What do eggplant and cauliflower have in common? It’s not that they’re both veggies – eggplant is technically a berry.
We’ll tell you the answer: it’s how they’re like a blank slate culinarily. Just like eggplant, cauliflower has a mild flavor that allows it to be combined with just about anything.
That gives you a lot of room to experiment. If you’re not sure where to begin, though, we’ll give you a list of spices that go with cauliflower.
1. Basil
As we mentioned above, cauliflower has a super mild taste, which means you can combine it with powerful flavors. Basil is excellent for this, as its taste is peppery and a little sweet.
2. Coriander
Coriander is a robust spice popularly used in curries. Its sweetness and citrus notes will help transform your cauliflower into a warming ingredient.
Related Article: What Does Ground Coriander Taste Like?
3. Cumin
If you’ve ever cooked with cumin, then you must surely remember its strong aroma filling your kitchen. Its deep, sharp flavor will bring your cauliflower to new heights.
4. Dill
When you eat dill, it leaves a lingering parsley-like taste on your tongue. This lingering flavor is perfect for making your cauliflower much more memorable.
Check out our post about what dill weed tastes like for more information on cooking with it.
5. Fennel
Fennel’s taste is incredibly invigorating and leaves a lingering sweetness. Cauliflower’s own slight sweetness will be drawn out when you combine it with fennel seed.
6. Garlic
Want to make an aromatic dish that will wake you right up? Add a little garlic to your cauliflower, especially if you’re making something hot. Since cauliflower doesn’t have much of an aroma on its own, you’ll love the way it makes room for the mouthwatering smell of garlic.
7. Ginger
Ginger is another fantastic spice to use if you want your dish to be anything but bland. Your cauliflower’s slight nuttiness will be rounded out by the pungent, citrusy zest of ginger.
Read Also: Where to Find Ginger in the Grocery Store
8. Marjoram
Marjoram is best at imparting a delicate and complex sweet-spicy flavor to your food. For a blank canvas like cauliflower, this is an excellent choice because it will give your cauliflower layers of sophistication.
9. Mint
The majority of people likely think of mint as something you use to freshen your breath. However, it’s cooling quality is another great way of making each taste of your cauliflower feel invigorating.
10. Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a spice that many associate with desserts, like pie. However, its warmth is also wonderful for drawing out the slight traces of nuttiness detectable in cauliflower.
11. Oregano
Oregano has a powerful peppery and bitter bite that’s underscored with lemony hints. It adds a sharpness to cauliflower’s faintly sweet notes. Use dried oregano if you’d like to exaggerate that sweetness.
Related Article: What Does Oregano Taste Like?
12. Paprika
If you’re going to make grilled cauliflower or cauliflower steaks, consider going for paprika. Its smokiness is best at giving your cauliflower a rich, hot flavor.
13. Parsley
Parsley’s flavor is hard to define. It’s very “green” tasting with a high, biting hint of pepper. It will contrast the gentle sweetness in cauliflower.
14. Tarragon
Tarragon has a taste that starts off spicy, then trails off into a lingering sweetness. Use it to give your cauliflower a biting foretaste that slowly transforms into a sweet aftertaste.
15. Thyme
Thyme is another one that can be difficult to explain. It has a slight minty flavor to it that will make your cauliflower pungent. However, you can also get your thyme in different varieties, like lemon thyme, which will lend your cauliflower different flavors.
Learn more about thyme in our post about what thyme tastes like.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
