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Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

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By: IsabelPosted: 4/5/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclaimer.

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Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

This Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice is an easy and healthy Mexican recipe that’s ready in only 15 minutes! Made with only a few ingredients like cauliflower, cilantro, lime juice, and olive oil, it’s low carb, gluten free, paleo, Whole30, vegetarian and vegan!

Cilantro lime cauliflower rice in a bowl.

Table of Contents

  • How to make cilantro lime cauliflower rice
  • Helpful Tips
  • Variations
  • Serving Suggestions
  • More Recipes
  • Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Video
  • Isabel’s Tips
  • Nutrition Information

Say hello to one of my favorite ways of getting more vegetables on my plate!

Cauliflower rice, or cauli-rice, is a quick and easy side dish made from grated cauliflower florets that’s light, fluffy and resembles regular rice. It can be substituted for rice in most dishes and can be used in all sorts of dishes likes in stir frys, burritos, in soups, or just as a side dish.

It’s also even easier and faster than cooking regular rice!

Step by step photos of cilantro lime cauliflower rice being made.

How to make cilantro lime cauliflower rice

In a large bowl, grate cauliflower florets using a cheese grater or lightly pulse florets in a food processor until it’s finely chopped and resembles rice.

Next, saute the riced cauliflower with some oil, salt, and black pepper in a large pot over medium-high heat for 5 to 8 minutes until it softens. The beauty about cauliflower rice is that you don’t need to add any liquid. Thanks to cauliflower’s high water content, all you have to do it heat it up!

Lastly, remove the pot from the heat and add in the chopped cilantro and lime juice and you’re done!

Cilantro lime cauliflower rice being stirred in a skillet.

Helpful Tips

  • Short on time? You can buy fresh or frozen riced cauliflower at the store then proceed to Step 2 in the recipe.
  • Don’t overcook the cauliflower rice as it can get mushy! Be sure to taste as you go and stop cooking when it still has a little firmness to it.

Variations

  • Add some heat. Give this healthy cauliflower rice a little heat by adding some finely chopped peppers like jalapenos or serranos.
  • Add more veggies. This side dish can be bulked up with even more veggies by adding some finely diced onions and carrots.
  • Cooking for someone with an aversion to cilantro? Try using parsley, chives, or green onions instead.
A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice on a table next to fresh limes.

Serving Suggestions

Looking for ways to use this dish? Here are some of my favorite ideas!

  • Serve it with these Easy Steak Fajitas
  • Use in this Chicken Burrito Bowl
  • East as a side with these Easy Chicken Enchiladas

Or if you’re a big cauliflower lover, you can always eat it by itself!

More Recipes

  • Mexican Quinoa Salad
  • Avocado Egg Bake
  • Mexican Cauliflower Rice
  • Jicama Slaw
  • Cauliflower Tacos

Recipe

4.36 from 14 votes

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Serves: 6 servings
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A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice on a table next to fresh limes.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total : 15 minutes
Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice is an easy Mexican recipe made from cauliflower, cilantro, lime juice, and olive oil. Ready in 15 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 1 large cauliflower
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (or butter)
  • kosher salt, to taste
  • black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 1/2 limes)

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, grate cauliflower florets using a large cheese grater or lightly pulse florets in a food processor until finely chopped and resembles rice.
  • In a large pot over medium-high heat, add olive oil or butter. Add cauliflower, salt and black pepper.
  • Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cauliflower rice begins to soften. Be careful not to overcook as the cauliflower can get mushy.
  • Remove from heat and stir in chopped cilantro and lime juice. Taste and season with more salt if necessary.

Video

Isabel’s Tips:

  • Short on time? You can buy fresh or frozen riced cauliflower at the store then proceed to Step 2 in the recipe.
  • Don’t overcook the cauliflower rice as it can get mushy! Be sure to taste as you go and stop cooking when it still has a little firmness to it.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/6th of recipe Calories: 58kcal (3%) Carbohydrates: 8g (3%) Protein: 3g (6%) Fat: 2g (3%) Saturated Fat: 0g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g Monounsaturated Fat: 2g Trans Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 43mg (2%) Potassium: 442mg (13%) Fiber: 4g (16%) Sugar: 4g (4%) Vitamin A: 50IU (1%) Vitamin C: 94.9mg (115%) Calcium: 30mg (3%) Iron: 0.7mg (4%)
Author: Isabel Eats
Course:Side
Cuisine:Mexican
A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice on a table next to fresh limes.
Did you Make my Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice?Leave a comment below and tag @isabeleats on social media!
@isabeleats

You may also like…

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    Cilantro Lime Rice
  • This low carb and cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Rice Chicken Casserole recipe is perfect for dinner and makes great leftovers. It's also gluten free!
    Broccoli Cauliflower Rice Chicken Casserole
  • These Mexican Crispy Roasted Potatoes seasoned with chili powder, garlic, sea salt and Parmesan cheese are baked, not fried and are the perfect side to weekday meals. (gluten free, vegetarian)
    Mexican Potatoes
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Recipe Rating:




  1. Kristina says

    Posted on 4/28 at 6:54 pm

    1 star
    I so desperately wanted this to work, as I love cilantro/lime rice; however, the lime was combined with cauliflower just didn’t work for me.

    Reply
  2. Mayra says

    Posted on 4/13 at 9:12 pm

    Hi Isabel!
    I am so glad that I came across your website! I want to try this recipe for lunch bowls. How many days can I keep this in the refrigerator for?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Morgan @ Isabel Eats says

      Posted on 4/28 at 2:37 pm

      Hi! Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice will keep in your refrigerator for about a week!

      Reply
  3. Isabel L says

    Posted on 4/12 at 9:05 pm

    5 stars
    Love this recipe! My family generally does not like cauliflower rice, but they loved this recipe. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

    Reply
    • Isabel says

      Posted on 5/14 at 2:25 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  4. Anna says

    Posted on 3/14 at 8:02 am

    4 stars
    This was probably the best riced cauliflower dish I’ve made, but we are still trying to get used to our riceless diet lol. I halved the amount of lime but kept everything else the same. This went really well with the picadillo recipe on your site!

    Reply
    • Isabel says

      Posted on 3/15 at 11:13 am

      Aw thank you so much, Anna! I’m so glad you liked it. That sounds amazing with the picadillo!

      Reply
  5. Shyann says

    Posted on 8/14 at 5:35 pm

    4 stars
    What did you make to go with this recipe ?

    Reply
  6. Lisa says

    Posted on 2/11 at 5:40 pm

    This looks so good! I bought riced cauliflower, so how much should I use?

    Reply
  7. izzy rael says

    Posted on 5/25 at 7:41 pm

    Hey, I love your blog. Where did you get the concrete backdrop from? It’s lovely.

    Reply
    • Isabel says

      Posted on 6/6 at 7:36 pm

      Thank you so much! đŸ™‚ I got the background board from Erickson Woodworks and I LOVE it! Highly recommend!

      Reply

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Isabel Orozco-Moore, Founder of Isabel Eats
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i’m isabel

A first-generation Mexican American who loves to cook! Here at Isabel Eats, you’ll find a mix of all your favorite authentic Mexican recipes with a twist!

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