I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (2024)

07.17.11

By Lea On · 24 Comments · In Gardening, Recipes, Side Dish, Side Dish and Salads, The Paleo Diet

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This is the first year I have attempted to grow cauliflower. My husband, G, built three raised garden beds and I got very ambitious and started planting all sorts of new things. I knew next to nothing about growing cauliflower and resorted to consulting YouTube for some how-to videos. Some were helpful. Others, like much of what is on YouTube, were downright bizarre. But I digress….

I learned that cauliflower grows in the middle of a large plant with lots of leaves and the ones in the middle sort of flop over the floret to keep it cool and shaded. It was for this reason that one day it seemed as if nothing was there but the very next day I poked a little deeper and discovered a serious cauliflower floret! I used a large knife to cut the floret out of the plant just as the large, nameless man in balloon-fronted shorts on YouTube had instructed. The moment, for me, was very reminiscent of Tom Hanks’ character in the movie “Castaway” when he is finally successful in making a fire. I actually exclaimed out loud,

“I have made CAULIFLOWER!!!”

After exulting in my success in growing this organic gem I pondered my next step. Of course I would need to find a recipe worthy of my first actual homegrown cauliflower floret. Shortly after starting the Paleo Diet I read about “Cauliflower Rice” and was intrigued. I happen to like cauliflower. But my husband and kids definitely do not like it in any form. In fact G tells a story of going home with a college buddy for a weekend and being horrified when the guy’s mom proudly declared that dinner was “Cauliflower Casserole”. Woo hoo! Not. Given the PTSD he suffered as a result of this experience I was not optimistic that G, or our boys, would be remotely interested in eating cauliflower in any form. But I am happy to report they ALL enjoyed the cauliflower rice and even asked for seconds. Given that the recipe is gluten free and low carb it works great for anyone on a Paleo, Primal or low-carb/Atkins type diet. It seems to fill the void that sometimes exists on a grain free and white potato free diet when you long for something starchy. Cauliflower rice fits the bill – without the starch and high carbohydrate count.

Basic Cauliflower Rice:

Ingredients

  • 1 head of cauliflower
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 clove of garlic, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • cracked black pepper

Instructions

  1. Cut the cauliflower into florets and place in a 8×8 microwaveable dish and cover with plastic wrap. There is no need to add water because the cauliflower will cook in its own moisture.
  2. Microwave on high for 4 minutes.
  3. Use a food processor to pulse the steamed cauliflower until it is the texture of rice. (You may have to do this in a couple of batches.) Place the cauliflower in a medium bowl and set aside.
  4. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and saute’ for about 30 seconds being careful not to burn the garlic.
  5. Add the cauliflower into the pan and stir fry for 7-10 minutes, until tender.
  6. Add the parsley, the sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste.

Serves 4-6

I recommend you start with this basic recipe and change it up as you desire and depending on what you are serving it with. For example the basic recipe calls for flat leaf parsley but I have also used fresh basil with great success. Additionally, sauteing a diced onion in the olive oil prior to adding the garlic and cauliflower would be good as well. I have even seen a recipe that called for a cup of finely chopped celery. The possibilities are endless. I did find that steaming the cauliflower prior to sauteing it made the whole process easier. You can steam it and process it in advance and store, covered, in the refrigerator and saute’ right before serving.

Cauliflower rice goes especially well with the Chicken with Forty Cloves of Garlic recipe. I added about a half cup of the garlic sauce from that recipe into the cauliflower rice and served them together. It was really delicious, low carb, grain free – Paleo!

For more information on growing cauliflower and its nutritional profile you can check out this post.

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I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe

I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (7)

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  • Author: Lea Valle
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 20 mins
  • Category: Side

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 head of cauliflower
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 clove of garlic, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • cracked black pepper

Instructions

  1. Cut the cauliflower into florets and place in a 8×8 microwaveable dish and cover with plastic wrap. There is no need to add water because the cauliflower will cook in its own moisture.
  2. Microwave on high for 4 minutes.paleo cauliflower rice recipe
  3. Use a food processor to pulse the steamed cauliflower until it is the texture of rice. (You may have to do this in a couple of batches.) Place the cauliflower in a medium bowl and set aside.paleo cauliflower rice recipe
  4. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and saute’ for about 30 seconds being careful not to burn the garlic.
  5. Add the cauliflower into the pan and stir fry for 7-10 minutes, until tender.
  6. Add the parsley, the sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste.

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24 Responses to "I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe"
  1. I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (10)Jeanene says:

    02.12.12 at 11:30 pm

    Lea, I made the cauliflower rice and loved it! And I hate cauliflower! Thank you for the great recipe!

    Reply

    • I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (11)Lea says:

      02.12.12 at 11:34 pm

      That’s awesome Jeanene! Gavin would say the same thing. He has always disliked it but will eat this dish.

      Reply

  2. I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (12)Jen says:

    02.28.12 at 7:27 pm

    I just tried your cauliflower rice recipe and it’s very tasty! It’s a bit crunchy, so maybe I didn’t saute it long enough, but I like it anyway. Thanks!! Very easy! I actually chopped up the cauliflower by hand and it really didn’t take that much time.

    Reply

    • I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (13)Lea says:

      02.28.12 at 9:10 pm

      Great! Glad you like it. It’s very versatile. I use a food processor so I generally end up with pieces that are pretty small so that could account for the difference in time needed to sauté it. Good to know it still works with hand chopping. Thanks for the feedback.

      Reply

      • I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (14)Amanda says:

        06.21.12 at 1:54 am

        made the rice for the first time and LOVED it. I will say, chopping by hand for me was a lot of work and time! I probably won’t make again until I have a food processor, but it definitely makes me want to go out and buy one so I can make this again VERY soon. Had with chicken and homemade paleo pesto sauce and it was delicious. thanks for all the great recipes and tips!

        Reply

        • I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (15)Lea says:

          06.21.12 at 7:00 am

          You’re welcome. And yes, my food processor gets a ton of use these days. I got a great deal on a huge one from Costco.

          Reply

  3. I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (16)Lina says:

    10.05.12 at 10:18 am

    We’re making this tonight to have with our slow-cooked chicken curry!! Thanks for sharing 😀

    Reply

  4. I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (17)Julie says:

    12.15.12 at 8:13 pm

    Lea,
    I make my mom’s bacon fried rice with cauliflower, it turns out so good! My kids thought it was rice, they had no idea, and ate it all up! I chop it, sauté it in bacon fat, add either amino acids or tamari, sauté, then add scrambled edges, cooked bacon pieces and green onions. So great! Love your blog. I am trying the spaghetti squash gratin and will leave my review, thanks!

    Reply

    • I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (18)Lea says:

      12.16.12 at 4:56 pm

      That sounds delicious, Julie. I find my kids really love any type of cauliflower rice and I’ll bet they’d enjoy the fried rice you are describing. We need to try this!

      Reply

  5. I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (19)Conde Aumann says:

    01.30.13 at 10:11 pm

    I can’t wait to try some of these recipes!

    Reply

  6. I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (20)Valerie says:

    06.24.13 at 5:32 am

    I can’t stop laughing about your cauliflower story! Looking forward to trying your recipe for my sons school lunch. He just started preschool and I can’t even begin to thank you enough for all your wonderful paleo recipes! It’s been quite the challenge to keep him paleo AND nut-free since starting school, but so far so good!

    Reply

  7. I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (21)Petra says:

    12.18.15 at 10:56 am

    Thanks for this recipe. I just purchased cauliflower yesterday and was going to make cauliflower tortillas, but I think I’ll try your recipe instead. I am not following a Paleo diet, but recently I started noticing a sensitivity to sugar, even natural sugars and I think it’s time to reduce my carbs and sugar intake. Being european, I love eating bread and now living in Costa Rica I started eating more rice and beans. I would love to substitute rice for your cauliflower rice recipe, I’m excited to make this tonight. The only thing that surprised me is that you suggested microwaving the cauliflower instead of steaming it on the stovetop.

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (22)Lea says:

      01.12.16 at 10:48 am

      Steaming would work just fine.

      Reply

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I Have Made Cauliflower! Basic Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Paleo Spirit (2024)

FAQs

How to make cauliflower rice that isn't soggy? ›

Easy DIY Raw Cauliflower Rice Recipe (That's Not Mushy!)

In a food processor, add the cauliflower florets and pulse for 30-60 seconds. Add 2-3 cups at a time and remove as it is riced. This will prevent the cauliflower from being over-processed. With a towel, pat dry or squeeze the liquid out from the cauliflower.

Can you eat cauliflower rice on a low carb diet? ›

Cauliflower rice is undoubtedly one of the most popular low calorie and low carb rice substitutes thanks to its similar look and texture to white rice. You can also try cabbage rice, broccoli rice, and zucchini rice to similar effect.

Does Trader Joe's have cauliflower rice? ›

Whether you need a simple side dish or the base to a grain-free bowl, Trader Joe's Organic Riced Cauliflower is the veritable veggie for the job.

Is riced cauliflower good? ›

Substituting cauliflower rice for white rice is a great way to get more antioxidants while reducing calories and carbohydrates in order to save room for other nutrient dense foods.

How do you thicken riced cauliflower? ›

The key to a thicker consistency is to drain the steamed cauliflower really well before pureeing or blending it up. Put the puree back into the warm pan and add grated cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted and you should have a nice, thick texture. You can also add a keto thickener like glucomannan or xanthan gum.

Why does cauliflower rice taste sour? ›

While product is hot, you can taste something a bit sour which is the malic acid, a NATURAL product (look it up, it's also used in cosmetics). **Product tastes best after stirred & cooled a little!** Before opening, use hands to squish around contents before opening to mix up the cauliflower.

What is the difference between cauliflower rice and riced cauliflower? ›

As far as we can tell, it's the same thing, just a different name. The term “cauliflower rice” didn't become an internet sensation until around 2012. But ever since then, this nutrient-rich rice substitute has been booming in popularity!

Is store bought cauliflower rice healthy? ›

It's always better to make your own food, it's important to note that the nutrition of most pre-packaged cauliflower rice products is good as well. Cauliflower rice packed with a number of antioxidants and vitamins. It's a simple dish, which is perfect for those of us who struggle with cooking.

Which is better broccoli or cauliflower rice? ›

While they are both very nutritious vegetables, broccoli has a higher vitamin content, specifically in vitamin K and C, than cauliflower and is specifically known to be great for eye health. Broccoli florets also provide more minerals and fiber as well as contains vitamin A that isn't in cauliflower.

Is it OK to eat riced cauliflower everyday? ›

The fact that it's a vegetable makes cauliflower automatically good for you. Additionally, cauliflower is packed with nutrients that give it unique benefits, such as fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and choline. These properties give you a good reason to eat it frequently or even daily.

Is cauliflower rice good for losing weight? ›

Cauliflower has several properties that may help with weight loss. First, it is low in calories with only 27 calories per cup (107 g), so you can eat a lot of it without significantly increasing your calorie intake ( 1 ). It can also serve as a low calorie substitute for high calorie foods, such as rice and flour.

What happens to your body when you eat cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower is high in fiber and water. Both are important for preventing constipation, maintaining a healthy digestive tract, and lowering the risk of colon cancer. Studies have shown that dietary fiber may also help regulate the immune system and inflammation.

Why is my cauliflower rice so wet? ›

Leave riced cauliflower on the heat too long and it will become soft and soggy. Follow this tip: Quickly cooked in a little butter or olive oil on the stovetop, riced cauliflower becomes softer and more tender. As a rule of thumb, about three minutes over medium heat and not too oil much should do the trick.

How do you make rice less mushy? ›

Draining and Drying: If your rice turns out too wet or mushy, start by draining any excess water. You can use a strainer or colander for this purpose. Then, spread the rice on a baking sheet and put it in an oven preheated to 350°F for a few minutes. This helps dry out the rice and improve its texture​​​​.

How do I make sure my rice isn't soggy? ›

Remove your pan from heat and uncover, placing a kitchen towel (as described above) over pan to keep moisture from dripping onto rice. Cover the pan tightly with lid. Let rice stand, covered, for 15-20 minutes to firm up. Remove the lid and fluff cooked rice with a fork.

How do I make my rice fluffy not mushy? ›

Turn off the heat, move the saucepan aside and let it sit covered for 5-10 minutes. While the rice rests, its grains cool off slightly and firm up. If you stir the rice as soon as it's cooked, while it's still very hot and moist, the grains can break up and get mushy.

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