D2 — Mexican Cauliflower Tacos in Lettuce Cups
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Cauliflower
- Large cauliflower, cut into small florets1 (~800 g)
- Butter or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated1 head
- Olive oil2 tbsp
- Ground cumin1½ tsp
- Chipotle powder (or smoked paprika + cayenne)1 tsp
- Smoked paprika1 tsp
- Garlic powder½ tsp
Avocado Crema
- Ripe avocados2
- Soy cream3 tbsp
- Lime juice1 lime
- Garlic, minced1 small clove
Pico de Gallo
- Roma tomatoes, finely diced2
- Red onion, finely diced½ small
- Jalapeño, seeded & minced1
- Cilantro, choppedlarge handful
- Lime juice + salt1 lime + to taste
Nutrition / serving
Calories
295 kcal
Protein
8 g
Carbs
22 g
Fat
22 g
Fiber
9 g
Cost Estimate
Total Ingredients
~$10.50
CAD
Per Serving
~$2.63 / serving
Soy cream: Silk or So Delicious brand at most grocery stores.
Instructions
Roast cauliflower
Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F). Toss cauliflower florets with olive oil, cumin, chipotle powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Spread on baking sheet. Roast 22–25 min, flipping halfway, until deeply golden with caramelized edges.
Make pico de gallo
Combine tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Mix and let sit 10 min.
Make avocado crema
Blend avocado flesh, soy cream, lime juice, garlic, and salt until very smooth. Taste and adjust.
Assemble lettuce tacos
Spoonful of avocado crema in each leaf, then roasted cauliflower, then pico de gallo, then optional pumpkin seeds. Serve immediately.
Chef's Cool Facts
Chipotle Powder
Chipotle powder is simply dried and ground chipotle pepper — the same smoky-dried jalapeño found in cans of adobo sauce.
Lettuce vs Corn Tortilla
Using lettuce leaves as taco shells reduces net carbs from ~25 g (corn tortilla) to ~3 g — an 88% reduction — while adding potassium, folate, and vitamin K.
Cauliflower Flavour Chemistry
The Maillard reaction on cauliflower at 220°C produces hundreds of new flavour compounds, including the same classes of molecules responsible for roasted nuts and coffee.