Cajun Cauliflower Rice Salad

I love cauliflower and when I saw the pretty purple and green cauliflower on sale at Whole Foods I had to get some! They were out of orange and I even checked another store. I wasn’t sure yet what I was going to do with the cauliflower I figured it would just be colorful to eat, pack in the girls lunches, make a salad, or maybe the Purple Cauliflower Smoothie my youngest likes. I wasn’t worried about it as I knew it would get eaten. The next day I was trying to figure out what to make for dinner and started helping my oldest with her homework as she was doing her heritage project and had a lot of questions. She was on food and on traditions and started writing things we celebrate and said oh we celebrate Mardi Gras right. I had to explain it wasn’t part of our heritage but something we celebrated for fun. Back to the refrigerator and I saw the purple and green cauliflower and knew I had to make a fun color full salad with a Mardi Gras twist and came up with this Cajun Cauliflower Rice Salad. Taking a twist on red beans and rice this salad can be enjoyed warm or cold and can be a side dish or a main (adding sausage, or vegan sausage if desired).

Have you ever had colored cauliflower? What is your favorite way to enjoy it?

Cajun Cauliflower Rice Salad
Makes 4 servings, more if serving as a side dish
2c brown rice, or rice of choice
1 can red beans, drained
3c finely chopped cauliflower florets, used a combination of green and purple cauliflower
1c chopped yellow peppers, or sweet peppers of choice
1 tsp Cajun seasoning, add more if desired I start with 1 tsp and those of us that want more adjust after plated
chopped green onions and/or avocado for garnish, optional

This salad can be enjoyed hot or cold. If wanting it warm heat beans and use heated or just cooked rice. In a large bowl mix together beans, rice, and cajun seasoning. Stir in chopped cauliflower and peppers. Plate and top with optional avocado and or green onions as desired. Enjoy!