Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (2024)

A quick and easy side dish that is chuck full of veggies, but doesn't taste like it? Sign us up. Our Spanish Cauliflower rice is the perfect low-carb compliment to any Spanish main dish.

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (1)

I don’t mind meal planning, but somehow I always struggle when it comes to thinking of new side dishes my family will actually eat.

My kids are in a semi-picky stage right now, but we try to introduce some sort of veggie at each meal. This Spanish Cauliflower Rice is basically ALL vegetables, but tastes like our favorite homemade Spanish Rice.

They downed the entire batch, and I wasn’t the slightest bit upset about them eating their veggies so quickly. 🙂

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (2)

What is riced cauliflower?

Riced cauliflower is just cauliflower that has been finely diced. It’s shape and texture is similar to rice.

This recipe comes together rather quickly, especially if you’re using pre-packaged riced cauliflower.If you don’t want to use the frozen kind, you can always buy riced cauliflower fresh.

You can also make your own by blending a head of cauliflower in a food processor or high-power blender.

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (3)

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Is riced cauliflower healthy?

Riced cauliflower is packed with nutrients. One cup has 50% of your daily recommended value of vitamin C.

It is also relatively low-calorie. One cup of cooked cauliflower rice has about 25 calories, and one cup of cooked brown rice has about 218.

Cauliflower rice is also gluten free, high in fiber, and low carb. It has 5g of carbs per cup, compared to 46g of carbs per cup of brown rice.

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (4)

How to make Spanish Cauliflower Rice:

This recipe comes together in just two easy steps.

Step 1:In a large skillet over medium heat, saute diced onion in olive oil until tender. Depending on how small your onion is diced, this will take about 5 minutes.

Step 2:Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the frozen riced cauliflower, tomato paste, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, garlic, salt and pepper. Continue to saute for about 6-8 minutes, until the cauliflower is light and fluffy and the mixture is hot.

Serve warm and enjoy.

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (5)

What to serve with Spanish Cauliflower Rice:

This side dish is the perfect compliment to enchiladas, tacos, or flautas.

It also tastes great as part of the filling for burritos or salads.

Storing:

This cauliflower rice will last about 3-5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (6)

Want to know what to serve with our cauliflower rice? Try it as a side to our delicious White Chicken Enchiladas!

Looking for more cauliflower-inspired recipes?

  • Cauliflower Crust Pizza
  • Cauliflower Fried Rice
  • Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
  • Cauliflower Chowder

Serves: 6

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe

Our Spanish Cauliflower rice is the perfect low-carb compliment to any Spanish main dish.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

  • ½ cup diced onion
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 12 ounces frozen riced cauliflower 1 bag
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 10 ounces Rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles 1 can, drained
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, saute diced onion in olive oil until tender (about 5 minutes).

  • Increase heat to medium-high. Add frozen riced cauliflower, tomato paste, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, garlic, salt and pepper. Continue to cook for about 6-8 minutes, until the cauliflower is light and fluffy and the mixture is hot.

  • Serve warm.

Notes

  • This cauliflower rice will last about 3-5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 55 kcal · Carbohydrates: 7 g · Protein: 2 g · Fat: 3 g · Saturated Fat: 1 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g · Sodium: 68 mg · Potassium: 343 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 3 g · Vitamin A: 191 IU · Vitamin C: 34 mg · Calcium: 37 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Equipment

  • Large Skillet

  • Wooden Spoon

Recipe Details

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

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Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (8)

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Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (9)

Join The Discussion

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  1. Kiere Hoyt says:

    I made this rice for my family tonight and it was such a big hit. We have adopted a KETO lifestyle and with this rice, we did not have to miss our Spanish rice with our meal. It was so good!

  2. Ann says:

    Great recipe but thought it was missing something. So, I added a few chopped up green olives. Perfect.Thanks so much. I'm always looking for new ways to use riced cauliflower.

  3. Cynthia Battis says:

    Please include the nutritional breakdown with your recipes. As a diabetic I need to know the carbs and fiber content.

  4. Cyd says:

    You can add the ingredients into MyFitnessPal app.

  5. Sherry says:

    This is one of the best Spanish rice recipes and I’m Mexican and I make the real thing but since I went to keto I’ve been trying to find one with Cauliflower and this is perfect

  6. Paula says:

    As a diabetic (and Mexican) I needed something to replace Spanish rice. This recipe is delicious. I will be making it again.

  7. Cindy says:

    Tastes better the next day. Cauliflower needed time to absorb the great added flavors

  8. Lark G. says:

    You weren't kidding. This was super easy and quick. I omitted the tomato paste and added green olives. It was delicious. I fooled my husband and I didn't mean to. He said it was awesome Spanish rice. I said you know it's not rice, right? He said he thought it was a short grain rice. He loved it! It was a perfect side dish to Baja baked salmon and fresh guacamole. Thank you.

  9. Whitney says:

    Delicious! I’m not a huge cauliflower fan but this was awesome and so easy. Thanks for a great recipe!

  10. Tessa S. says:

    Made this with fajitas and didn’t feel like a diet food at all great recipe!

  11. Emma B says:

    Can this be reheated? If so, is this best done on the stove top or microwave? I am excited to make this but cook for one and always have leftovers!

  12. Momma Cyd says:

    We are all about simple and easy and usually reheat everything in the microwave.

  13. Jennifer Dahl says:

    I’ve found the best way to get cauliflower to have a more rice texture, is to fry it till almost brown, or brown depending on its use.

Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (10)

About The Author:

Steph Loaiza

Steph lives in Southern California with her husband, Andrew, and her five kids: 2 girls and 3 boys. She oversees all of Six Sisters' Stuff products and loves going to Disneyland with her family and reading in her spare time.

Read More

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Spanish Cauliflower Rice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make cauliflower rice not soggy? ›

Easy DIY Raw Cauliflower Rice Recipe (That's Not Mushy!)

In a food processor, add the cauliflower florets and pulse for 30-60 seconds. Add 2-3 cups at a time and remove as it is riced. This will prevent the cauliflower from being over-processed. With a towel, pat dry or squeeze the liquid out from the cauliflower.

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.

Is it cheaper to make cauliflower rice or buy it? ›

Cheaper: Making riced cauliflower from scratch will save you money in the grocery store. A head of cauliflower is cheaper than buying fresh or frozen riced cauliflower. Tastes Great: Because it's made fresh, it also tastes better. You can use it in any recipe that calls for rice.

What is a good substitute for Spanish rice? ›

Quinoa, brown rice, and wild rice all have a nutty flavor and a chewy texture, while orzo and cauliflower rice have a milder flavor and a softer texture. You can also experiment with different combinations of rice and other ingredients to create your own unique Spanish rice alternative.

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.

Why is my cauliflower not softening? ›

"When making cauliflower steaks or roasting florets, if you don't roast it in the oven long enough it will be warm but still hard and unenjoyable to eat," says Michalczyk. Be sure to check them before you turn the oven off and give them extra time if they are still too firm.

Why does my cauliflower taste weird? ›

Bitter tasting cauliflower can be caused by too much heat or sun. It can also taste bitter from a lack of moisture, uneven watering, waiting too long to harvest, or overcooking.

Why does cauliflower rice make me bloated? ›

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.

Why is my cauliflower rice so wet? ›

Cook on a low-medium heat. The cauliflower rice will release liquid as it heats, so will initially look a little mushy. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally. The water will evaporate, and you will get a nice cauliflower rice that isn't soggy.

What is the best appliance to make cauliflower rice? ›

Using a food processor to make cauliflower rice is a simple method that allows you to streamline the process and make delicious dishes with ease.

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.

Is cauliflower rice actually healthy? ›

Cauliflower rice is a nutritious alternative to rice that's low in calories and carbs. It may even provide a number of benefits, such as boosting weight loss, fighting inflammation, and even protecting against certain illnesses. What's more, it's simple to make and can be eaten raw or cooked.

Why is my Spanish rice always mushy? ›

Because you use too much water. The ratio is 2 cups water per 1 cup rice.

What rice is closest to Spanish rice? ›

Best substitute for paella rice is risotto rice (arborio rice) which has similar characteristics ie. ability to absorb lots of liquid, except risotto goes creamy if you stir it. The next best is medium grain rice – the same rice I use for rice pudding.

Why is my Spanish rice hard and mushy? ›

What Causes Mushy Rice? Mushy or soggy rice is simply overcooked rice that has absorbed too much water. Water over-absorption causes the rice grains to split open, ruining the texture and creating a starchy, gummy result.

Why is my cauliflower fried rice soggy? ›

Be sure to thaw frozen riced cauliflower before using, and wring out any excess moisture to keep your fried rice from getting soggy.

Does cauliflower rice get soggy? ›

However, just because cauliflower can be anything these days doesn't mean it always excels being anything. Take cauliflower rice. Like zoodles, cauliflower rice is only as good as its cooking method. Cook it wrong, and it will end up a soggy, flavorless mess.

Why is my cauliflower mushy? ›

First, take care not to overcrowd your pan; if the cauliflower is packed in rim-to-rim, the moisture will not be able to escape as the florets cook, which will result in soft steamed cauliflower instead of roasted. Next, don't be overly generous with the oil — a light coating is what we're after here.

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