Cauliflower With Capers, Black Olives and Chiles

Updated April 30, 2024

Cauliflower With Capers, Black Olives and Chiles
Grant Cornett for The New York Times. Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero. Prop stylist: Rebecca Bartoshesky.
Total Time
25 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Rating
4(146)
Comments
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This bold-flavored cauliflower dish is a perfect riposte to winter blues. It combines three sunny Mediterranean flavors with white and wintry cauliflower, which is brightened hardily. It all takes under half an hour, because the only real cooking is boiling the cauliflower, and the rest is just letting the olives, capers, chiles and some garlic and lemon get acquainted.

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Ingredients

Yield:Serves 4-6
  • About 1 pound of cauliflower
  • ½cup pitted black olives, coarsely chopped
  • 1heaped tablespoon salt-packed capers, rinsed and drained
  • 2tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • Grated zest and juice of a lemon
  • Sea salt
  • Pinch of crushed red-chile pepper
  • 2garlic cloves, crushed and chopped
  • cup olive oil, preferably a deep-flavored oil from Italy or Greece
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

145 calories; 14 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 6 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 271 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Trim the cauliflower, and break the head apart into florets.

  2. Step 2

    On a chopping board, combine the olives, capers, parsley and lemon zest, and chop together to mix well.

  3. Step 3

    Bring a pot of water large enough to hold the cauliflower to a rolling boil. Add a big pinch of salt, and when it returns to a boil, add the florets. Cook until the florets are just barely tender, about 6 minutes.

  4. Step 4

    Meanwhile, in a skillet large enough to hold all the ingredients, warm the chile flakes and the garlic in the oil over medium-low heat until hot, about 3 or 4 minutes. The chile and garlic should be starting to melt in the oil, rather than sizzling and browning. Stir in the lemon juice, and cook for another 2 minutes, then add the olive-caper mix, give it a stir, take it off the heat and set aside.

  5. Step 5

    Drain the cauliflower well, shaking the colander. Combine the cauliflower with the olive-caper dressing in the skillet, and set the skillet back on medium heat. Warm it up to serving temperature, taste to make sure the seasoning is right and serve.

Ratings

4 out of 5
146 user ratings
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Comments

We liked it a lot, but found this amount of lemon so overpowering that we barely tasted the featured trio. Will reduce the lemon by half next time.

Incredible! My husband took a bite and then immediately raised his hand for a high-five. :) We sautéed the cauliflower instead of boiling, and added carrots and kale. Loved every bite!

Fabulous! Large florets blanched about 4 minutes. Poured the dressing on the drained cauliflower and brought it to room temp to refrigerate and serve the next day. Warm VERY briefly so it doesn't turn to mush. I ate the leftovers cold (right out of the fridge) the next day and it was great. Will remember this for picnics next summer!

I feel like step 1 should be to put the water on to boil. I could have done everything else while waiting for it.

Please please please roast the cauliflower. Otherwise lovely side dish

Fully prepared dish, then let it sit in fridge for a few hours so I could quickly reheat for dinner. It really soaked up the flavors. I added some feta as a last minute thought and it was fantastic!

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