A few years ago I was trying to cut down on carbs and I saw numerous recipes for Cauli-Rice so I decided to give it a try. So that Eammon wouldn’t turn his nose up immediately at the idea I decided to pair it with my Hearty Beef Curry figuring that the bold flavors and the sauce would cover up the cauliflower taste and he would think he was just eating rice. My plan worked wonderfully as it was a few years before Eammon learned about my little ruse and by then he was so used to eating Cauli-Rice with not only the Hearty Beef Curry but also with almost every curry or stew that I made, he just didn’t care as he enjoyed it. Maisie too enjoys the Cauli-Rice both with a sauce and even with just some Maisie “safe” butter. I love that this Cauli-Rice is so tasty and a great way to add a veggie to a meal where my family doesn’t rebel and actually eats it willingly. I don’t know why I never posted this recipe before…well maybe because it really isn’t a recipe being just cauliflower but as I’ve started using it in new and different ways (recipes to come) I decided to post this so that this basic recipe is available to reference.
- 1 head fresh Cauliflower
Remove the leaves and hard center core of the cauliflower. Cut into florets. Wash and then allow the cauliflower to dry completely. (You want the cauliflower completely dry and you will NOT be adding any water when cooking, this helps to cut down on the boiled cauliflower taste and smell.) Once dry, fill the bowl of a food processor about half full and using the chopping blade and the pulse action, process the cauliflower until it looks like the size of grains of rice. Add the processed cauliflower to a microwave safe bowl and repeat with the remaining cauliflower. Once all the Cauliflower has been processed and added to the microwave safe bowl, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid. Microwave on high for 7 minutes. Remove from the microwave and fluff up the Cauli-Rice with a fork and if desired add a pat of butter, salt & pepper.
Enjoy!
Okay, I will be making this "rice" this week. I've been avoiding the cauli-rice and potatoes because I truly can't stand cauliflower. But I've sure been missing rice. Maybe if Eammon didn't know for that long that it wasn't real rice, I'll be able to eat it?
ReplyDeleteYou know what? I detest cauliflower. But I've had mashed cauliflower "potatoes" and the flavor is very similar to the real thing. It's very good. So I can't wait to give the Cauli-Rice a try (and the pizza crust ... OMG, can't wait for that one). Cauliflower is such a healthy veggie, I like that there are ways to include it without it tasting like the gross stuff I've always thought it was. LOL.
DeleteI've never heard of this before. I wouldn't mind giving it a try at all!
ReplyDeleteI mixed this 50/50 with instant white rice to hide the veggies from my kids, i kept the rice out for the grown ups. The kids had no idea they were eating cauliflower! success!
DeleteAllison, so happy that it was a success in your home. Maisie has never figured it out. I like your idea of the 50/50 mix as it's a way to get the veggies in but she needs the calories of the rice too. I'm going to follow your suggestion next time I make if for her. Thanks!
DeleteAny other ways than to microwave it? We don't use one enough so we don't even own one!!!
ReplyDeleteChop the cauliflower into rice sized pieces and then put those into the tea towel and steam. Once steamed the Cauli Rice is already in the tea towel so easy to wring out all the water. Good luck and let me know how it comes out.
DeleteNo food processor will anything else work?
ReplyDeleteI would try a grater or just hand chopping very fine. Good luck and let me know how it works out.
DeleteSaw a Youtube video recently where a woman puts half the head into a blender with some water, then a few short bursts (a few seconds only) and the cauliflower is riced. The whole process takes less than 5 minutes for a whole head and easy cleanup! All you have to do is strain the cauliflower and dry it well to get rid of the water.
DeleteAnother person suggested the same thing, I'm going to have to give it a try, thanks for the suggestion.
DeleteI tried the blender method, but now I'm wondering, how do i dry out the rice now?!
DeleteGoing to try Cali rice and pizza. I have done the 50/50 before and we loved that.
ReplyDeleteMaureen
I am wondering if this can be made and frozen from future use, like for the pizza? Any Ideas? I would think it would be ok.
ReplyDeleteI'm just not sure on this one, if you give it a try, come back and let me know how it works out.
DeleteLove your cauli-rice! It looks so healthy and would taste wonderful, as you've suggested, with curry or stew! I'll have to try this myself sometime soon!
ReplyDeleteI have just recently lost 40lbs and rice is not on the menu, so when I saw this I knew I had to try......WOW how awesome!!!! we can know have this on our menu and eat healthy love it thanks!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI make this cauli-rice the same except I put it in a saucepan and heat it through on low to medium heat, stirring occasionally for about 20 minutes or until it's soft and the consistency of real rice. Unless I'm using a BPA-free microwave safe container, I don't like to microwave food for the obvious reason. I've never microwaved the cauli-rice before but I can say that heating on the stove until it's done tastes amazing as well!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds great! How long can prepared cauli-rice last (i.e. in the fridge) before use?
ReplyDeleteI have used it up to five days later and it tasted just as good.
DeleteEnjoy!
Great idea!!! We do not use or own a microwave. Can I cook it in my counter top steamer or would that change the texture of flavor? Let me know. Thanks, Sarah
ReplyDeleteCan't say that I've done it but I would give steaming it on the stove top a try, it's essentially what is being done in the microwave. Please stop back and let me know how it turns out.
DeleteEnjoy!
could you freeze the rice
ReplyDeleteI freeze mine, the only issue is making sure you get the moisture out again after thawing.
ReplyDeleteWhat about food dehydrator?
ReplyDeleteThanks
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ReplyDeleteAny suggestions for those of us who don't have / use a microwave?
ReplyDeleteI've been eating low carb for a couple of years now. Will definitely try this cauli-rice especially for the pizza crust! Wow, I can't wait, haven't had pizza in like forever.
ReplyDeleteI have been eating low carb for a couple of years now, and this cauli-rice looks great, and useful for lots of things. I especially can't wait to try the pizza crust, as it's been forever since I've had pizza! Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteI've been eating low carb for a couple of years now. Will definitely try this cauli-rice especially for the pizza crust! Wow, I can't wait, haven't had pizza in like forever.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea and just saw your cauliflower pizza crust recipe. Do you think that the Cauli-rice could be done in the oven instead of microwave? I know most people have a microwave but I don't love them so...what do you think?
ReplyDeleteI recently roasted cauliflower and then tried chopping it up to "rice" it and though I enjoyed the roasted flavor of it, to me it didn't pass as rice. If you'd prefer not to use a microwave I would "rice" my raw cauliflower and then steam it, that works just as well as the microwave method and gives the same taste and mouth feel. Good luck.
DeleteEnjoy!
Thanks for the steaming advice Lisa, I'm going to try it, since I don't have a microwave and don't want one.
DeleteCould I cook this on the stovetop instead of microwaving?
ReplyDeleteHow do you dry your cauliflower? Salad spinner? Paper towels? Do you do it on the counter top or in the fridge? Just not sure how long this step takes. Thanks! Can't wait to try it. :)
ReplyDeleteyes, i would like to know more about the drying out process as well. how long does it take, what instruments do you use during the.process, etc.
DeleteI started with paper towels to suck the moisture out of the cooked cauliflower rice and that was really wasteful!!! so much water!
DeleteAfter going through about 15 paper towels and clearly not being close, What worked for me was a clean kitchen towel, twisted it together at the top so the cauliflower was basically sealed inside, and then I squeezed and squeezed and squeezed it over the sink.
I followed the recipe. I had bits of cauliflower everywhere...counter, sink, floor after squeezing out all the water (even tho it was dry and I didn't add water in the cooking). I had to use three kitchen towels and the cauliflower stuck to each towel (hence, the mess). Anyway, I made the pizza and guess what ?? To me it tasted like cauliflower (and I like cauliflower.)..but, pizza crust ? No way .
ReplyDeleteI roast califlower with olive oil and fresh chopped rosemary.. bet that would make great crust if riced :)
ReplyDeleteI've tried this a few times using my cuisinart food processor, and I can't get that rice texture! It seems to go directly from large chunks to a puree. Anyone else having this problem? I'd love to have that rice substitute instead of liquified cauliflower!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful! I used my food processor to shred then used the plastic shredder just a pulse or two. It was perfect. I made the pizza crust with it and everyone loved it. It wasn't messy. I just folded the towel around the cauliflower and squeezed like crazy. Thank you so much for both of these recipes!
ReplyDelete