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 (9)

Join The Discussion

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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

Is cauliflower rice actually healthy? ›

Cauliflower has always been considered a healthy vegetable with a significant amount of nutrients. It also contains plant compounds that help reduce the risk of some diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Recently, it has been used as a substitute for white rice as a way to cut back on carbs.

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

Season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lime juice to help remove any bitterness from the raw cauliflower.

Why is cauliflower rice soggy? ›

Sautéing for too long. Riced cauliflower can benefit from a quick sauté, but be mindful of the clock. Leave riced cauliflower on the heat too long and it will become soft and soggy.

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 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? ›

If you are a big fan of rice bowls, swap the rice base with healthy cauliflower rice. Using cauliflower rice, which is rich in fibre, will benefit weight loss. Moreover, the cauliflower will give you additional nutrients, making your meal healthier without sacrificing the flavour and taste.

Why does cauliflower rice make me bloated? ›

The reason for this is that cauliflower, as well as other cruciferous veggies, such as kale and broccoli, contains raffinose and other oligosaccharides. These are specific types of sugars that remain undigested until bacteria in the gut ferment them, producing gas, and, in turn, causing bloating and gas.

Why does my 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.

Why does my cauliflower taste weird? ›

Bitter tasting cauliflower can be caused by too much heat or sun. It can also taste bitter from a lack of moisture, uneven watering, waiting too long to harvest, or overcooking.

What happens if you eat too much cauliflower rice? ›

While everyone's tolerance is different, too much cauliflower can create G.I. distress, like excess gas and bloating. “Make sure to drink enough water to move it through your system,” suggests Lincoln. Cooking it can also dial back digestion woes.

Why does cauliflower rice hurt my stomach? ›

Cauliflower provides essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, but it can also cause stomachaches or abdominal cramps. The culprit behind the stomachaches is cauliflower's fiber content, which becomes most troublesome when you increase your fiber intake too rapidly without giving your body time to adjust.

Can you overcook cauliflower rice? ›

Overcooking It

"When it is riced it's really easy for it to turn mushy from overcooking and then it won't hold up as well in your dishes where you're trying to use it to substitute rice," says Maggie Michalczyk, MS, RD.

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.

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 frozen or fresh cauliflower rice better? ›

An alternative to traditional rice grains, you can either make your own from scratch or pick up a bag from the grocery store. However, there's a decision to make: fresh or frozen. Although your first instinct may be to reach for a package of fresh cauliflower, frozen is actually the better option.

Is cauliflower rice highly processed? ›

Basic cauliflower rice is nothing more than finely processed raw cauliflower. There are several ways you can rice cauliflower: Chop the cauliflower florets using a large chef's knife into tiny pieces about the size of rice grains. Grate the cauliflower florets using a grater.

Is cauliflower rice a good carb? ›

Carbohydrates. With very few carbohydrates (4g total, 2g net) cauliflower rice is an excellent option for people following the keto diet or generally watching their carb intake. Also, the reduced carbs found in cauliflower rice may help people with type 2 diabetes better control their blood sugar levels.

Is cauliflower rice a good substitute for rice? ›

Riced cauliflower is an excellent low-carb and low-calorie alternative to rice. It has a mild flavor, as well as a texture and appearance similar to that of cooked rice, with only a fraction of the calories and carbs.

Which is healthier, cauliflower rice or quinoa? ›

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.

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