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!
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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!
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!
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.
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!
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
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.
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!
Hi! Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice will keep in your refrigerator for about a week!
Love this recipe! My family generally does not like cauliflower rice, but they loved this recipe. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Thank you so much!
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!
Aw thank you so much, Anna! I’m so glad you liked it. That sounds amazing with the picadillo!
What did you make to go with this recipe ?
This looks so good! I bought riced cauliflower, so how much should I use?
Hey, I love your blog. Where did you get the concrete backdrop from? It’s lovely.
Thank you so much! đŸ™‚ I got the background board from Erickson Woodworks and I LOVE it! Highly recommend!