Slimming down can be a rewarding journey, especially when you find creative ways to enjoy your favorite flavors while making healthier choices. One exciting approach is to take beloved indulgent dishes, like animal style foods, from popular fast-food chains and reimagine them with lighter, nutritious ingredients.
Dietitian and TikToker @nutritionbabe, who lost 100 pounds and has over 2M followers on the app, shared an animal-style cauliflower recipe that’s both creative and delicious for those looking to slim down. Read on to get all the details on this simple recipe.
@nutritionbabe Animal Style Cauliflower is Always a Hit!! .. especially if you׳ve had 1 too many Parchment paper Nonstick cooking spray 1 large head cauliflower, separated into florets (approx. 6 cups) 1 Tbsp.+ 1 tsp. low-sodium taco seasoning, divided 2 Tbsp. reduced-fat (2%) plain Greek yogurt 2 Tbsp. all-natural mayonnaise 1 Tbsp. all-natural ketchup 2 Tbsp. finely chopped red bell pepper 2 Tbsp. finely chopped onion 1 Tbsp. chopped butter pickles 1 Tbsp. water ½ tsp. apple cider vinegar 1 pinch ground cayenne pepper (optional) ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided 1. Preheat oven to 400° F. 2. Line a baking sheet with the parchment paper; lightly coat it with cooking spray. 3. Place the cauliflower in a large bowl; coat it with cooking spray. Add 1 Tbsp. taco seasoning; mix well. 4. Arrange the cauliflower in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet; bake 25 minutes, until it is golden brown and soft. 5. While the cauliflower cooks, place the yogurt, mayonnaise, bell pepper, onion, pickle, vinegar and cayenne pepper (if desired), in a medium bowl; whisk to combine. Set aside. 6. Combine ½ cup of the cheese and the remaining 1 tsp. taco seasoning in a small bowl. Set aside. 7. Sprinkle the cheese mixture onto the cauliflower. Loosely cover it with foil; bake 8 to 10 minutes more, until cheese melts. 8. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup cheese over the cauliflower; set aside 1 minute until the cheese melts. 9. Spoon the dressing over the cauliflower and cheese. Divide evenly between 4 serving plates; serve immediately. Tips To make this extra special, top with sautéed onions. Excerpt From You Can Drop It! #animalstyle #cauliflowerrecipes #veggies #healthyrecipes #yummy #easyrecipe original sound – NutritionBabe
Animal Style Cauliflower Recipe
She shares that this recipe was actually created one night when her husband, a bit tipsy, came up with it, making it her first super viral hit.
She begins by tossing cauliflower florets with olive oil and low-sodium taco seasoning “so you don’t bloat like a bee sting,” she explains.
Instead of using sugary and calorie-heavy Thousand Island dressing, she prepares her own version with nutritious, low-calorie ingredients. She’s sure you’ll “get ready to devour this” once it all comes together!
Ingredients:
Parchment paper, nonstick cooking spray, 1 large head cauliflower, separated into florets (approx. 6 cups), 1 Tbsp.+ 1 tsp. low-sodium taco seasoning, divided, 2 Tbsp. reduced-fat (2%) plain Greek yogurt, 2 Tbsp. all-natural mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp. all-natural ketchup, 2 Tbsp. finely chopped red bell pepper, 2 Tbsp. finely chopped onion, 1 Tbsp. chopped butter pickles, 1 Tbsp. water, ½ tsp. apple cider vinegar, 1 pinch ground cayenne pepper (optional) ,¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided.
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400° F. 2. Line a baking sheet with the parchment paper; lightly coat it with cooking spray.
3. Place the cauliflower in a large bowl; coat it with cooking spray. Add 1 Tbsp. taco seasoning; mix well.
4. Arrange the cauliflower in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet; bake 25 minutes, until it is golden brown and soft.
5. While the cauliflower cooks, place the yogurt, mayonnaise, bell pepper, onion, pickle, vinegar, and cayenne pepper (if desired) in a medium bowl; whisk to combine. Set aside.
6. Combine ½ cup of the cheese and the remaining 1 tsp. taco seasoning in a small bowl. Set aside.
7. Sprinkle the cheese mixture onto the cauliflower. Loosely cover it with foil; bake 8 to 10 minutes more, until cheese melts.
8. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup cheese over the cauliflower; set aside 1 minute until the cheese melts.
9. Spoon the dressing over the cauliflower and cheese. Divide evenly between 4 serving plates; serve immediately.
This recipe is great for fat loss because cauliflower is a low-calorie vegetable packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making it a great choice for filling up without adding excess calories. The use of reduced-fat Greek yogurt and all-natural ingredients in the dressing further keeps the calorie count low while providing essential nutrients.
