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Grilled Cauliflower Tacos

These cauliflower tacos are spiced to perfection and oh so satisfying. Cauliflower is marinated in a zesty, savory blend of lime juice, brown sugar, and tons of spices, then grilled to charred perfection. To build the tacos, layer the cauliflower on warm tortillas with plenty of the creamy, smoky poblano-pepita sauce, cabbage, cilantro, and crema.

Karlee Rotoly
Tasty Team
Total Time

2 hr 15 min

2 hr 15 min

Prep Time

20 minutes

20 min

Cook Time

1 hr 25 min

1 hr 25 min

Grilled Cauliflower Tacos
Total Time

2 hr 15 min

2 hr 15 min

Prep Time

20 minutes

20 min

Cook Time

1 hr 25 min

1 hr 25 min

Grilled Cauliflower Tacos

Ingredients

for 6 servings

Grilled Cauliflower

  • ⅓ cup avocado oil (45 g), plus more for grilling
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice (60 mL)
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 small heads of cauliflower, stems trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch-wide slabs

Poblano-Pepita Sauce

  • 4 poblano peppers
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 2 medium jalapenoes
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil, divided
  • ½ cup raw pepitas (60 g)
  • ¾ cup cilantro leaves and tender stems (30 g), roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice (60 mL)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon cold water, optional

For Serving

  • 12 corn tortillas, warmed
  • thinly sliced green cabbage
  • fresh cilantro
  • mexican crema
  • Lime wedge

Nutrition Info

  • Calories 349
  • Fat 23g
  • Carbs 32g
  • Fiber 22g
  • Sugar 5g
  • Protein 6g

Estimated values based on one serving size.

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  2. In a wide, shallow dish, combine the avocado oil, lime juice, brown sugar, cumin, oregano, paprika, chipotle powder, chile powder, garlic powder, and salt and whisk well. Add the cauliflower to the dish and coat each piece thoroughly with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare the poblano-pepita sauce, or for up to 2 hours.
  3. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the poblanos, garlic, and jalapeños with 1 tablespoon of avocado oil. Roast for 30 minutes, or until the skin is beginning to pull away from the flesh of the peppers and the garlic is soft and golden brown. Add the pepitas to the pan and return to the oven for another 5–8 minutes, until beginning to brown.
  4. Transfer the poblanos, jalapeños, and garlic to a medium bowl and cover with a plate or plastic wrap. Set aside to cool for 30 minutes.
  5. Once cool enough to handle, carefully remove the skins, stem, and seeds from the poblanos and skins and stems from the jalapeños (remove the seeds too, if desired, for a more mild sauce, or keep them in for a little more heat). Peel the garlic.
  6. Add the poblanos, jalapeños, garlic, pepitas, cilantro, remaining tablespoon of avocado oil, the lime juice, and salt to a blender. Blend on high speed until completely smooth. If the sauce is very thick, add cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the consistency is smooth and spreadable. Transfer to a serving bowl and set aside until ready to serve. Alternatively, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  7. Grill the cauliflower: Brush a cast-iron griddle pan with avocado oil and turn the heat to high. When the pan starts to smoke, add a few pieces of the marinated cauliflower. Grill for 7–8 minutes, until the cauliflower lifts easily from the pan and grill marks are visible. Flip and grill for another 4–5 minutes on the other side, until the cauliflower is easily pierced with a fork. Repeat with the remaining cauliflower.
  8. Transfer the cauliflower to a cutting board and roughly chop into ½-inch pieces. Discard any slightly tough or undercooked pieces of stem.
  9. Assemble the tacos: Spread about 1 tablespoon of the poblano-pepita sauce across a warm tortilla and top with cauliflower, cabbage, cilantro, and crema. Serve with lime wedges alongside.
  10. Store any leftover poblano-pepita sauce in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It can be served with eggs, in rice bowls, or tossed with grilled shrimp or your favorite protein.
  11. Enjoy!
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