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    Home » Side Dishes » 3 Easy Steps to Make Cauliflower Rice

    3 Easy Steps to Make Cauliflower Rice

    Published: Jan 7, 2018 · Modified: Jul 21, 2019 by Elaine · This post may contain Amazon affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This blog generates income via ads · 10 Comments

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    3 Easy Steps to Make Cauliflower Rice title

    Follow these 3 easy steps to make cauliflower rice, a healthy low-carb alternative to rice. Paleo, Whole30, Low-Carb, Keto and Vegan!

    3 easy steps to make cauliflower rice Spanish style
    Spanish cauliflower rice, cilantro lime cauliflower rice, cauliflower rice with sautéed peppers and herbs--here are 3 easy steps to make cauliflower rice that you can season the way you like!

    I love this rice alternative so much, I added another flavour choice to this recipe (originally published in 2016) and bumped it up so you can enjoy it, too!
    3 Easy Steps to Make Cauliflower Rice. 3 heads of cauliflower

    Cauliflower rice, cauliflower couscous--what you call it doesn't really matter. It's simply raw cauliflower finely chopped in a food processor, or grated by hand, until it has the consistency of rice or couscous.

    It takes only a few minutes to cook and you can combine it with a variety of herbs or vegetables to enhance the flavour. It provides a surprisingly delicious alternative to rice for those who are avoiding grains.

    With only 25 calories per 100 grams (as compared to 140 calories for the same amount of rice) it's a healthy low-carb alternative suitable for paleo diets. Not only that, but cauliflower is packed full of nutrients and is a particularly good source of Vitamin C.

    3 easy steps to make cauliflower rice:

    1. chop into florets
    2. pulse in food processor
    3. freeze for later or cook right away

    3 easy steps to make Cauliflower Rice. Put florets in food processor. 3 easy steps to make Cauliflower Rice in Food Processor
    3 easy steps to make Cauliflower Rice and store in freezer containers

    And it's fluffy! It's not the soggy cauliflower your mom used to smother with cheese sauce to make it palatable. Simply add it to a skillet in which you've heated a tablespoon of oil, stir to coat, let it dry out a little, then cover and let it cook for 5 minutes or so or until it's tender and no longer tastes raw. Season with sea salt (smoked salt is particularly good) and pepper and serve.

    Or try it with a squeeze of lime juice and some chopped cilantro.

    3 Easy Steps to Make Cauliflower Rice.

    Make it Spanish style!

    3 easy steps to make cauliflower rice, Spanish style

    Or sauté some peppers and herbs in the skillet before adding the cauliflower. Delish!

    3 Easy Steps to Make Cauliflower Rice. Cauliflower rice with veggies in a blue pottery bowl.

    Once I discovered these 3 easy steps to make cauliflower rice, I served it with several of our favourite chicken dishes that I had previously served with Thai Coconut Rice. Replacing a high-carb with a low-carb is always fine by me, especially when it tastes as good as this!

    Cauliflower rice also freezes well. Just chop it finely in a food processor or grate it by hand, store it in an air-tight container and pop it in the freezer for one of those busy weeknight dinners. When I find cauliflower on sale, I buy a few heads, process it and freeze it in 2 cup portions.

    Have fun creating your own flavour combinations!

    How to Make Cauliflower Rice. Easy instructions and recipes to make and freeze this healthy side dish.

    3 Easy Steps to Make Cauliflower Rice

    Make this healthy, low-carb alternative to rice by following these 3 easy steps to make cauliflower rice.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Sides
    Cuisine: Canadian, American, Spanish
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 25kcal
    Author: Elaine
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    Ingredients

    • 1 head cauliflower
    • 1 tablespoon oil
    • sea salt and pepper to taste

    Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

    • 1 - 2 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
    • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

    OR Cauliflower Rice with sautéd peppers and onions

    • 1 or 2 green onions, or fresh herbs, finely chopped
    • ¼ cup to ½ finely chopped bell pepper
    • sea salt and pepper, to taste

    OR Spanish Style Cauliflower Rice

    • med shallot, finely minced
    • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
    • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 2 tablespoon water
    • 2 tablespoon cilantro leaves finely chopped
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

    Instructions

    • Remove leaves and tough inner core from cauliflower with a sharp knife.
    • Roughly chop cauliflower into florets and place in food processor.
    • Pulse until it has the consistency of rice or couscous.
    • Freeze for later use at this point or cook, as follows:
    • Heat oil in a skillet with a lid over medium heat.
    • Add cauliflower, stir to coat with oil and release some of the moisture.
    • Cover and cook for up to 5 minutes or until cauliflower is tender and no longer tastes raw.
    • To make Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice:  Add cilantro and lime juice and cook for a minute or two more without a lid. 
      How to Make Cauliflower Rice. Easy instructions and recipes to make and freeze this healthy side dish.
    • OR If using the bell peppers and onions , sauté these in the skillet first before adding the cauliflower. Cook until cauliflower is tender and no longer tastes raw.
      3 Easy Steps to Make Cauliflower Rice. Here is a low-carb alternative to regular rice. You won't believe just how good it is until you try it!
    • OR to make Spanish style, sauté 1 medium shallot in 1 teaspoon oil until transparent, add 1 clove minced garlic, 2 Tbsp. tomato paste, 2 tablespoon water (or just enough to thin the paste). Add cauliflower and cook over medium heat until liquid is absorbed and cauliflower is tender. Remove from heat. Add 2 Tbsp. minced cilantro, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes and serve immediately. 
      3 easy steps to make cauliflower rice, Spanish style

    Notes

    I don't recommend cooking this cauliflower rice in a microwave as it retains too much moisture and becomes soggy.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 25kcal
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @enessman or tag #flavourandsavour!

    Now that you know how to make it, try this popular paleo recipe:

    Chicken Fajita Bowl with Cauliflower Rice

    Chicken Fajita Bowl with Cauliflower Rice

    or serve with these 4 -Ingredient Honey Lime Chili Chicken Thighs

    This recipe for 4-Ingredient Honey Lime Chili Chicken Thighs makes an easy weeknight meal. Just combine lime, garlic, chili powder and honey to make this sweet, spicy and succulent glaze! |www.flavourandsavour.com

     

    How to Make Cauliflower Rice. Here is a low-carb alternative to regular rice. You won't believe just how good it is until you try it! 3 easy steps.

    This post contains affiliate links. If you click on any of the affiliate links and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I’ll receive a small commission. The commission is paid by the third party, not by you. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    SAVE THIS TO ONE OF YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS and connect with me on Pinterest! I’m always finding new tasty recipes to pin. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter and never miss a recipe!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Justine | JustineCelina.com

      March 05, 2018 at 9:48 am

      Oddly enough, I've never tried cauliflower rice! You make it look so easy and delicious, I'm going to give it a go! Thanks for the inspiration and the beautiful resource, Elaine! I've just pinned this recipe for reference. Hope you had a great weekend!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        March 07, 2018 at 8:23 am

        Thanks Justine! I thought the whole idea was strange when I first heard of it a few years ago, but we really love it! So quick and easy.

        Reply
    2. Redawna

      March 02, 2018 at 9:27 am

      This sounds great and it is exactly what I needed to find. I am currently doing Keto and this would be the perfect carb free replacement for a side dish. Love the different variations. Thanks.

      Have a fantastic weekend Elaine!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        March 02, 2018 at 12:00 pm

        Thanks Redawna--same to you! Hope you get a chance to try one of these variations soon. Good luck with the Keto!

        Reply
    3. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking

      March 02, 2018 at 8:32 am

      5 stars
      I have yet to try cauliflower rice but it has been on my list to try for so long! Thanks for sharing the easy steps Elaine. And I love the Spanish style rice option! Definitely saving this one for later.

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        March 02, 2018 at 8:34 am

        I avoided it for a long time, too. Now I make it all the time and store extra in the freezer. Hope you get a chance to make it soon. It's just so easy!

        Reply
    4. Jo Vanderwolf

      March 02, 2018 at 7:36 am

      5 stars
      I love cauliflower rice. I'm going to try your Spanish Style version as it sounds delicious. Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        March 02, 2018 at 8:33 am

        Thanks Jo! It's my favourite!

        Reply
    5. Heather

      March 20, 2016 at 12:49 pm

      Hi can you premake this for a lunch, like make ahead? Would the cauliflower rice be good still?

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        March 20, 2016 at 12:57 pm

        Hi Heather,
        That's a good question . . . but I'm not sure! I haven't tried that yet myself, so I can't answer your question completely. I freeze the raw "rice" and then cook it up just before serving, as it only takes about 5 minutes. Let me know if you try it yourself. I'm sure my readers would like to know too!

        Reply

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