Learning how to make this cauliflower rice recipe is a good starting point to explore the versatility of this veggie. You’ll be amazed how quickly you can transform florets into grain-like bits. From a time standpoint, cauliflower rice can be cooked and is ready faster than grains, which is a plus for those busy weeknights. Whether sautéed, stir-fried, or simply tossed raw into a salad, you’ll find yourself using cauliflower rice to bump up the flavor and nutrition of any meal.
Watch How to Make Cauliflower Rice
What Is Cauliflower Rice?
Cauliflower rice is a grain-free, low-carb alternative to regular white rice made entirely from cauliflower. Just a quick chop in a food processor turns a massive head of cauliflower into grain-sized bits, creating a faux rice. The rigid structure of cauliflower makes it easy to chop into tiny pieces and also means that they hold their grain-like shape very well when cooked.
How to Make Cauliflower Rice
Grab the largest cauliflower head you can find and then you’re ready to rice! You can find several different colors and varieties of cauliflower available at the market, from the typical ivory hue to purple, orange, and bright green. Cook’s choice! Note that you don’t want the cauliflower to get too small in size. Otherwise, the texture will become mushy and the appearance won’t be as similar to rice.
What If You Don’t Have a Food Processor?
No problem! You can use a blender and follow the same method. A cheese grater also works magically, by shredding large sections of the head over the holes. Finally, a good old-fashioned chef’s knife can swiftly chop the florets—it just takes a little bit more time but still yields good results.
Ready to invest in one? Check out our list of The Best Food Processors.
What Does Cauliflower Rice Taste Like?
Any slightly bitter and cabbage-like aromas from the cauliflower mellow out when heated, allowing for mild nutty flavors to shine through. The neutral undertones make it versatile, and it’s easy to add different seasonings to transform the taste.
Ways to Use Cauliflower Rice
The simplest way to enjoy cauliflower rice is sautéed with some olive oil or butter, and seasoned with salt and pepper. It takes about five minutes to cook, making it a convenient go-to side dish. I’m also a big fan of substituting cauliflower rice in risottos, grits, and fried rice. It can also be eaten raw, so try tossing it into salads for extra crunch—or use it like you would in a grain salad instead of farro or quinoa.
How to Store or Freeze Cauliflower Rice
Raw cauliflower rice can be stored in an airtight container for up to 10 days. If it starts to look gray or smells overly sulfurous, it’s time to make a new batch. Cooked cauliflower rice is good for up to 7 days, making it great for meal prep. Cauliflower rice can also be frozen, just like regular rice! I like to place 1 or 2 cup-size portions in a resealable plastic bag. Lay the bag of rice on the counter and press down to evenly spread out the pieces while removing as much air as possible , seal and lay it flat in the freezer. Frozen cauliflower rice is good for up to 30 days in the freezer. Just defrost at room temperature for at least 10 to 15 minutes before you want to use it, and drain any excess moisture before cooking.
Looking for More Great Cauliflower Recipes?
Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes” with Brown Butter Simple Cauliflower Soup Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos with Ranch Sauce Sheet Pan Pizza with Roasted Cauliflower and Greens Cauliflower Pasta Bake
Remove any large floret pieces that do not get processed and process them with the next batch. Transfer all the processed cauliflower to the large bowl. When finished with both batches, you should have about 6 cups of cauliflower rice.
