Quick Pickled Cauliflower

That's why I make it a habit to pickle something weekly in vinegar, along with longevity spices, and add it to my meals. This Quick Pickled Cauliflower recipe packs in antioxidants and adds a tangy crunch with the numerous health benefits of vinegar.

These benefits include restoring ovarian function within a few months in four out of seven women with PCOS, acutely improving artery function in postmenopausal women, and improving nitric-oxide production which may help with hypertension. Vinegar is also associated with weight loss.

Cauliflower has special gut-healing properties. Why overspend on those expensive formulated prebiotics, when you can eat cauliflower instead? In this randomized, crossover, controlled feeding study, there was a significant difference in the gut bacterial community after 14 days of consuming a cruciferous vegetable-rich diet.

Raw cauliflower keeps the most antioxidants compared to other ways of preparing it. Plus, it has quercetin, an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage and aging caused by free radicals. That's why I pickled cauliflower florets weekly. I chop them up and add them to veggie bowls, pasta, salads, and more.

This Pickled Cauliflower recipe was inspired by my longevity Pickled Red Onion recipe, as well as this Quick Pickled Carrots recipe on my site.

Pair these healthy pickles with my Green Pea Hummus, or longevity Pasta Salad with Peas, for a healthy, protein-packed combo.

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients for Quick Pickled Cauliflower

• Cauliflower - Many studies have found that cauliflower can help lower cholesterol, support heart health, fight cancer, and boost the immune system.
• Vinegar (apple cider, apple cider with mother, white, red, or white wine vinegar)
• Optional spices (cinnamon, cloves, anise, black seeds, freeze-dried ginger, cloves, black peppercorn)
• Red chili pepper (optional)

Find all the longevity ingredients here. See the recipe card for quantities.

Why These Pickled Cauliflower Florets Are Good For You

Each spice was chosen based on evidence-based research about its health-boosting properties. Cloves are amongst the most antioxidant-packed spices, ginger boasts anti-inflammatory properties, and cinnamon is a cheap food source of antioxidants.

Black cumin seeds (optional) may improve cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and blood sugar control. Black cumin powder reduced LDL cholesterol in postmenopausal women by 27 percent within two months, significantly better than a placebo. They may also help with menopausal symptoms. The side effects reported were lack of appetite and weight loss.

🥦 Substitutions

• Cauliflower - use broccoli instead
• Red chili pepper - omit for less spicy
• Spices - mustard seeds, whole cloves, cumin seeds, anise, Ceylon cinnamon sticks, ginger, garlic, and black peppercorns are my go-to spices for their studied health benefits but most spices are suitable
• Vinegar- Use white, apple cider, red or white wine vinegar, or a mixture.
• Sweetener - to lightly sweeten pickled cauliflower, add about 2 teaspoons of agave or maple syrup

For more healthy dips and spreads, visit my Vegan Condiment Recipes page.

📖 How to Pickle Cauliflower

For the full recipe with quantities, scroll down to the bottom of the post. This is an overview. 

Step 1. Chop the cauliflower into bite-size florets.

Step 2.  Transfer the vinegar to a small saucepan and bring it to a gentle simmer over medium-high heat. Once the vinegar is simmering, remove the saucepan from the heat and add the cauliflower, cloves, star anise, ginger, cinnamon, seeds, and black peppercorns. Set aside for 10 minutes.

Step 3. Transfer to a glass container with a tight-fitting lid and add water to cover the cauliflower. Poke the red chili pepper with a fork (if using), to better infuse the flavor. Place the pepper inside the jar. Refrigerate.