Stir-fried cauliflower is a healthy and appetizing side dish, perfect for bringing to the table during autumn and winter to get a boost of vitamins and minerals. It’s a cauliflower recipe that’s quick and versatile, ideal for accompanying meat or fish main courses, but also as a light and tasty appetizer.
Enriched with raisins and almonds, this stir-fried cauliflower will win you over with its variety of flavors and textures: the sweetness of the raisins combines with the crunchiness of the almonds and the delicate taste of the cauliflower, creating a perfect balance.
Preparation is very simple: cut the cauliflower florets (I chose the yellow one, which gives a nice color effect, but you can also use white or purple), briefly boil or steam them, then sauté them in a pan with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, soaked raisins, and peeled almonds.
For an even more intense flavor, you can add two or three anchovy fillets in oil to the sauté, which will melt and release an irresistible aroma.
This simple yet elegant dish proves that you can create something truly special with just a few ingredients. If you love cauliflower recipes, don’t miss baked cauliflower, cauliflower and potato casserole, or pasta with cauliflower and saffron: three different ways to best enhance this seasonal vegetable.
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- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 4People
- Cooking methods: Stovetop, Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter, and Spring
- Energy 205.85 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 16.14 (g) of which sugars 7.22 (g)
- Proteins 6.49 (g)
- Fat 15.03 (g) of which saturated 2.00 (g)of which unsaturated 4.60 (g)
- Fibers 5.44 (g)
- Sodium 203.44 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 200 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Stir-Fried Cauliflower
- 1.76 lbs cauliflower (florets)
- 1.4 oz almonds
- 0.7 oz raisins
- 1 clove garlic
- 3 fillets anchovies in oil (optional)
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pinch salt
Tools
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Pot
- 1 Pan non-stick
How to Prepare Stir-Fried Cauliflower Side Dish
To prepare the stir-fried cauliflower with almonds and raisins, start by cleaning the cauliflower: remove the outer leaves and the larger part of the stem (1), then cut the florets. If they are very large, cut them in half or quarters (2). Boil them in plenty of lightly salted water for about 12 minutes (3). The cooking time depends on the size of the florets; drain them when they are tender but not mushy.
While the cauliflower is cooking, soak the raisins in warm water. Once the cauliflower is drained, pour the oil into a large non-stick pan. Add the garlic clove (if you want, you can chop it; I prefer to leave it whole and remove it at the end) and, if you like, 2 or 3 anchovy fillets in oil (4).
Let sauté over low heat until the anchovies have melted, then add the cauliflower (5). Season with salt and let it absorb the flavors for a minute or two over high heat. Finally, add the drained raisins and almonds, then sauté for about 5 minutes until the cauliflower has absorbed all the flavors (6). Remove the garlic and turn off the heat.
Serve the cauliflower with raisins and almonds hot or at room temperature, as a side dish or appetizer.
You can store stir-fried cauliflower for 2 or 3 days in the refrigerator, in a glass container.
Tips and Variations
For a more rustic version, you can add some Taggiasca olives or a pinch of chili pepper to the sauté. Alternatively, try topping the dish with a sprinkle of toasted breadcrumbs, which will give the cauliflower a pleasant crunchy note.
