a larger batch of cauliflower and use leftovers for other meals.
Use pre-made tortillas: Save time by using store-bought corn tortillas instead of making them from scratch.
Simplify seasoning: Mix the chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika together ahead of time to quickly season the cauliflower.
Quick warm-up: Warm the tortillas in the microwave for a few seconds instead of using a skillet.
Cauliflower Tacos Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 medium cauliflower cut into florets
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 small corn tortillas
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- 1 avocado sliced
- 0.25 cup chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Toss cauliflower florets with olive oil, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Spread cauliflower on a baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes, until tender and slightly crispy.
- Warm tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat.
- Assemble tacos by placing roasted cauliflower on tortillas, then topping with shredded cabbage, avocado slices, and chopped cilantro.
- Serve with lime wedges.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
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