• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Paleo Leap | Paleo diet Recipes & Tips
  • Recipes
    • Beef and Red Meat
    • Chicken and Poultry
    • Pork
    • Fish and Seafood
    • Eggs
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Sides, Veggies and Appetizers
    • Sauces, Dips & Vinaigrettes
    • Drinks
    • Sweets and Snacks
    • Cooking Tips
  • Learn
  • Your Starting Point
    • Topic Index
    • Paleo 101
    • Paleo Meal Plan
    • Paleo Food List
    • Transitioning to Paleo
    • Am I Doing it Right? - Checklist
    • Mini-Course for Beginners
  • Popular Topics
    • Recipes for Beginners
    • Breakfast Ideas
    • Homemade Condiments
    • Legumes
    • Wheat & Gluten
    • Dairy
    • Nightshades
  • More
    • Compilations
    • Foods
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Chicken
  • Pork
  • Snacks
  • Salads
  • Learn Paleo
  • Paleo Cooking Tips
  • Paleo Diet Foods
  • Paleo Recipe Compilations
  • Keto Diet Recipes
  • Paleo Beef and Red Meat Recipes
  • Paleo Drink Recipes
  • Paleo Egg Recipes
  • Paleo Fish and Seafood Recipes
  • Paleo Sauces and Dips
  • Paleo Sides, Veggies and Appetizers
  • Paleo Soup Recipes
  • Paleo Tips & Tricks
  • Paleo Topic Index
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Chicken
    • Pork
    • Snacks
    • Salads
    • Learn Paleo
    • Paleo Cooking Tips
    • Paleo Diet Foods
    • Paleo Recipe Compilations
    • Keto Diet Recipes
    • Paleo Beef and Red Meat Recipes
    • Paleo Drink Recipes
    • Paleo Egg Recipes
    • Paleo Fish and Seafood Recipes
    • Paleo Sauces and Dips
    • Paleo Sides, Veggies and Appetizers
    • Paleo Soup Recipes
    • Paleo Tips & Tricks
    • Paleo Topic Index
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Learn About Paleo & Keto Diets

    8 Creative Cauliflower Substitutions for Unhealthy Foods

    Last Modified: Jan 18, 2023 by Paleo Leaper · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Sharing is caring!

    245 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Reddit

    Is there anything cauliflower can’t do? This amazingly versatile vegetable can fill in for just about anything “bready” – and in the spirit of experimentation, various Paleo cooks have come up with plenty of new and interesting ways to use it. Even if you weren’t craving bagels or pizza or mac’n’cheese before, you’ll probably want these grain-free versions.

    Paleo cooking: so good it can make you crave cauliflower. How’s that for healthy eating?

    1. Cauliflower "Everything Bagels"

    The quintessential New York food, gone Paleo for a quick snack or side - or pair them with some fat and a protein source to make a complete breakfast. They'd be delicious with an avocado and some lox or turkey slices!

    Recipe: here (Lexi’s Clean Kitchen).

    2. Cauliflower "Rice"

    White rice is borderline-Paleo anyway, but if it's not for you, there's always cauliflower "rice."

    Recipes: there are so many delicious cauli “rice” recipes out there that it’s hard to pick just one. Here’s a selection:

    • Asian cauliflower fried “rice” and a simpler version from Nom Nom Paleo.
    • Lemon parsley cauliflower “rice” from The Paleo Mom.
    • Oven-roasted cauliflower “rice” from The Clothes Make the Girl.
    • Chorizo cauliflower fried “rice” from Worthy Pause.

    You can even use your rice to make Paleo sushi! (Primal Palate)

    3. Cauliflower Pizza Crust

    You could make Paleo pizza with almond flour or with arrowroot starch...or go for a classic with a cauliflower crust. Cauli crust is thin and crispy, perfect for anyone who likes pizza with a nice crunch on the bottom. And since you’re making it yourself, it’s easy and fun to get really creative with the seasonings.

    Recipes: here’s a dairy-free version, and here’s one with some cheese if you can tolerate dairy (not everyone does; that's why it's a gray area food).

    And just as a reminder: you can also use that crust for calzones, pizza pockets, or just about anything else you’d otherwise use pizza dough for.

    4. Cauliflower "Breadsticks"

    A big basket of breadsticks can really bring the table together, and they’re delicious dipped in some homemade marinara sauce! Fortunately, cauliflower comes through again with a way to make them Paleo-friendly.

    Recipe: here. (Fast Paleo)

    Roasted cauliflower

    5. Cauliflower "Mac'n'cheese"

    Nobody can really pretend that cauliflower is shaped like macaroni, but if you're looking to dig into a big pile of rich, cheesy goodness, and if a little bit of dairy now and again is fine with you (it’s not for everyone) cauliflower mac is just the thing. It’s got the right toothsome, creamy comfort-food value, and if you make it with cauliflower, it’s even OK for the low-carb crowd.

    Recipe: here (Grass Fed Girl).

    6. Cauliflower Tortillas (or taco shells)

    Ditch the corn; keep the wrap. When lettuce just won’t do, these cauliflower tortillas are perfect for wrapping up whatever you need contained for easier transfer to your face. Throw a big pile down in the middle of the table and watch them disappear!

    Recipe: here.

    7. Cauliflower "Hummus"

    The original is made with chickpeas, but you can enjoy a creamy, hearty veggie dip with nary a legume in sight! Try it as a dip for carrot sticks or pepper strips, or with your favorite variation on Paleo crackers.

    Recipe: Here. (Our Fifth House)

    8. Cauliflower "Mashed Potatoes"

    Sure, there’s nothing wrong with actual potatoes – unless you’re on an autoimmune protocol, or don’t like them, or find that you do better with fewer carbs in your diet. For those times, there’s cauli mash. Spice it up with coconut milk, garlic, chives, or other favorite seasonings and enjoy! Alternately, try going half-and-half: replace half the potatoes in your favorite recipe with cauliflower for a slightly lower-carb version that still has almost the same taste.

    Recipe: Here. (Nom Nom Paleo)

    What did we miss? Do you have another favorite cauliflower creation? Share it on Facebook or Google+!

    More Learn About Paleo & Keto Diets

    • Dealing With Constipation
    • What’s Wrong with Beans and Legumes?
    • The User-Friendly (Paleo) Guide to Your Immune System
    • 10 Paleo Resolutions that Aren’t about Weight Loss

    Sharing is caring!

    245 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Reddit

    Filed Under: Learn About Paleo & Keto Diets

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    paleo leap square logo

    Hi, I'm Rick! Paleo Leap is the oldest and biggest resource online, covering everything about the paleo diet. We have over 1500 recipes categorized and plenty of meal plans for you to try.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Bacon-Wrapped Salmon Recipe
    • Almond Milk Custard Recipe
    • Flourless Banana Pancakes Recipe
    • Turban Squash Soup Recipe

    Recent Recipes:

    • Bacon and Marinara Meatloaf
    • A Paleo Guide to Pregnancy
    • Crafting Your Paleo Elevator Speech
    • Grass-Fed Reindeer: A Dozen Paleo Holiday Survival Strategies

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Cookie Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    For your information only. The statements on this website are merely opinions. Paleo Leap does not provide medical or nutritional advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Read the full disclaimer.

    Copyright © 2023 Paleo Leap