The BEST Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

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A bold and comforting Chicken Fried Rice Recipe for those on a low-carb or grain-free diet. This amazing Paleo Cauliflower Fried Rice is so convincing, you won’t even miss the rice!

The BEST Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (1)

Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe

Let me start out by saying, I love grains. And dairy.

Although I have tried the paleo diet and think of it as a very healthy option (we use it as a cleanse on occasion) I could never give up good bread, cheese, or pasta long term.

Yet it is January, and many of us are thinking along the lines of low carb… So, I’ve got a healthy paleo-friendly dinner option to share with you today.

After all,I don’t think I could stand it if I was the cause of your dietary demise… at least not today.

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Paleo Cauliflower Fried Rice

Introducing Paleo Cauliflower Fried Rice.

No, not a fried rice recipe with chunks of cauliflower in it, but a dish using cauliflower as (or in place of) the rice. I promise, you’ll be shocked at how good it is.

To make cauliflower fried rice, prepare all your ingredients, just as you would for a classic fried rice recipe: beaten eggs, chopped scallions, carrots, garlic, ginger, chopped chicken, soy sauce, maybe a little chile paste.

It’s a fast and easy recipe that will fill you up, while keeping you light and lean!

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Low Carb Cauliflower Fried Rice Ingredients

  • Cauliflower – To take the place of the rice, making this recipe grain-free.
  • Thick-cut bacon – Chopped. Use uncured organic bacon for strict paleo diets.
  • Chicken breast – Sliced into thin pieces, for quick frying.
  • Eggs – Beaten and flash fried.
  • Freshly grated ginger – To give the stirfry a distinct Asian flavor.
  • Garlic – Fresh or jarred.
  • Green onions – Chop, then keep the greens and whites separated.
  • Shredded carrots – Buy pre-shredded, or use a cheese grater.
  • Frozen peas – English sweet peas.
  • Thai basil – Or use sweet basil or cilantro.
  • Soy sauce – Substitute coconut aminos for strict paleo.
  • Sriracha – Or chile garlic paste.
  • Lime wedges – For serving.
  • Coconut oil – For frying.

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How To Make Cauliflower Fried Rice

  1. Prep the Ingredients. Chop the bacon, chicken, and vegetables so you can work quickly once you start cooking.
  2. Rice the Cauliflower. Then place roughly chopped cauliflower florets in the food processor and pulse until the cauliflower is chopped to the size of rice.
  3. Stir fry. Flash fry the ingredients in a wok over high heat, one at a time, to keep them from over cooking. Then flash fry the cauliflower until just barely cooked through, but not mushy. Add all the ingredients into the wok and toss. Viola!

Get The Full (Printable) Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe Below!

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Keto Cauliflower Fried Rice

The secret ingredient (other than the cauliflower) is bacon.

Adding a little bacon to the wok, allows it to mingle with the soy and ginger and provide that unctuous full-bodied flavor traditional fried rice offers.

It’s a mind-blowing option for low-carb dieters, and is even keto friendly!

In fact, I don’t know that I wouldn’t chose it over classic fried rice. You’ve got to try this!

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Cauliflower Rice FAQ

How Do You Make Cauliflower Rice?

You need a food processor in order to grind cauliflower into small “rice” pieces.

Cut the cauliflower into florets. Then pulse them in the food processor until the pieces are small and even.

Is Cauliflower Fried Rice Gluten Free?

Yes, as long as you use gluten free soy sauce or coconut aminos, this recipe is gluten free.

Can I Make A Vegetarian Version of Cauliflower Fried Rice?

Yes. Simply, remove the chicken and bacon.

However, the bacon grease also acts as the cooking fat, so you will need to add 1-2 tablespoons of oil to the skillet.

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More Low Carb Recipes You Will Love

  • Perfect Baked Chicken Thighs
  • Tom Yum Soup
  • Black Pepper Chicken Stir Fry
  • Caribbean Grilled Lamb Chops
  • Baked White Fish with Everything Bagel Crust
  • Muffuletta Stuffed Chicken
  • Croatian Chicken Skillet

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Print Recipe

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Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Total Time: 32 minutes minutes

A bold and comforting fried rice recipe for those on a low-carb or grain-free diet. This amazing paleocauliflower fried rice is so convincing, you won't even miss the rice!

Servings: 4

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 1 head cauliflower
  • 5 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped (Uncured Organic Bacon for Strict Paleo)
  • 1 pound organic chicken breast, sliced into thin pieces
  • 3 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped (greens and whites separated)
  • 1 cup shredded carrots, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1/3 cup chopped Thai basil, or cilantro
  • 1-3 tablespoon soy sauce, substitute coconut aminos for strict paleo
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha, or chile paste
  • Lime wedges, for serving
  • Coconut oil, for frying

Instructions

  • Chop the bacon, chicken, and vegetables so you can work quickly once you start cooking. Cut the cauliflower into florets and place them in the food processor. Pulse until it roughly resembles rice.

  • Heat a large wok (or skillet) over medium heat. Place a rimmed dish to the side of the wok as a holding dish. Add the bacon to the skillet and fry until brown and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and place in the dish.

  • Add the eggs to the skillet and quickly scramble. Use your spoon to break into small pieces, then move to the holding dish. If needed add a small amount of oil to the wok.

  • Turn the heat to high and add the chicken, white onion pieces, ginger, and garlic. Stir fry until the chicken is just barely cooked through, then add the carrots and cook another minute. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to the holding dish.

  • Now add the cauliflower "rice" to the wok. Stir fry for 3-5 minutes until soft, but still firm. Add all the cooked ingredients back to the wok, along with the frozen peas, soy sauce to taste, and chile paste. Toss and cook until the peas are warmed through, then toss in the green onion tops and basil. Serve warm with lime wedges.

Notes

Looking for Keto Adaptations? Substitute chopped broccoli for the carrots and peas to lower the carbs.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 452kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 40g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 225mg, Sodium: 823mg, Potassium: 1210mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 6020IU, Vitamin C: 90mg, Calcium: 87mg, Iron: 2.7mg

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Asian

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

This site contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission.

The BEST Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

FAQs

How do you get the cauliflower taste out of cauliflower rice? ›

Simply cooking in ginger, garlic and peanut butter is a great start. It can be sautéed on a skillet with olive oil for flavour and texture. For a more flavourful dish, you can cook the cauliflower rice with chicken, fish or vegetables and add extra ingredients such as rice wine vinegar, fresh spinach or quinoa.

How do you take the bitterness out of cauliflower rice? ›

In a large skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the scallions and cauliflower and sauté until heated through, about 3 to 5 minutes. 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? ›

One additional step I like is to press any excess moisture from the rice by transferring the cauliflower rice to a large paper towel or absorbent dish towel and squeeze/press to remove any remaining water. This ensures no excess moisture remains, which can make your dish soggy.

How do you get moisture out of cauliflower rice? ›

The best way to deal with the liquid is to put the riced cauliflower in a covered microwave-safe dish, heat it thoroughly to get all the liquid out of it you can, then drain it. If you have to cook it on the stovetop, add as little water as possible and stir frequently to keep it from sticking to the pan.

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

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 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.

Why is my fried cauliflower mushy? ›

The secret to giving cauliflower the perfect texture when battering and frying, is to not parboil it. When you fry cauliflower with batter, it also cooks the cauliflower. So if you parboil beforehand, you will end up with mushy cauliflower.

Is cauliflower rice good for weight loss? ›

Cauliflower has several properties that may help with weight loss. First, it is low in calories with only 27 calories per cup (107 g), so you can eat a lot of it without significantly increasing your calorie intake ( 1 ). It can also serve as a low calorie substitute for high calorie foods, such as rice and flour.

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.

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.

How do you keep cauliflower from getting mushy? ›

The key to nonmushy cauliflower lies in how you cut it: Break apart the large head into smaller florets. Now take your knife, and starting at the stem end of the floret, slice about halfway down and snap apart.

How do you hide the taste of cauliflower rice? ›

You can minimize it by cooking it quickly, and not overcooking it. Cauliflower rice is chopped into very small pieces, and requires only minimal cooking. If I were trying to reduce the odor, I would saute it instead of boiling, to caramelize it and bring out some sweeter flavors.

Why is my cauliflower rice turning brown? ›

These signs of decay will be the same with raw cauliflower rice or cooked riced cauliflower. If the smell is bad/sour, the texture is slimy or there's brown/black spots then toss it out.

Is cauliflower rice supposed to be wet? ›

The key to making great cauliflower rice is to wring excess moisture from the cauliflower rice before cooking. That way, the “rice” can caramelize in places and yield major flavor bonus points.

How to hide the taste of cauliflower rice? ›

You can minimize it by cooking it quickly, and not overcooking it. Cauliflower rice is chopped into very small pieces, and requires only minimal cooking. If I were trying to reduce the odor, I would saute it instead of boiling, to caramelize it and bring out some sweeter flavors.

How do you neutralize the taste of cauliflower? ›

To mellow the flavor, soak the entire head (leaves removed) in cold, salted water for 30 minutes before steaming. Some of the bitter components will leach out. Soaking cauliflower will also give your cauliflower a snow-white appearance.

Does cauliflower rice taste like cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower in general has a mild taste, so expect the riced version to be about the same.

How do you salvage cauliflower? ›

This is a super simple and completely delicious way to use up those parts you might normally toss in the compost. Next time you chop up a head of cauliflower, save the leaves, the core, and the stem and chop it all into 1” pieces. Toss them in oil, salt, and pepper and pop them in the oven!

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