How to Make Cauliflower Rice

Learn how to make cauliflower rice with this easy recipe! It's a yummy, low-carb substitute for regular rice in bowls, stir fries, burritos, and more.

How to Make Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower rice! It’s seems like it’s everywhere and in everything, so I thought I would take a few minutes to “dive deep” on this phenomenon, especially because I keep using it, and now I can just link to this post in future recipes 🙂

So what is it? It’s simply cauliflower pulsed in a food processor until it forms into granules that are about the size of rice. Is it as good as rice? Not on its own, but it’s a great starting point health-wise and texture-wise. When it’s seasoned well and used in a recipe with other great flavors and textures going on, it IS delicious and you’ll feel great about getting more vegetables into your day!

How to Make Cauliflower Rice

Stores often sell “riced” cauliflower in bags, but I prefer to make it myself because you never know how fresh those things are! Plus, it’s SO easy to make… here’s how I do it:

How to Make Cauliflower Rice

  1. Cut the cauliflower into chunks, including the cores.
  2. Place into a food processor.
  3. Pulse until the cauliflower resembles the texture of rice. Work in batches, if necessary, and be careful not to over-process or it’ll get mushy. If you don’t have a food processor, you can grate the cauliflower with a box grater.

How to Make Cauliflower Rice

After your cauliflower is “riced,” you can use it plain in any recipe that calls for raw cauliflower rice. Follow the directions in that specific recipe.

If you plan to use it as a side dish without a recipe, or if you want to sub it for regular rice, I recommend lightly cooking and seasoning it to take off the raw, often bitter, bite. See specific instructions in the recipe below.

How to Cook Cauliflower Rice

 

Cauliflower Rice Recipes

Here are some of my favorite recipes that use riced cauliflower, or would be delicious with cauliflower in place of the regular rice:

Cauliflower Rice Recipes

More Plant-Based Essentials

If you love this recipe, try making these plant-based essentials next:

For more vegan recipes, check out this post. Then, find more rice recipes here!

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How to Make Cauliflower Rice

rate this recipe:
5 from 72 votes
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Serves 4
Learn how to make cauliflower rice with this easy recipe! It's excellent in healthy stir fries, burrito bowls, fried rice, and more.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium cauliflower

For seasoned cauliflower rice:

  • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup chopped scallions
  • Juice of ½ lime
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Make sure your cauliflower is fully dry. Chop the cauliflower into large pieces. You can include the cores, but discard the leaves or save for another use. Place the cauliflower pieces in a food processor and pulse until it has the texture of rice. Work in batches if necessary and don’t over process or it will get mushy. Use in any recipe that calls specifically for riced cauliflower. Continue following that recipe’s instructions.
  • If you plan to serve your cauliflower as a side dish or use it in place of regular rice, I recommend lightly cooking it and seasoning it to take off the raw bite. 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.

 

74 comments

5 from 72 votes (45 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Jennifer Ray
    10.29.2024

    Have you ever frozen this after making it and used it for a recipe later?

  2. Heather M. Jacoby
    09.30.2024

    Would you be able to provide an approximate weight of a medium cauliflower? Or how much should I have once processed, 2 cups?

  3. Lisbeth
    08.08.2024

    5 stars
    I appreciate the clarity of this recipe. I may need to cook it a little longer because it still crunched a bit. Otherwise very good!

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Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.