Want to learn how to make cauliflower rice the easy way? This low-carb staple can easily be cooked and prepared within 10 minutes right in your microwave.
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Cauliflower is one of those low carb vegetables that's super versatile. Low carbers have found ways to disguise things that are forbidden on the diet using it.
You'll find low-carb pizza crust, faux fried rice, and more made from riced cauliflower. And, when processed well with butter, cream, garlic, and cheese, the vegetable makes a great substitute for mashed garlic potatoes.
I find a food processor is worth the price when it comes to ricing cauliflower. The appliance is also what I use to make my keto mashed potato substitute.
Ingredients Needed To Make Cauliflower Rice
This recipe/tutorial is for basic cauliflower rice, so the only ingredient you need is a head of cauliflower!
There are tons of different ways you can spice up cauliflower rice and use it. Two of the most popular ingredients to add to cauliflower rice is garlic and onions because it makes it tasted like fried rice.
Quick Tips:
After you cut up and prepare the cauliflower rice, my recipe shows you how to cook it in the microwave in just a few minutes.
- Cook it on the stovetop. Want to cook the riced cauliflower on the stovetop rather than microwaving? It's just as easy! You simply need to stir fry it in hot oil over medium heat until it's tender.
- You can steam it too! If you want to steam the vegetable rather than sauté it in the pan, simply cover it with a lid until it's tender. The liquid in the fresh cauliflower will come out as it's heated and steamed. I do recommend using a non-stick skillet for this method just to make sure it doesn't stick to the bottom.
How To Rice Cauliflower
When it comes to making cauliflower rice, all you need to do is to chop the head of cauliflower into lots of tiny pieces that resemble grains of rice. How you chop them up is entirely up to you.
The most popular (and easiest) way to make cauliflower rice is with a food processor.
Use A Food Processor
It contains the mess (cauliflower can be very messy when you chop it up with a knife) and turns it into a rice-like texture in moments.
If you don't have a food processor, I recommend buying one. A food processor is the best way to shred cheese and zucchini too, so you'll get plenty of use out of it.
I use the grating blade on my food processor to rice the vegetable. But, you can also cut a head of cauliflower in large chunks and pulse it in the food processor until it's finely chopped.
How To Make Cauliflower Rice Without A Food Processor
A hand chopper should work as well to make cauli rice. It works similar to a food processor to finely chop vegetables. The biggest difference is that it's hand-powered so there's no need for electricity.
Even if you have an electric food processor, a hand-powered manual food chopper is great to have as a back-up or for times when you lose power.
Use A Knife
You can also rice the cauliflower the old fashioned way with a knife and cutting board. Just keeping cutting it until it finely chopped. This method is great if you're good with a knife and don't mind the extra time needed to manually cut the vegetable.
Personally, I like to save time by using a food processor.
How To Cook Cauliflower Rice
Once the cauliflower is finely chopped in the food processor or a manual hand chopper, it's ready to be cooked. My preference is to cook it in the microwave. So, I put it in a covered glass Pyrex casserole dish and nuke it for 5 minutes on high power.
There's no need to add water to the dish as there's plenty in the fresh cauliflower that steams it in the microwave. It's literally just taking riced cauliflower, placing it in a covered microwavable dish, then cooking for a few minutes on high.
What To Serve With Cauliflower Rice
Now that you know how to make this low-carb rice, how will you serve it? There are so many things you can do with this keto-friendly rice, it's impossible to list them all!
I find this healthy keto rice is a staple for the low-carb diet and so easy to make. And, it's perfect for making keto pork fried rice when you're craving low-carb Chinese food.
I just discovered a recipe using the low carb rice that is so good my 13-year-old daughter ate it without detecting that it contained a vegetable she would never eat.
My daughter is extremely picky and hates just about every vegetable known to man. But, she loves the quick riced cauliflower with cheese and bacon that I whip up in the microwave. And, she never refuses a slice of the ever-popular cauliflower pizza recipe with pepperoni and cheese!
Frequently Asked Questions About Making Cauliflower Rice
Before we get to the recipe, here are a few questions people ask about cauliflower rice.
Can I Buy Cauliflower Rice That Is Already Chopped Up?
Yes, you certainly can and it is just as healthy as if you made it yourself.
Most grocery stores these days also sell fresh riced cauliflower in the produce section. And, you'll find it in the frozen vegetable section too.
I personally like to make it myself because I can make larger batches of cauliflower rice to meal prep different dishes. It can also be much more affordable.
Does Cauliflower Rice Taste Like Rice?
Cauliflower does have a mild flavor, just like rice. However, it will have an earthier, nuttier taste that definitely tastes different than white or brown rice.
I will admit- You will notice a difference, but it is still a fantastic low-carb substitute for rice.
How Do You Use Leftover Cauliflower Rice?
If you find yourself with too much leftover, I've got a solution for that. I put together a whole collection of easy and delicious recipes using riced cauliflower!
A lot of the time, when I have leftovers, I like to whip up some low-carb Mexican rice to serve as a light lunch or as a side dish with some Mexican zucchini and beef or Mexican chicken casserole.
What's your favorite way to eat cauli rice? Do you eat it plain, fry it up, or use it as an ingredient in a favorite low carb recipe? Did you know there are other low carb rice substitutes too?
Do you have another method for cooking riced cauliflower? If so, we'd love to hear about it in the comment section below!
More Low-Carb Side Dish Recipes
If you enjoyed learning how to make your own cauli rice, here are some more keto sides that will enhance your next meal.
- Keto Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is a kid-friendly side dish that you can easily transform into a filling lunch.
- Keto Zucchini Fritters are a crispy side dish that is perfect for parties or as a fun part of lunch.
- Keto Fries are crispy and taste like fast food fries, but they are made out of jicama.
- Roasted Radishes are colorful and add some crunch to your meal that satiates your salty cravings.
- Keto Broccoli Salad With Bacon and Cheese is low-carb comfort food that will fill you up!
Follow us on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, and INSTAGRAM for even more tasty keto-friendly recipes!
Recipe
Quick Cauliflower Low Carb Rice
Video
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower grated or finely chopped
Instructions
- Place grated or finely chopped cauliflower in a covered glass microwave dish.
- Microwave about 5 minutes or until just tender.
Notes
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Notes on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Copyright
© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.
Post updated on February 25, 2021, with new images and additional tips. First published on October 16, 2010.
ruth
Hi...after you have grated,or food processed the cauliflower...you can just heat a little oil..I like to add some onion or garlic and Mushrooms...fry these until soft...you can also add spices...then throw in the prepared caulflower and cook until soft...you can add a little salt or some herbs...or curry to flavor or a few red pepper flakes....and that is it...then sprinkle a little cheese on top if you wish...or brewers yeast....but cooking it in the mic..is so fast...do 4 min..fry up your onion and/or garlic and spices...and then throw it in the pan to season it...that works too'
Kim Spering
This recipe is awesome! I've tried several cauli-rice recipes, many of which just didn't have any flavor. My teenage son LOVED this and had four helpings. Thanks for the recipe!
Jason Gerard Ramos
Can it be done with an electric rice cooker?
Lisa MarcAurele
It doesn't use water for cooking so it's best to stir fry on the stove or microwave.
Jeanette
I tried your suggestion to use a manual chopper for the rice and it was perfect! So much easier than grating it like I used to! I fried it in ghee with some spices, S and P and it turned out great.
Gary
Hi Lisa,
Was wondering, do you think you could cook the riced cauliflower in a "Rice" cooker? Ever try it?
By the way, was reading some of your recipes, look forward to more of them, thanks.
Lisa
If the rice cooker has a steamer, it should be okay. But it's different than regular rice as you don't need to add all that water when you cook it.
Cheryl Geller
I made this but used Smoked Gouda, in place of the cheddar, because I didn't have any cheddar around . I keep cooked bacon on hand, ever since I started KETO, so it was quick and easy. Absolutely amazing dish. i actually served a KETO version of beef with broccoli over it and it was great. This is a staple in my house now.
Lisa
Any cheese is great mixed in!
Tracy
I heard someone say they cooked cauliflower rice with chicken broth on the stove. It was in a documentary about eating a keto lifestyle. It looked like she had boiled it in the broth. Have you ever tried this? I also heard someone else say they “fried” the cauliflower rice. What does this entail?
Lisa
Riced cauliflower can certainly be cooked in a broth. Some like to fry the riced cauliflower in a frying pan rather than steam it. So, you'd just fry it in some oil in a pan on the stove until tender.
Terri Stanage
How can you store any extra cauliflower rice?
Lisa
I freeze it for long term storage.
Kimberly
I use a blender with no water I microwave it for 3 minutes with a bit of water then drain. I fry it and add frozen peas. A scrambled egg and sauce for Chinese. Or mushroom soup and a can of mushrooms for a. Side dish.
Lisa
Thanks for sharing Kimberly.
JES
THANKS for your post. This is something I've been wanting to do for awhile now! The only issue is that we NEVER, ever use a Microwave, because of the damage it does to the food molecules...and that your body will have difficulty with it once microwaved. Just google it! Anyway, I appreciate greatly your super-simple instructions, just wish they included cooking the end product other than in microwave.
Lisa
You can just steam on the stove for 5-10 minutes.
Katie
Harvard University disagrees with your microwave assessment.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/microwave-cooking-and-nutrition
Lizzy
Don't trust everything you google. Microwaves are low-energy and do nothing but cause water molecules in the food to flex back and forth, causing them to heat up and heat the rest of the food with them. Think of it like if you bend metal like a paperclip back and forth for a while, it gets hot. Microwave ovens just do that to water molecules.
b
maybe you could share a stove too way to cook it, microwavin your food is not good it changes the molecular structure of the food and you loose moat nutrients
Lisa
You'd simply steam it on the stovetop for about 5-10 minutes.
Lori W
Lisa, can you freeze then what you don't use?
Lisa
I have frozen cauliflower rice and then just thaw or reheat frozen.
Leigh Ann
Does the food processor in your link have the grating big blade?
Lisa
I does. I'm pretty sure most, if not all food processors come with the grating blade.
Stacey Kay
This sounds like something I should try! I’m in the process of losing weight for weight loss surgery and I’m looking for tasty super low carb ideas. Thank you for your simple recipe! That’s awesome and a true testiment if your kiddo ate it willingly 🙂
Lisa
You can add in some cheese (I use cream cheese and shredded cheddar) and bacon to make this even better!
LS
I actually rice my cauliflower without water using a grinder from my husband's grandmother.
Lisa
Interesting!
LS
You can use your blender in the exact same way to choose cabbage for coleslaw. My mom used to do so and passed it down to me. An oldie, but goodie tip.
Lisa
Thanks for sharing that tip! I had no idea. I'll have to give it a try.
Jessica
can you just reheat this in the microwave? I am looking for some alternatives for rice with my lunch and might try this. I am read that it can get soggy. Just looking for your input with your own experiences. Thanks!
Lisa
I've reheated it in the microwave and never had an issue with it being soggy.
Ron
Lisa,
When you said "I knew I found a great recipe when my daughter told me how delicious the cauliflower rice concoction smelled when it was in the oven. She also rushed to try a piece when it came out and told me that I should make it more often. I will post that amazing recipe next", I immediately searched today (2016) for "cauliflower rice concoction" and didn't find it.
Did you use another recipe name for what you referred to above as "cauliflower rice concoction"? I'm intrigued about what got your non-vegie daughter interested enough to try some (that's an excellent trick)!
Lisa
I was able to get my daughter to eat the cauliflower pizza crust because she loves pepperoni pizza. 🙂
Frank weir
Add florets to a blender filled with water and pulse for a few seconds. Drain. Instant cauliflower rice; much easier and quicker than grating by hand.
Lisa
Wow! Never would have thought of doing that! Sounds super simple. Thanks!
Frank weir
Thanks Lisa but I read this tip on another low carb site LOL! I would never have come up with it BUT I've tried it several times and it really works well. Huge time saver and blender cleans up very easily. You've got a great site! I'll be looking for your posts!
Robert Wilson
thanks for the post