This Vegan Cajun Cauliflower Bowl is spicy, tangy, rich, hearty and full of perfectly baked cauliflower that is tender and juicy and has a slight sweet flavor to balance out the spicy cajun spices. Served with rice, fresh green beans and green onions and topped with a delicious Lime Tahini Sauce. The bowl is oil-free, dairy-free and totally plant-based!
VEGAN CAJUN CAULIFLOWER BOWL
This bowl is for the spicy food lovers! If that’s not you, skip the bowl, haha. My husband had bought me a bunch of fresh cauliflower florets from Trader Joe’s last weekend, so I couldn’t wait to use them up. This recipe I had thrown together for lunch this past Labor day and it turned out so incredible that I just had to blog it! It was such a hit on social media, that I didn’t want all my blog readers who aren’t on social media to miss out.
Since this Jamaican Jerk Cauliflower has been such a hit with readers and I’ve been seeing lots of remakes, I knew you guys liked cauliflower and you liked spicy, so I knew this would be a welcome addition to the blog.
I’m telling you, the combo of flavors here in this bowl is incredible!! The Cajun Cauliflower is of course, spicy, but in a beautiful way, as it is balanced well with the lime juice and touch of coconut sugar. Paired with fresh green beans and fluffy rice makes the perfect meal and balanced bowl!
Since green beans are a very classic ingredient in Cajun cuisine, that’s what I went with. It was the perfect compliment!
HOW TO MAKE CAJUN CAULIFLOWER
Add the cauliflower florets to a large bowl or large ziplock bag with the liquid spice mixture. Toss several times with a spoon to coat all the cauliflower VERY well.
Add the cauliflower, cajun seasoning, lime juice, coconut sugar and water to a large ziplock bag and shake and massage the cauliflower until it’s all evenly coated.
Bake the cauliflower until tender and golden brown. I love spicy cauliflower!
I also created the most delicious Lime Tahini Sauce reusing ingredients from the bowl and oh man, this is one of my new favorite sauces! It’s tangy, nutty and slightly sweet. So so good. Do not skip it, it completes the bowl!
Lastly, I garnished the bowls with some fresh green onions and heaven in a bowl is served.
So to recap, for this super easy Vegan Cajun Cauliflower Bowl, you need the following:
- Rice
- Cauliflower
- Fresh green beans
- Cajun seasoning: I use my own homemade Cajun seasoning recipe for this bowl since I love them more than store-bought, but you are welcome to use store-bought. Just make sure to get one without added salt. If you can only find one with added salt, that is fine, just omit the salt called for in the recipe.
- Coconut sugar
- Lime juice
- Green onions
- Tahini
I really hope you all love this recipe as much as I do. I really love hearing your reviews below so come back and leave feedback after you make it!
MORE VEGAN BOWL RECIPES TO TRY
- Roasted Jamaican Jerk Lime Cauliflower Bowl
- Vegan Red Pepper Curry Bowl
- Teriyaki Sweet Potato Avocado Rice Bowl
- Easy Vegan Mexican Burrito Bowl
- Rice, Black Bean and Avocado Bowl with Sweet Chili Mustard Sauce
- Epic Vegan Teriyaki Bowl
Cajun Cauliflower Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (300g) white basmati rice
- 2 1/4 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 12 oz (340g) fresh green beans
CAULIFLOWER
- 1 lb (16oz or 454g) FRESH (not frozen) cauliflower florets
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (I use my own homemade blend. See NOTES below)
- 2 teaspoons coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon (15g) lime juice
- 1 tablespoon (15g) water
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt (omit if your cajun seasoning has salt)
LIME TAHINI SAUCE
- 1/4 cup (64g) super runny tahini (I love the Kroger Simple Truth brand)
- 1/4 cup (60g) fresh lime juice
- 4 teaspoons (20g) water
- 2 teaspoons coconut sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (may need adjustment depending on if your tahini has salt)
- 1/2 cup fresh sliced green onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 415°F and line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Add the rice, 2 1/4 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a medium pot and stir well. Bring to a boil over high heat and once boiling, stir once more and cover with a lid and turn down to the lowest heat and simmer for 15 minutes until all the water is evaporated. Remove from the heat and keep covered for 10 minutes only. This will steam the rice to finish cooking and yield the perfect fluffy rice. Don't steam it longer than 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and leave the lid off.
- While the rice is cooking, prepare the cauliflower. To a small bowl, add the cajun seasoning, coconut sugar, salt, lime juice and water and whisk well.
- Add the cauliflower florets to a large bowl or large ziplock bag with the liquid spice mixture. Toss several times with a spoon to coat all the cauliflower VERY well. Or shake the bag and push the florets around from the outside of the bag, massaging them well to make sure each floret gets coated evenly with the seasoning.
- Spread the cauliflower out evenly on the lined pan. Bake for 20 minutes until tender and cooked through. Turn the broiler on and broil for 3-5 minutes for final browning and texture. Watch closely so they don't burn.
- Add the green beans to the other lined pan, season with salt and pepper and place on the rack beneath the cauliflower at the same time and cook 15-20 minutes or until desired tenderness.
- While the veggies are baking, make the lime tahini sauce by adding the listed ingredients to a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Do not skip it, it completes the bowl!
- To serve, add desired amount of rice, cauliflower and green beans to bowls and serve. Garnish with the lime tahini Sauce. SO GOOD. Sprinkle the green onions on top.
Notes
- I use my own homemade Cajun seasoning recipe for this bowl since I love them more than store-bought, but you are welcome to use store-bought. Just make sure to get one without added salt. If you can only find one with added salt, that is fine, just omit the salt called for in the recipe.
You guys….This is SO good! Every time I read the recipe I don’t get excited for it but I know I LOVE it since I’ve had it before. It’s like an explosion of flavor in your mouth! My critical non vegan husband even likes it! You have to make it!!
That is wonderful!
This is so delish! Going to share with all my vegan friends! I served with quinoa and asparagus instead of green beans. Honestly anything would taste good with that lime tahini sauce on it! Thank you!!
I made this for Mother’s Day and it didn’t disappoint. Instead of rice and green beans, I served the cajun cauliflower with asparagus and sliced sweet potatoes because that’s what I had available. The cauliflower was spiced to perfection for my family’s taste (I used 1 tsp. of cayenne pepper) and the sauce!!!!! So good. This is a versatile recipe that I know I will make time and time again. Thank you!
So happy to hear how much you enjoyed the recipe Darlene, thank you for the feedback!
This was incredibly easy and so delicious! Definitely will be a regular on our dinner rotation!!! The line tahini sauce? I could drink it straight from the bowl!!!
I always print off recipes but never end up making them but OMG so glad I made this was AMAZING!!!!!!
Our family is not vegan or vegetarian but this one is our new favorite! I have made a Cajun spice as per the recipe. The Tahini dressing was a bit sour to my taste so I added more water and some sugar. I used bottled lime juice, may be it’s more concentrated then the real thing. This meal is full of wholesome, warming and exciting flavours. We did not miss skipping the meat in our supper this Sunday. Thanks you for an amazing recipe!
So glad y’all loved it Lena! Ok, yes, that would be why, the bottled stuff is much more sour. Fresh lime juice tastes sweet! I always use fresh for the flavor, so definitely try the fresh limes next time. Thank you so much for making the recipe!
The flavors on this are spot on!! SO GOOD!
Made this for my family as a picnic lunch. The seasoning was perfect and I was able to adjust the spiciness by adding a touch more lime and water to one of my cauliflower batches. I was skeptical on the tahini dressing for this as my in-laws are Middle Eastern and well aware of good tahini techniques. They cam back for seconds and thirds! I added some raw, finely chopped kale to the bowl. Such a perfect meal! It looks so colourful and tastes even better. Thank you for your effort on this recipe and for making it so easy to delight my family! x
I have to say, I just love this recipe! Not only is it delicious! It’s also nutritious, easy, and a complete meal that comes together in no time. Thanks again for another fantastic recipe.
SO very happy to hear that Mim, thank you!
Oh my goodness, amazing!!! So easy and addictive!
Yay really glad to hear that Juliana!
I’m starting to prepare this recipe and am confused. Under ingredients it calls for 12 oz of green beans, but the lime tahini instructions call for just 1/2 cup of sliced green beans. Do I really have to buy 12 oz of green beans? Seems like 1/2 cup would be just 4 oz or am I mistaken?
Hi Mary, double check the ingredients, under the lime tahini, it is green “onions”, not green “beans”! 🙂
I was not prepared to like this as much as I did. When I was tasting the sauce I thought it was ok but couldn’t see how it was going to mesh with the Cajun cauliflower. Well boy did it ever. This was delicious! Restaurant quality meal. So flavorful and health. I just love that it centers around veggies and just a bit of the sauce took it to a whole other level. Like a party in your mouth. Lol
Haha, that is awesome to hear Stephanie!! Yes, the sauce is the perfect compliment to the meal! It’s also delicious on other things. I love it!
Super yum!
Both my husband and I loved it. Thank you Brandi for another delicious recipe.
Wonderful Julie, thank you for making it and leaving feedback!
Omg this was so good! Absolutely delicious and so easy to make. Another winner. Thank you for your awesome recipes and hard work creating such terrific food.
This was sooooooooo tasty!
I subbed a few ingredients, cause I had none( Maple syrup for coconut sugar), lime concentrate for fresh lime,, frozen green beans(from our garden, with pepper slices, mixed with homemade hot dog relish and balsamic vinegar )for fresh garden beans.
It is awesome!
Thanks again Brandy for an outstanding recipe!
So glad you loved it! Yay!
Hi Brandi. I am new to Vegan eating and looked online to find some recipes my husband would eat and found your site. I see many of your recipes use garlic and he doesn’t like garlic. I try to sneak a little in, but with the amounts you use, I’m afraid he wouldn’t eat it. If I leave the garlic out, I’m afraid it will be tasteless. Any suggestions?
Hi Tawna! Garlic is used a lot for enriching flavor, not necessarily to taste garlic, unless it’s a garlic-focused dish. I would just simply use less in recipes and it shouldn’t be noticeable. My recipes always contain other ingredients as well to enhance flavor so even with less garlic, there is still plenty of flavor.
I made my own Cajun blend (mild, for my son’s sake, and salt-free) and used Trader Joe’s Basmati rice blend and Cherokee Wax beans from our local orfanic grocer, and then served it on spring greens with grape tomatoes. WOW! Another hit out of the ball park, this one!
I nade my own Cajun blend (mild, for my son’s sake, and salt-free) and used Trader Joe’s Basmati rice blend and Cherokee Wax beans from our local orfanic grocer, and then served it on spring greens with grape tomatoes. WOW! Another hit out of the ball park, this one!
I made this for dinner last night and it was absolutely amazing. I’m new to plant based living and haven’t always liked cauliflower. I’m 100% making this again!
I made this very early this morning and had a taste. It was such a simple and easy recipe that I made it while watching the morning news. I am not a fan of dressings but decided to give this a try . It adds great flavor complexity to the spicy tones. It is delicious, even at 6 a.m. I will have a more substantial portion after my run. Thank You.
This look amazing girl! Super simple, but full of flavor! Totally making it!
Thank you so much my friend!
Well way to just send me away with the very first sentence, geez. Haha I’m totally kidding, you know I always stick around even if all this spiciness scares my tastebuds a smidge. Would you guess that my mom is Cajun and I actually grew up eating quite a bit of Cajun food…idk what happened😂 But I am very glad I didn’t click away because this tahini lime sounds BOMB! Since I have recently discovered my love for tahini I gotta try it, and I love that it’s lime instead of lemon like everyone seems to do. The sweet + savory + tang sounds deliciously balanced. And a great contrast to the spice too I bet. Sounds like your labor day was a very delicious one!