Cauliflower 'Spanish Rice' ♥ Reader Recipe (2024)

Cauliflower 'Spanish Rice' ♥ Reader Recipe (2) It looks like Spanish Rice. It tastes like Spanish Rice. But really? It's made with cauliflower and tomatoes, that makes it a low-carb and high-fiber "rice" dish. Yahoo! Weight Watchers PointsPlus 2. Cauliflower 'Spanish Rice' ♥ Reader Recipe (3)

When my friend Sally from the Iowa blog Tip of the Iceberg mailed this recipe, she wrote, "I've used this recipe for years and it truly is excellent. I hope you can share it with the world." Verdict? It is truly excellent and Here, World, it is!

It looks like Spanish rice. It tastes like Spanish rice. And yet it's not made with rice, it's made with cauliflower. So it's a perfect choice for people who watch their carb intake for diets or diabetes. And good news, this doesn't taste like "diet food" – it's just plain good! And it looks so beautiful on a plate, too, adding color and texture, very pretty!

PS This isn't the first time I've used cauliflower to "fool" the table. Turns out, cauliflower can taste a lot like mashed potatoes, too, just see these Lighter Mashed "Potatoes" from Kitchen Parade, the recipe which prompted Sally to share hers. Thanks, Sally, your cauliflower "Spanish Rice" is a keeper!

COMPLIMENTS!
"Incredible! Talk about a kid (and husband) friendly dish. Couldn't even tell it was cauliflower." ~ MTB Chik
"This is excellent." ~ Tanna from My Kitchen in Half Cups
"This is WAY fabulous! ... my Texas husband thinks it's great, too." ~ Lynn
"... oh.my.goodness. I am in LOVE!" ~ Jess
"... it was AMAZING." ~ Teresa
"... oh my gosh, fantastic. ... I seriously might have a new favorite food." ~ Sara


READER RECIPE:
CAULIFLOWER 'SPANISH RICE'

Hands-on time: 25 minutes with occasional attention required throughout
Time to table: 1 hour
Makes 5 cups

1 head cauliflower, cut into florets

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
8 ounces canned tomatoes, chopped
Salsa to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

COOK THE CAULIFLOWER by steaming in a vegetable steamer or boiling in salted water, cooking to the 'al dente' stage where it's cooked through but not soft. Chop fine.

MEANWHILE in a large skillet, heat the olive oil on MEDIUM til shimmery. Add the onion and green pepper and cook, stirring often, until golden. Add the garlic and cook for a minute. Add the tomatoes and stir in. When the cauliflower is cooked, stir it in and continue to cook, breaking up the cauliflower and tomatoes with the edge of a spatula while stirring. After cooking awhile, stir in the salsa. Keep cooking, keep tasting, adding more salsa and salt and pepper as needed. The dish is done when the liquid has cooked off, the salsa and seasoning are perfect, and the rest of supper is done too!

ALANNA'S TIPS & KITCHEN NOTES
Cauliflower 'Spanish Rice' ♥ Reader Recipe (4) My cast iron skillet is about 10 inches across but a bigger one with a bigger cooking surface would have sped along the cooking process.
Cauliflower 'Spanish Rice' ♥ Reader Recipe (5) I was out of green pepper but one would add to the authentic look and feel of Spanish rice.
Cauliflower 'Spanish Rice' ♥ Reader Recipe (6) I used a good half cup, total, of two mild salsas (one tomato and one tomatillo) but started with a couple of tablespoons. If you're short on salsa, pull out the hot sauce!
Cauliflower 'Spanish Rice' ♥ Reader Recipe (7) This would work as a vegan main dish but could also easily be adapted to a rustic main dish, by adding tiny slices of pork or chicken. Note to Vegetarians
Cauliflower 'Spanish Rice' ♥ Reader Recipe (8) This dish could be made ahead and then reheated – and I bet the leftovers are fabulous!

NUTRITION INFORMATION Per Cup: 92 Calories; 3g Tot Fat; 0g Sat Fat; 0mg Cholesterol; 257mg Sodium; 15g Carb; 5g Fiber; 7g Sugar; 4g Protein. Cauliflower 'Spanish Rice' ♥ Reader Recipe (9) WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS Old Points 1 & PointsPlus 2

Cauliflower 'Spanish Rice' ♥ Reader Recipe (10)



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MORE FAVORITE CAULIFLOWER RECIPES

~ Roasted Cauliflower ~
~ Cauliflower Tomato Medley ~
~ Curried Cauliflower ~
~ more cauliflower recipes ~
from A Veggie Venture

~ Cauliflower Salad with Fresh Herbs ~
~ Cauliflower Risotto ~
~ Quick Cauliflower Soup ~
~ more cauliflower recipes ~
from Kitchen Parade


Looking for healthy ways to cook vegetables? A Veggie Venture is home to hundreds of quick, easy and healthful vegetable recipes and the famous Alphabet of Vegetables. Healthy eaters will love the low carb recipes and the Weight Watchers recipes.

© Copyright Kitchen Parade 2009 & 2015 (repub)

Cauliflower 'Spanish Rice' ♥ Reader Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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.

How to make cauliflower rice that isn t soggy? ›

Adding a bit of oil and cooking it on a high heat will remove some of the moisture and help it crisp up! If you want to steam your cauliflower rice but don't want it to turn mushy, you can press your riced cauliflower with a paper towel to remove any excess water before cooking it.

Is cauliflower rice good for cutting weight? ›

Substituting cauliflower rice for white rice is a great way to get more antioxidants while reducing calories and carbohydrates in order to save room for other nutrient dense foods.

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!

Why is my cauliflower so bitter tasting? ›

Over-cooking causes cauliflower to release sulfurous compounds that produce an unpleasant odor and bitter taste. (You'll also lose more phytochemicals.) Check the "doneness" of cauliflower by pricking it with a fork a few minutes before the suggested cooking time is up.

Why does cooked cauliflower taste bitter? ›

Various glucosinolates were quantified by HPLC and correlated with bitterness intensity. The results showed that neoglucobrassicin and sinigrin were responsible for the bitterness of cooked cauliflower.

Why does 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.

How do you squeeze water out of cauliflower rice? ›

Wrap the cauliflower rice in a clean tea towel or paper towels, twist, and squeeze as much water as possible from the rice—you might be surprised by how much water you can wring out, or you might not be. Cauliflower varies quite a bit in its moisture level, and this step ensures that it cooks well.

How do you thicken riced cauliflower? ›

The key to a thicker consistency is to drain the steamed cauliflower really well before pureeing or blending it up. Put the puree back into the warm pan and add grated cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted and you should have a nice, thick texture. You can also add a keto thickener like glucomannan or xanthan gum.

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.

Why does cauliflower rice make me gassy? ›

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.

Is cauliflower rice good for belly fat? ›

Yes, because it is rich in dietary fibre and other nutrients like protein and iron, such as cauliflower, it is helpful for weight loss. The mild flavour of cauliflower lends itself to a multitude of cooking methods. In addition, cauliflower rice offers some remarkable health advantages.

Is cauliflower rice or quinoa better? ›

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.

What rice has no carbs? ›

It's Skinny rice is also known as shirataki rice. Like It's Skinny pasta, It's Skinny rice has ZERO carbs in a 1 cup serving and only 9 calories in the entire two-serving bag! That's right!

How do you fix bitter rice? ›

Try a pinch of baking soda.

Baking soda is very alkaline, which is a good way to correct overly bitter dishes. Sprinkle just a pinch into your food and mix it in well to see if that helps. This is a good trick for if you're cooking and realize that you added too much of a bitter ingredient.

Why is my steamed cauliflower bitter? ›

Various glucosinolates were quantified by HPLC and correlated with bitterness intensity. The results showed that neoglucobrassicin and sinigrin were responsible for the bitterness of cooked cauliflower.

How do you fix bitter cauliflower soup? ›

Over-cooking cauliflower can make it bitter. If your soup tastes bitter, you can add a little more salt to help with the bitterness. If you don't want to add any more salt, a little sugar or something sour, lemon juice, or vinegar to help offset the bitterness.

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.

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