Side Dishes Low Carb

May 6, 2019

How to Make Cauliflower Rice

Name: How to Make Cauliflower Rice
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: ½ tablespoon coconut oil; 1 head of cauliflower; Salt and pepper, to taste

Learn exactly how to make cauliflower rice with and without a food processor! In a few simple steps, you can add this healthy low carb and keto side dish to any meal for a boost of veggies. Cooking tips and recipes using cauliflower rice included!

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

Total Time

15 mins

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Hello from Barcelona! I hope you’re all following my adventures on Instagram because so far this trip has been incredible!

Today we’re off to explore the olive groves and learn about how to make olive oil. Sounds dreamy, right?

Today though, we’re here to talk about my new favorite low-carb side dish: cauliflower rice! Yes, rice made from a beautiful vegetable. Have you tried it yet?

If not, it’s time to see and learn exactly how to make cauliflower rice, what you can add to it for flavor and all the recipes you can incorporate it into. Look, I know there are plenty of store-bought cauliflower rice recipes, but why do that when it’s SO easy to make your own — plus that way you’ll know how fresh it is!

Fall in love with cauliflower rice

Yes, I love cooking with fluffy basmati rice and brown rice, but sometimes cauliflower rice just hits the spot! It’s:

An easy way to pack in sneaky veggies, fiber, and nutrients
Super versatile and can be used in place of rice in most recipes
A great way to bulk up lunches and dinners
A perfect low carb, gluten free and grain free option

Everything you’ll need to make homemade cauliflower rice

Trust me when I say cauliflower rice is easier to make than you think! You’ll just need a few kitchen tools and, of course, cauliflower.

1 head of cauliflower
Cooking oil (I like to use coconut oil)
Salt & pepper
Sharp knife
Cutting board
Box grater or food processor
Dish towel
Large skillet or pan

How to make cauliflower rice with a food processor

This is my favorite easy way to make cauliflower rice:

Remove all greens from 1 medium cauliflower and break into florets or large chunks. Add half of the cauliflower florets to a bowl of the food processor with a blade attachment. Pulse until cauliflower resembles rice.
Add in remaining florets and process again until cauliflower becomes rice-like.
Transfer to a large, clean dish towel and squeeze all the excess moisture out of the cauliflower. Set aside in a large bowl until ready to cook.

No food processor? No problem

You can easily make cauliflower rice without a food processor by using a box grater (AKA a cheese grater) instead! here’s how to do it:

Remove all greens from the head of your cauliflower and break it into smaller chunks. Use a box grater to grate the smaller cauliflower heads into rice-looking bits. Do this until all of your cauliflower has been “riced.”
Transfer to a large, clean dish towel and squeeze all the moisture out of the cauliflower. Set aside in a large bowl until ready to cook.

How to cook cauliflower rice

The great thing about cauliflower rice is how easy it is to cook and incorporate into recipes. Instead of eating raw cauliflower rice, I recommend adding a bit of olive or coconut oil to a skillet over medium heat and cooking your cauliflower rice for just about 5 minutes until it’s slightly tender. Season it with salt and black pepper and serve it as you would any regular rice.

Feel free to top your cauliflower rice with fresh herbs and garnishes like lime juice, parsley, or cilantro!

Storing tips

Store your cauliflower rice in an airtight container or freezer bags for 3-5 days in the fridge. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months – just defrost it before cooking! Easy, right?

Our favorite ways to use cauliflower rice

Most cauliflower can be used as a low carb substitute for rice in recipes. To flavor cauliflower rice, be sure to add a tablespoon of virgin coconut oil, butter or toasted sesame oil when cooking. And don’t forget salt and pepper. Maybe a little garlic or garlic powder, too? Why not! Personally, cauliflower rice is my favorite in fried rice & stir fry recipes:

Get all of my recipes using rice here, and feel free to swap with cauliflower rice!

I hope you love this delicious cauliflower rice recipe and find some fun, creative ways to use it! If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and rate the recipe below so others know how you liked it. Thank you for your readership! xo.

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How to Make Cauliflower Rice

Monique Volz of AmbitiousKitchen.com

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 5

Total Time 15

4 servings

Ingredients

½ tablespoon coconut oil
1 head of cauliflower
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Remove all greens from cauliflower and break into florets. You can either use a box grater, or a food processor to process the cauliflower into rice. If using a food processor (the easier method), simply add half of cauliflower florets to bowl of the food processor with a blade attachment. Pulse until cauliflower resembles rice.
Add in remaining florets and process again until cauliflower becomes rice-like.
Transfer to a large, clean dish towel and squeeze all the moisture out of the cauliflower. You don't have to do this step but I think it makes the rice a little bit better.
To cook your cauliflower rice: add ½ tablespoon coconut oil to a separate large skillet and place over medium heat. Once oil is hot, add in cauliflower rice and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.