Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (2024)

A quick and easy side dish that is chuck full of veggies, but doesn't taste like it? Sign us up. Our Spanish Cauliflower rice is the perfect low-carb compliment to any Spanish main dish.

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (1)

I don’t mind meal planning, but somehow I always struggle when it comes to thinking of new side dishes my family will actually eat.

My kids are in a semi-picky stage right now, but we try to introduce some sort of veggie at each meal. This Spanish Cauliflower Rice is basically ALL vegetables, but tastes like our favorite homemade Spanish Rice.

They downed the entire batch, and I wasn’t the slightest bit upset about them eating their veggies so quickly. 🙂

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (2)

What is riced cauliflower?

Riced cauliflower is just cauliflower that has been finely diced. It’s shape and texture is similar to rice.

This recipe comes together rather quickly, especially if you’re using pre-packaged riced cauliflower.If you don’t want to use the frozen kind, you can always buy riced cauliflower fresh.

You can also make your own by blending a head of cauliflower in a food processor or high-power blender.

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (3)

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Is riced cauliflower healthy?

Riced cauliflower is packed with nutrients. One cup has 50% of your daily recommended value of vitamin C.

It is also relatively low-calorie. One cup of cooked cauliflower rice has about 25 calories, and one cup of cooked brown rice has about 218.

Cauliflower rice is also gluten free, high in fiber, and low carb. It has 5g of carbs per cup, compared to 46g of carbs per cup of brown rice.

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (4)

How to make Spanish Cauliflower Rice:

This recipe comes together in just two easy steps.

Step 1:In a large skillet over medium heat, saute diced onion in olive oil until tender. Depending on how small your onion is diced, this will take about 5 minutes.

Step 2:Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the frozen riced cauliflower, tomato paste, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, garlic, salt and pepper. Continue to saute for about 6-8 minutes, until the cauliflower is light and fluffy and the mixture is hot.

Serve warm and enjoy.

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (5)

What to serve with Spanish Cauliflower Rice:

This side dish is the perfect compliment to enchiladas, tacos, or flautas.

It also tastes great as part of the filling for burritos or salads.

Storing:

This cauliflower rice will last about 3-5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (6)

Want to know what to serve with our cauliflower rice? Try it as a side to our delicious White Chicken Enchiladas!

Looking for more cauliflower-inspired recipes?

  • Cauliflower Crust Pizza
  • Cauliflower Fried Rice
  • Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
  • Cauliflower Chowder

Serves: 6

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe

Our Spanish Cauliflower rice is the perfect low-carb compliment to any Spanish main dish.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

  • ½ cup diced onion
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 12 ounces frozen riced cauliflower 1 bag
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 10 ounces Rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles 1 can, drained
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, saute diced onion in olive oil until tender (about 5 minutes).

  • Increase heat to medium-high. Add frozen riced cauliflower, tomato paste, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, garlic, salt and pepper. Continue to cook for about 6-8 minutes, until the cauliflower is light and fluffy and the mixture is hot.

  • Serve warm.

Notes

  • This cauliflower rice will last about 3-5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 55 kcal · Carbohydrates: 7 g · Protein: 2 g · Fat: 3 g · Saturated Fat: 1 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g · Sodium: 68 mg · Potassium: 343 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 3 g · Vitamin A: 191 IU · Vitamin C: 34 mg · Calcium: 37 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Equipment

  • Large Skillet

  • Wooden Spoon

Recipe Details

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

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Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (8)

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Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (9)

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  1. Kiere Hoyt says:

    I made this rice for my family tonight and it was such a big hit. We have adopted a KETO lifestyle and with this rice, we did not have to miss our Spanish rice with our meal. It was so good!

  2. Ann says:

    Great recipe but thought it was missing something. So, I added a few chopped up green olives. Perfect.Thanks so much. I'm always looking for new ways to use riced cauliflower.

  3. Cynthia Battis says:

    Please include the nutritional breakdown with your recipes. As a diabetic I need to know the carbs and fiber content.

  4. Cyd says:

    You can add the ingredients into MyFitnessPal app.

  5. Sherry says:

    This is one of the best Spanish rice recipes and I’m Mexican and I make the real thing but since I went to keto I’ve been trying to find one with Cauliflower and this is perfect

  6. Paula says:

    As a diabetic (and Mexican) I needed something to replace Spanish rice. This recipe is delicious. I will be making it again.

  7. Cindy says:

    Tastes better the next day. Cauliflower needed time to absorb the great added flavors

  8. Lark G. says:

    You weren't kidding. This was super easy and quick. I omitted the tomato paste and added green olives. It was delicious. I fooled my husband and I didn't mean to. He said it was awesome Spanish rice. I said you know it's not rice, right? He said he thought it was a short grain rice. He loved it! It was a perfect side dish to Baja baked salmon and fresh guacamole. Thank you.

  9. Whitney says:

    Delicious! I’m not a huge cauliflower fan but this was awesome and so easy. Thanks for a great recipe!

  10. Tessa S. says:

    Made this with fajitas and didn’t feel like a diet food at all great recipe!

  11. Emma B says:

    Can this be reheated? If so, is this best done on the stove top or microwave? I am excited to make this but cook for one and always have leftovers!

  12. Momma Cyd says:

    We are all about simple and easy and usually reheat everything in the microwave.

  13. Jennifer Dahl says:

    I’ve found the best way to get cauliflower to have a more rice texture, is to fry it till almost brown, or brown depending on its use.

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (10)

About The Author:

Steph Loaiza

Steph lives in Southern California with her husband, Andrew, and her five kids: twin girls and 3 boys. She going to Disneyland with her family and reading in her spare time.

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Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you take the bitterness out of cauliflower rice? ›

In a large skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the scallions and cauliflower and sauté until heated through, about 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lime juice to help remove any bitterness from the raw cauliflower.

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

Spread it thinly over a baking tray, and roasted it at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes until it was slightly golden in color," they write. The final result: cauliflower rice with a soft, but not soggy, texture.

Is cauliflower rice actually healthy? ›

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 squeeze moisture out of cauliflower rice? ›

Optional: Transfer to a clean towel or paper towel and press to remove any excess moisture, which can make your dish soggy. Once you have your cauliflower rice, it's easy to cook (or enjoy raw)! Simply sauté in a large skillet over medium heat in 1 Tbsp oil.

Should you rinse cauliflower before cooking? ›

The separated florets have to be washed properly under a tap. This removes dirt and large parasites such as worms. The next step is cleaning the cauliflower in mildly warm water in which a little salt was dissolved. This process – which should last 10-20 minutes - destroys several microbes and large parasites.

Why do you soak cauliflower? ›

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

Do you cook cauliflower rice the same as regular rice? ›

While cauliflower is a great stand-in for rice, these “grains” don't actually need to be cooked in water like rice. Simmering riced cauliflower will leave it soft and mushy, without the toothsome texture that makes it such a good replacement.

Does cauliflower rice soak up liquid? ›

For one, it doesn't absorb liquid like rice does, so riced cauliflower alongside stews and curries will be more watery.

Is cauliflower rice supposed to be crunchy? ›

Epinion: Raw cauliflower rice is crunchy, and works to add texture to a salad, but it doesn't mimic cooked rice.

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 belly fat? ›

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.

Which is healthier, quinoa or cauliflower rice? ›

Brown rice actually has more selenium (good for heart health) and vitamin B3 (needed for the production of sex and stress hormones) than quinoa, but quinoa is still the healthier choice. Cauliflower rice is a grain-free, gluten-free and nutrient-dense way to replace the white rice on your plate.

How long does cauliflower rice last in the fridge? ›

Store cooked cauliflower rice in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Cooked riced cauliflower doesn't taste the same after freezing, so freeze it uncooked instead, following the directions below.

How do you keep cauliflower rice from smelling? ›

You can minimize it by cooking it quickly, and not overcooking it. Cauliflower rice is chopped into very small pieces, and requires only minimal cooking. If I were trying to reduce the odor, I would saute it instead of boiling, to caramelize it and bring out some sweeter flavors.

How do you make riced cauliflower less watery? ›

The best way to deal with the liquid is to put the riced cauliflower in a covered microwave-safe dish, heat it thoroughly to get all the liquid out of it you can, then drain it. If you have to cook it on the stovetop, add as little water as possible and stir frequently to keep it from sticking to the pan.

How do you hide the taste of cauliflower rice? ›

Stirring in fresh lime or lemon juice can add a new dimension to your cauliflower rice. Try adding lime juice and cilantro to make cilantro-lime rice, which works great as a base or a side. Drizzle on sauce. A spoonful of sauce such as chimichurri can mask any cauliflower-iness in the rice.

How do you get the bitter taste out of rice? ›

Try a pinch of baking soda.

Baking soda is very alkaline, which is a good way to correct overly bitter dishes. Sprinkle just a pinch into your food and mix it in well to see if that helps. This is a good trick for if you're cooking and realize that you added too much of a bitter ingredient.

Why is my cooked cauliflower bitter? ›

Over-cooking causes cauliflower to release sulfurous compounds that produce an unpleasant odor and bitter taste. (You'll also lose more phytochemicals.) Check the "doneness" of cauliflower by pricking it with a fork a few minutes before the suggested cooking time is up.

How do you cover up the taste of cauliflower? ›

boil in vegetable broth and herbs you like,or make a cheddar cheese sauce or any other cheese you like to pour on the cauliflower. try roasting in oven with barbecue sauce.

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