Living a low-carb lifestyle can be hard, believe me. Gooey grilled cheese, comforting pastas, and creamy mashed potatoes - sorry if your mouth is watering - are hard to resist. There is one hack to eating a delicious, satisfying meal that tricks your brain into thinking you're loading up on carbs, and that's cauliflower rice. By ricing cauliflower, you can substitute this versatile veggie for carb filled ingredients. Cauliflower burrito bowls, pizza crusts, and even cauliflower oatmeal are a few of these 11 amazing recipes you need to try.
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Before you start rummaging through recipes, here is a note on ricing cauliflower. First, your food processor is your friend. Taking a large head of cauliflower, preferably organic cauliflower, and break off the florets. Rinse, then make sure the cauliflower is completely dry before ricing. The dryer, the less likely it is to turn into mush. Add the florets in batches into the food processor until they reach a nice rice consistency. Now you're ready to cook!
1. Cauliflower Fried Rice
What's the first recipe that comes to mind when thinking of cauli rice? Probably fried rice. Leaving out the white rice, this Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe packs the dish with nothing but veggies and eggs.
Scallions, garlic, ginger, peas, carrots, and cauliflower rice are stir fried with a topping of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and that delicious scrambled egg. Want to give it a twist? Add in some fish sauce.
Get the recipe here.
2. Mexican Cauliflower Rice
Like a healthier version of a burrito bowl, Mexican Cauliflower Rice will satisfy your Mexican food cravings minus all the carbs. Ready in 30-minutes, eat this as a side dish or as the main course.
In a large skillet on medium heat, stir fry garlic, onion, and jalapeño until fragrant. Then, add tomatoes, spices, bell pepper, and riced cauliflower florets. Stir fry until tender, then top with avocado, cilantro, hot sauce, sour cream, and any other Mexican food topping you crave. Keto, paleo, vegan, and loaded in veggies, this recipe checks all the boxes.
Get the recipe here.
3. Chicken Carnitas Burrito Bowl with Cauliflower and Lime
Speaking of burrito bowls, if you're craving a burrito but want to ditch the tortilla, Chicken Carnitas Burrito Bowl with Cauliflower Rice is the way to go. The prefect substitution for white rice, cauliflower acts as a filling base that makes this burrito bowl even more packed with veggies.
Loading on the tomatoes, guacamole, black beans, tomatoes, cilantro, salsa, and chicken carnitas on top of a lime cilantro cauliflower rice will change how you think of eating burritos.
Get the recipe here.
4. Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala with Cauliflower Rice
If you're craving Indian food, but want a healthier recipe, then try Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala with Cauliflower Rice. Chicken breast is marinated in Greek yogurt with garam marsala and spices.
It's then simmered in tomato sauce with mores spices, including fragrant garlic, then served next to a bed of turmeric cauliflower rice. One bite and this creamy chicken masala with slightly crunchy, spiced cauliflower rice is the new comfort you'll crave.
Get the recipe here.
5. Thai Red Curry Cauliflower Rice
Want curry without all that rice weighing you down? This Thai Red Curry Cauliflower Rice recipe is your answer. It's not only low-carb, but it's also gluten-free, vegan, low fat, and low in calories. Did I also mention delicious?
To add upon the rice flavor profile, ginger, garlic, onion, jalapeño, and carrot are sautéed with a red curry paste. Bell pepper, cauliflower, and soy sauce is then added and left to simmer. Once it's done, top with peas and your favorite fried rice toppings. Edamame, tofu, lime juice, cilantro, whatever you top it with your cravings will be satisfied.
Get the recipe here.
6. Revitalizing & Raw Cauliflower-Tomato Detox Salad
If you're in need of the reset button, but still want a delicious, satisfying meal, then this is the detox salad for you. Rice cauliflower serves as the base, while its mixed with chopped kale, sun-dried tomatoes, herbs, pine nuts, hemp seed, and raw pepitas.
Topped with a fresh homemade lemon dressing with raw garlic cloves, tahini, and salt, you'll find yourself wanting to hit the reset button all the time.
Get the recipe.
7. Cauliflower Rice Pizza Crust with Chickpea "Pepperoni"
Cauliflower rice isn't just about rice bowls, it's also about ricing cauliflower to sub out other carb filled ingredients, like say, pizza crust. Rice your cauliflower like you normally would, strain out all the liquid wiht a cheese cloth, then add an egg, cheese, and salt.
Once mixed, shape it into a pizza crust and bake, flipping as you go so it's evenly cooked. Next top with ingredients like this vegetarian Cauliflower Crust Pizza with Chickpea "Pepperoni". Buffalo mozzarella, arugula, basil, pepper flakes, and the "pepperoni" spiced chickpeas toppings will change your mind on how to do pizza.
Get the recipe here.
8. Cauliflower Rice Stuffed Peppers
Rice? Who needs it when you can create the ultimate veggie packed Cauliflower Rice Stuffed Peppers. This savory plant based recipe is totally gluten-free, cuts back on the carbs, is packed with protein, and full of flavor.
Bell peppers are stuffed with a spiced cauliflower rice along with beans, salsa, and a load of fresh toppings. Baked to perfection, this main course will leave you full, happy, and excited for leftovers.
Get the recipe here.
9. Broccoli and Cauliflower Rice Chicken Casserole
Craving mom's comfort food? How about a cheesy cauliflower rice casserole. The comforts of home minus the carbs, this casserole is loaded with broccoli, chicken, and a five cheese blend.
Okay, so the five cheese blend may be indulging a bit, but you are cutting down on the carbs after all. If you feel guilty about it, ditch the ranch topping and try it with a dollop of Greek yogurt instead.
Get the recipe here.
10. Chocolate Cauliflower Rice Oatmeal
You can even ditch your morning oatmeal for a cauliflower oatmeal with this paleo, grain-free Chocolate Cauliflower Oatmeal recipe. It may sound crazy at first, but chocolate tastes just as good in cauliflower oatmeal as it does in regular oats.
In a saucepan, simmer your dairy-free milk of choice then add in riced cauliflower. After a few minutes add eggs and cocoa powder. Once cooked, top with your favorite oatmeal fixings like strawberries and raspberries for a healthier touch.
Get the recipe here.
11. Pesto Cauliflower Rice Breakfast Bowl
Want a more savory breakfast? Try this Pesto Cauliflower Rice Breakfast Bowl. Loaded in everything you need to start the day right, cauliflower rice is tossed in a kale pesto then topped with a fried egg, spinach, and fresh avocado.
Oh, and if you're trying to cut back on oil, try poaching your egg in water instead. Once you slice into the yoke and it oozes over the rice, you'll understand what a cauliflower breakfast is all about.
Chef's Note: Dry fry the cauliflower rice in a skillet to remove excess moisture.
Get the recipe here.
