Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Can I use Frozen Cauliflower Rice?

Yes! I always have frozen cauliflower rice in my freezer. And I regularly buy two bags of Via Emilia Organic Frozen Riced Cauliflower which contains four 12 oz bags of perfectly riced cauliflower for $5.99 or $0.12 per once.

How to cook Frozen Cauliflower Rice?

Take a large non-stick pan, add a splash of olive oil and turn the burner to high. I use a gas stove and prepare frozen cauliflower rice on maximum heat. Add your frozen cauliflower rice and break up the frozen chunks with a wooden spatula. Stir every 30 seconds to allow the cauliflower to cook evenly and avoid burning.

How to buy Fresh Cauliflower?

Always go for thick, compact cauliflower florets. Avoid blemished cauliflower or florets that appear light tan, brown or dark brown. It’s a sign that the cauliflower head is starting to decay.

There’s also another convenient route most people are taking nowadays, and that is buying frozen riced cauliflower. It’s convenient if making cauliflower rice on busy days.

Ingredients for Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup white onion chopped
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 3 cups riced cauliflower
• 2 tablespoons vegetable stock
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 cup fresh chopped cilantro
• juice from 1 lime (2 tbsp.)

When it comes to lime, use fresh lime juice instead of a bottled one. Fresh lime juice brings a much brighter and more intense flavor than the bottled one. But just use one to avoid overpowering your cauliflower rice recipe with lime flavor.

Helpful tools

• Food processor/blender/box grater for fresh cauliflower
• Large or medium skillet
• Stove
• Knife
• Cutting board

How to Make Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

This is one of my favorite side dishes because it is super easy and a fail-proof recipe. And when using frozen cauliflower, I can have this recipe ready in 10 minutes or less.

Prep time: 5 – 10 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Serving size: 4

If you decide to make the cauliflower rice yourself, you first need to prepare it.

Cauliflower rice preparation: start by cutting the head cauliflower into quarters or large batches. Using your knife, cut the large florets into small pieces, then load them into a blender or food processor. Pulse until the cauliflower has a fine, rice-like texture.

You may get a bowl of waterier cauliflower rice when using a food processor. Simply wrap the side dish in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze a little to draw out the moisture. If you don’t have a food processor or blender, use a box grater. It needs more muscle and can create a bit of a mess, but it almost resembles the ‘real’ rice texture. Use whatever option you feel like.

After you’re done preparing the cauliflower rice, you’re basically half way there. The next step is heating the lime cauliflower rice cilantro! There are three ways to go about this; roasting cauliflower rice in the oven, steaming in the microwave, and sautéing in a skillet.

For this cauliflower rice cilantro lime recipe, we’ll sauté in a skillet.

• Heat up the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. You can as well use butter, coconut oil, or avocado oil if you so wish. When the oil is hot, add the onions and sauté for 4-5 minutes on medium heat or until they become soft and translucent.
• Add the garlic and cook for a minute or until the garlic becomes soft and fragrant, stirring occasionally.
• Add the cauliflower rice to the skillet. Stir to mix everything together. Be careful not to overmix however, as the cauliflower rice might get mushy.
• Stir in the vegetable stock, about half the cilantro, cumin, salt, and pepper. You can add your favorite seasoning, if desired. Turn the heat up to high and cook for another minute. Lower the heat again, add the lime juice and stir to mix well.
• Taste and season with more salt and pepper as needed. Stir in the remaining cilantro for a minute, then remove from heat.
• Serve and enjoy!

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Throw in cheese, fresh herbs, lime zest, and spices towards the end of cooking for a more distinct flavor. Be careful not to overdo it.

Nutrition serving:

Calories: 42kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 231mg | Potassium: 186mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 27.5mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Mistakes to Avoid When Making Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

While this cauliflower rice recipe is as simple as they come, things can still get messy real quick. Here’re the most common blunders;

1. Overcooking. All your efforts will go in vain if you overcook cauliflower in this recipe. Besides losing its super nutritious value, the vegetable gets crumbly, mushy and a little too intense in taste. If this happens, you don’t have to throw it away. Instead, get creative and make some cauliflower soup. You can also spice things up and make garlic butter mashed cauliflower.
2. Avoid using iron or aluminum pan/skillet when cooking cauliflower. The organo-sulfur compounds found in this cruciferous vegetable will react with the metals and discolor the head of cauliflower. Non-stick and stainless steel skillets are the best options for cauliflower rice cilantro lime.
3. Forgetting to remove excess moisture from the cauliflower and ending up with a mushy low carb rice (no one likes the mushy mess, right?). If you missed it, check my How to cook Frozen Cauliflower Rice above.
4. Under-seasoning your cilantro lime rice. While some people prefer the cilantro lime cauliflower rice plain, being adventurous with spices, herbs and even sauces really transforms this side dish into something irresistible. Don’t be afraid to make this meal your own.