Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
Cilantro lime cauliflower rice is a wonderful low-carb side dish with the most amazing flavor. Serve this cauliflower dish with any of your favorite main courses for a hearty serving of veggies.
Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice Recipe
Rice is probably one of my favorite simple side dishes because it's just so easy to make and it goes with pretty much anything. But sometimes I want to serve sides with extra nutritional benefits.
That's when I turn to recipes like this easy cilantro lime cauliflower rice. The texture is very similar to real rice, but instead it's just rice-sized pieces of fresh cauliflower.
Whether you're low-carb or not, you'll love this cauliflower rice recipe! I even have a Mexican cauliflower rice because it's a great way to sneak in extra veggies into our family dinners. Plus, it's just such an easy side dish to make and can be used in so many different ways.
Cauli rice can often have a weird mushy texture, but I've figured out the perfect method to truly make this a great substitute for traditional rice. You're going to love this simple recipe! It makes the best side dish for all of your favorite Mexican food meals.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
This has quickly become one of my favorites recipes because of how simple it is to make. It will be the star of the show at dinner tonight:
- This recipe is great for the Keto diet, gluten-free diets, Paleo, and Whole30 diets. It's a wonderful dish to make for those who have a lot of different dietary restrictions. It's even dairy free!
- You can serve this side with so many different main course. It's versatile, yet flavorful. No one likes bland cauliflower rice.
- It only takes 20 minutes to make this veggie packed side dish. I don't know about you, but I am always looking for recipes that actually are super quick and easy to make. This is definitely one of them!
Ingredients
Grab these simple ingredients the next time you're at the grocery store. Then you'll be ready to make this cilantro cauliflower rice recipe whenever you need it:
- frozen riced cauliflower
- fresh lime juice
- diced onion
- fresh cilantro
- olive oil
- garlic powder
- salt
- pepper
Substitutions and Variations
Feel free to make your own cauliflower rice instead of using frozen plain cauliflower rice. You'll just need a box grater or a grating attachment for a food processor to grate a head of cauliflower into rice-sized pieces.
I recommend using fresh lime juice for the best flavor in this easy cauliflower rice recipe. But you can also grab bottle lime juice at the grocery store to use in this recipe.
Don't have olive oil? Then grab some avocado oil to use as a substitution! A bit of refined coconut oil will work too.
Add more bold lime flavor by mixing in a bit of lime zest, as well as the lime juice. Diced green onions are another great way to add extra flavor to this fresh cauliflower rice dish too.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
Follow these simple instructions with step-by-step photos and this tasty cauliflower rice will be on your dinner table in no time:
Add olive oil and chopped onion to a large skillet and for for 3-5 minutes over medium-high heat until tender.
Use your hands to break up the bags of frozen riced cauliflower rice and add it to the large pan.
Continue cooking the mixture for 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently so that the cauliflower cooks evenly and does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
Remove the riced cauliflower from heat. Add lime juice, garlic powder, salt, black pepper and chopped cilantro.
Mix until thoroughly combined and then serve immediately!
How to Store Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
Place leftovers into an air tight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For best results, reheat each serving on the stove top or in the microwave.
You can also freeze leftover cauliflower rice, but keep in mind that the the texture will likely change after being frozen and thawed. However, if you want to freeze leftovers then store them in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
What to Serve with Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
This is the perfect base for a keto burrito bowl with some hearty ground beef taco meat that's loaded with your favorite toppings, like guacamole and fajita veggies.
It's also a great substitute for rice in Instant Pot stuffed peppers, and is the perfect veggie side dish for enchiladas.
You can even serve it as a simple side dish with things like pesto salmon and grilled pork tenderloin.
Tips for Success
Check out these few tips so that you can have the best cilantro lime cauliflower rice:
- If you're making this for taco night, I recommend making it just before your plan on serving dinner. The flavor is best when it's fresh and hot!
- Making homemade cauliflower rice from fresh cauliflower? Then make sure you grate it small enough so that the texture is perfect!
- Feel free to add more lime juice if you want a more bold lime flavor. You can also add more salt, pepper and garlic to taste.
FAQ
If you end up with cauliflower cilantro rice that is soggy, then you likely sautéed it for too long. You also may have added too much lime juice. Be sure you follow the cooking instructions for best results, and use the correct measurements of the other ingredients.
Fresh cilantro has a very distinct flavor, but there are a few substitutes you can use. They will change the flavor of the dish, but will still be tasty. Use fresh parsley, fresh basil or even dill to add flavor without cilantro.
More Veggies Sides Dishes
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Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 bags riced cauliflower frozen, plain
- 1 whole lime juiced
- ¼ cup onion finely chopped
- ¼ cup cilantro finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a large pan add olive oil and chopped onion, cook for 3-5 minutes until tender.
- Using hands, break up the bags of frozen riced cauliflower and add to the pan. Continue cooking for 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Remove from heat and add lime juice, garlic powder, salt, pepper and chopped cilantro. Mix until thoroughly combined.
