Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

A grain-free alternative to restaurant-style cilantro lime rice, this sautéed Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice recipe is the perfect soy-free, gluten-free side to any meal! And it’s super easy to make, too! {Paleo and Vegan}

Stop the presses, shut the front door, and hold the phone. We have a vegetable on hand. And one that’s particularly tasty when it’s paired with cilantro and lime and sea salt. 

Hello, cauliflower, I’m looking right at you. 

This vegetable has been the answer to many a culinary prayer. Steam in and then add it to a smoothie bowl? Sure, why not! Pair it with turmeric? Is there any other way? I think not. So it was only natural that we would also pair cauliflower with citrus and herbs, and then make a dish of it. A do, as it were. If you are in the market for delicious excuses to get more vegetables into your diet, then may I suggest Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice?

Because it’s nothing short of amazing. Cooked cauliflower has a wonderful savory flavor that is a match made in culinary heaven, as I just glommed on about. And while I LOVE cilantro lime rice at restaurants, there are times when I’d like to cook some delicious veggies in my own kitchen and enjoy them right then and there. Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice fits the bill.

So let’s get to it, shall we? 

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice is

• Paleo
• Vegan
• Grain-free
• Savory
• Citrusy
• The perfect side dish (or main dish or any dish, really)
• Easy to store (consume within 24 hours for best results)

Bottom line? Put this culinary goodness right into your life. It will not disappoint you.

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice ingredients

• Fresh cauliflower. And the fresher the better. I try to make my cauliflower rice within 24 hours of buying the cruciferous vegetable. If you plan to chop your own cauliflower rice, then start with one head of cauliflower. Depending on the size of the cauliflower head, you might yield between 3 1/2 and 5 cups of rice. If buying pre-riced cauliflower, aim for about 4-5 cups of rice.
• Sea salt. I’ve written this before and I’ll write it again – sea salt might seam like an obvious ingredient. But it not only adds flavor but also complements cauliflower’s earthy flavor. If your cauliflower rice tastes a little bland, there’s a good chance it just needs another sprinkle or two of sea salt.
• Coconut oil. A few tablespoons. You want enough to coat the cauliflower, but not so much it soaks the vegetable (especially if you’re working with a smaller head of cauliflower).
• Green onions. Chopped or thinly sliced.
• Fresh cilantro. Like the cauliflower, I use this herb within 24 hours of purchasing it. 

How to make your own cauliflower rice

If you’re new to cauliflower rice, then let me welcome you! Welcome, welcome, welcome! And if you’ve made your own before or enjoyed it in some capacity, then let me welcome you back! Back, back, back! Now that we’re re/acquainted, let’s walk through how to work with cauliflower rice.

There are two main ways to get started: 1) chop your own cauliflower rice or 2) buy pre-riced cauliflower. Either way will work, but there are considerations for each option.

• Chop your own cauliflower rice: For best results, don’t overfill the chopper with florets. Instead work with small batches. And if there are stubborn florets, remove them from the current batch and then add them to the next batch. Otherwise you run the risk of over-chopping florets that are already the correct size. Learn more about How to Make Cauliflower Rice in a post I wrote when I decided to go ALL IN on cauliflower rice!
• Buy pre-riced cauliflower. This is easier than chopping your own, and it’s easier to predict the quantity you’ll have to work with. However, you’ll want to make sure the cauliflower is fresh. Its it look brown or soggy, or the freshness date is looming, look for another package. Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice works best with fresh ingredients.

More cauliflower rice recipes!

If you are on the cauliflower rice bandwagon of deliciousness, then here are a few more recipes to put in your recipe tin!

• Paleo Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Soup
• Grain-Free Cauliflower Stir-Fry
• Creamy Avocado Cauliflower Rice
• Cauliflower Turmeric Quinoa Bowls

Enjoy your cauliflower rice, Spiriteds! Stay wild! I’m glad you’re here. ❤️

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(This recipe first appeared on 4/18/16. The recipe got, you guessed it, a photo makeover. Enjoy!)

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