Description
This Mexican Street Style Grilled Cauliflower recipe offers a flavorful and healthy twist on traditional street food. Cauliflower florets are seasoned with a blend of spices, grilled to perfection, and topped with a creamy, zesty Mexican-inspired crema made from mayonnaise, sour cream, and lime juice. Finished with crumbly Cotija cheese and fresh cilantro, this dish is perfect as a side or a vegetarian main.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cauliflower:
- 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into florets
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
For the Crema:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- ⅓ cup crumbled Cotija cheese
For Garnish:
- Chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Prepare the Cauliflower: Preheat your grill to medium heat, approximately 375–400°F, ensuring it’s ready to cook the cauliflower evenly.
- Season the Cauliflower: In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower florets with olive oil until fully coated. Combine salt, chili powder, paprika, and garlic powder in a small bowl, then sprinkle this seasoning evenly over the cauliflower and toss again to coat each floret thoroughly.
- Grill the Cauliflower: Arrange the seasoned cauliflower on a disposable aluminum pan or directly place the florets on the grill grates. Grill for 20-30 minutes, turning and stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking and a nice char on all sides until tender.
- Make the Crema: While the cauliflower grills, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, chili powder, cumin, minced garlic, and lime juice in a medium bowl until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the Dish: Once the cauliflower is cooked, transfer it to a serving platter. Drizzle the prepared crema generously over the warm cauliflower, making sure each piece is coated with the flavorful sauce.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle crumbled Cotija cheese evenly over the cauliflower and finish by garnishing with freshly chopped cilantro for a pop of color and fresh flavor.
Notes
- For a smoky flavor, grill the cauliflower directly on the grill grates instead of using a pan.
- If Cotija cheese is unavailable, feta or queso fresco can be used as alternatives.
- This recipe is suitable for vegetarians but not vegan due to dairy and mayonnaise in the crema.
- Leftover grilled cauliflower can be refrigerated and repurposed in salads or as a side.
- Adjust the chili powder amount in the seasoning and crema for milder or spicier taste according to preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
