Whole30 Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Whole30 Mexican Cauliflower Rice is the perfect quick and simple side dish!

You are not going to believe how much flavor is packed in this cauliflower rice that only takes 10 minutes to make! Perfect for meal prep as well!

Ingredients

• Avocado oil or olive oil – this is used to cook the onions and cauliflower rice. If you want to reduce the fat, you could also simply spray the pan with avocado oil spray or olive oil spray.
• Onions – onions help to give the dish a deep, savory flavor and are the base of the recipe. White onions, yellow onions or red onions can be used. Omit if you are short on time or cannot tolerate onions.
• Cauliflower rice (frozen is preferred) – frozen cauliflower rice is preferred since it’s so easy to keep on hand, easy to find and doesn’t add any prep time to the dish. You could also use fresh cauliflower rice or make your own cauliflower rice (see the tips below).
• Spices: Salt, ground cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder – these spices help to create the Mexican seasoning. The ground cumin and smoked paprika create a smoky flavor. The garlic powder gives the dish a umami quality. Salt helps amplify the flavor of the lime juice and cilantro and seasons the cauliflower rice.
• Lime juice – lime juice provides a bright, fresh flavor and balances out the slightly bitter flavor from the cauliflower rice.
• Cilantro – cilantro pairs well with the Mexican spices and lime juice and adds a fresh pop of flavor to the dish.

How to make Mexican cauliflower rice

1. Start by heating a skillet over medium heat. Add avocado oil and the white onion. Cook 2-3 minutes to soften the onion.
   
   
   
2. Add the cauliflower rice to the onions and cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
   
   
   
3. Take off the heat and add the spices, stir well.
   
   
   
4. Add the lime juice and chopped cilantro off the heat and stir well. 
   
   

Top tips

• Try to break up any large chunks of frozen cauliflower rice before pouring it into the hot skillet. Typically I will press down with the heel of my hand with pressure on the countertop to try to break up any large chunks.
• Add the frozen cauliflower rice to a hot skillet (cook over medium high heat) and cook it long enough to ensure all the water that cooks off the cauliflower as it defrosts evaporates.
• Don’t cook the cauliflower rice too long or it will get mushy.
• If you are cooking fresh cauliflower rice, cook covered for the first 4 minutes for the best texture
• If you are short on time, skip cooking the onions and add 1-2 teaspoons of dried onion flakes in place of the onion for a similar flavor!

Recommended kitchen tools

• Cast iron skillet or stainless steel skillet
• Lime juicer
• Food processor (optional)

How to add more spice to Mexican cauliflower rice

• Sliced jalapenos (fresh or jarred)
• Red pepper flakes
• Cayenne pepper
• Chipotle powder

Common questions

How to make cauliflower rice at home

There are three ways you can make cauliflower rice for this recipe:

1. Pulsed in a food processor (see below for directions)
2. Grated by hand with a hand grater (very messy, I don’t recommend this method)
3. Store bought (see below for where to buy cauliflower rice)

To make this dish in under 10 minutes, I prefer to use store bought frozen cauliflower rice. It’s easy to keep stored in the freezer and I don’t to worry about it spoiling in the fridge.

How to make cauliflower rice in the food processor

1. Start by removing the green outer leaves as well as the thick stem.
2. Place the cauliflower head on the counter and slice 1 inch thick steaks of cauliflower or chop into florets. You don’t need to worry about this looking pretty.
   
   
   
3. Add about ½ of the cauliflower to the food processor and process on high until it resembles rice (takes about 20-30 seconds).
   
   
   
4. Repeat with the rest of the cauliflower.
   
   
   
5. Store in the fridge in a well-sealed container for up to 3 days before cooking or freeze for up to 2 months in a freezer safe container.

How to make cauliflower rice without food processor

1. Remove the green leaves but keep the stem.
2. Using a box grater, grate the cauliflower around the stem using the largest grater holes.

Tip: Work on one side of the cauliflower until you reach the stem. Don’t keep turning the cauliflower as you are grating it, it is harder to work with this way.

Where to buy cauliflower rice

Most stores now carry cauliflower rice in the frozen food section. Bird’s Eye and Green Giant both have frozen riced cauliflower in most grocery stores.

You can also find store brands at Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Target, and Whole Foods in the frozen section.

In many stores it is also sold in the fresh produce section. CeCe’s Veggie Co, Eat Smart, Green Giant brands can be found at most stores. Also, you can usually find fresh riced cauliflower at Trader Joe’s and Costco as well.

How to store leftover cauliflower rice

Fridge: This Mexican cauliflower rice lasts in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make sure you store in a well sealed container.

Freezer: Cooked cauliflower rice can be frozen and stored in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge or in the microwave or on the stove.

If you love this recipe, you should try

• Dirty Cauliflower Rice
• Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
• Green Cauliflower Rice
• Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Quinoa
• Instant Pot Mexican Rice and Beans
• Italian Cauliflower Rice
• Cauliflower Rice Stuffing

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Whole30 Mexican Cauliflower Rice

This whole30 Mexican cauliflower rice is the perfect side dish for your Mexican style meals! Paleo, vegan, grain free and ready in 10 minutes! Perfect for meal prep as well! 

4.67 from 6 votes

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: cauliflower rice

Prep Time: 1 min

Cook Time: 9 mins

Total Time: 10 mins

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Samantha Rowland

Guided Recipe Video

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp avocado oil
• 1/2 medium white onion, chopped
• 2 bags frozen riced cauliflower - or 1 large head cauliflower, riced
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 lime juiced
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro

Instructions

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the avocado oil and coat the bottom of the pan
• Add the onions and cook for 2 minutes. 
• Add the frozen cauliflower rice and cook well until fully defrosted and hot. 
• Add the spices and stir well.
• Remove from heat and add the lime juice and chopped cilantro.

Notes

How to rice cauliflower in the food processor:

• Start by removing the green outer leaves as well as the thick stem.
• Place the cauliflower head on the counter and slice 1 inch thick steaks of cauliflower or chop into florets. You don’t need to worry about this looking pretty.
• Add about ½ of the cauliflower to the food processor and process on high until it resembles rice (takes about 20-30 seconds).
• Repeat with the rest of the cauliflower.
• Store in the fridge in a well-sealed container for up to 3 days before cooking or freeze for up to 2 months in a freezer safe container.

See how I calculate food cost.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Amount per Serving

Calories

82

Fat

 

3

g

Carbohydrates

 

10

g

Fiber

 

4

g

Sugar

 

4

g

Protein

 

4

g

Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database.

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