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Game day usually entails greasy and fried foods, which leave you feeling heavy and lethargic. But it doesn’t have to! Spicy cauliflower poppers are a delicious and healthy crowd pleaser.

Ditch the junk food this weekend, and replace them with these spicy cauliflower poppers, instead. Cauliflower dresses up nicely and parties with whatever flavors you add. With copious amounts of cayenne and chipotle powder, these bad boys serve double duty: aside from flavor, chili powders contain capsaicin, which boosts the metabolism.

The dairy-free cashew dip is great for cooling down heat.

Whether you serve ’em as a party appetizer or a spicy side dish, they’re bound to be the first things off the table.

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Spicy Cauliflower Poppers

(serves 4)

Ingredients
  • 1 large head of cauliflower
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp. sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. chipotle (optional, if you like it extra hot)
Cashew Dipping Sauce
  • 1 cups raw cashews
  • 1/3 cup water (plus more as needed)
  • 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon Celtic or pink salt
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. First put the cashews for the dip in a bowl and cover with filtered water to soak while you make the cauliflower. (Ideally, soak them for at least 30 minutes.)
  3. Meanwhile, chop the cauliflower into bite-size pieces and place in a large bowl. Add oil and spices. Mix well until all pieces are coated.
  4. Place cauliflower on a baking sheet and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  5. After the cashews have soaked about 30 minutes, drain them. Put them in a bullet blender with 1/3 cup water, apple cider vinegar, thyme, and salt. Blend until smooth.
  6. If the sauce looks chunky, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time until it has a smooth consistency. (This will depend on your blender and how long you soak the cashews.)
  7. Serve as a dip alongside the cauliflower.
For a printable recipe card, see the original recipe, here.

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About the Author: Maria Marlowe is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who has helped thousands of people improve their health by optimizing their diet. She has created meal plans and programs to help you lose weight, clear up acne, and spend less time in the kitchen yet still eat healthy.

She has been featured in Vogue, The New York Times, NBC, Well + Good, and more. Her first book, The Real Food Grocery Guide, will teach you how to eat healthy without going broke.

Check out her site, www.mariamarlowe.com, or follow her on  Instagram @MariaMarlowe and Facebook for more healthy recipes.