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    Home » Recipes » Healthy Kitchen

    10 Terrific Cauliflower “Rice” and "Couscous" Recipes

    Published: Mar 14, 2017 · Updated: Aug 2, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Here’s a selection of cauliflower "rice" recipes (and a few cauliflower "couscous" recipes as well) that are easy, tasty, and just happen to be vegan. Cauliflower “rice” and “couscous” are clever ways to get a nutritious vegetable into your regimen, and good for anyone who avoids grain foods for any reason. It’s also a good way to disguise vegetables for your picky eaters!

    Some people simply have trouble digesting grains; others argue that cauliflower rice is more Paleo-friendly than real rice, possibly forgetting that cauliflower is a cultivated crop and wasn’t available when our distant ancestors were doing cave painting and hunting with spears. They didn’t have food processors back then, either.

    Cauliflower rice dishes make nice light side dishes; combined with or used as a “bed” with legumes, they’re nearly as substantial as their grain counterparts.

    Cauliflower on a table

    Cauliflower rice vs. brown rice: Calories and Carbs

    The appeal of cauliflower rice to calorie-watchers is undeniable: Only 25 calories per cup as compared to 218 for a cup of cooked brown rice. As far as carbohydrates, cauliflower has only 5g per cup, as compared to 46g in a cup of cooked brown rice. (how about white?)

    Still, cauliflower rice isn’t better or more nutritious than brown rice, just different. It’s light and mild-flavored, and you can use it in dishes that normally call for rice as well as couscous or bulgur. For those on gluten-free diets, there’s an especially good argument for replacing the latter two with cauliflower.

    How to make cauliflower rice from fresh cauliflower

    OhMyVeggies offers a concise post on that won’t put you into a stupor like many other posts I’ve explored that have dozens of photos of riced cauliflower from every possible angle, guaranteed to put you into a stupor. Go to How to Make Cauliflower Rice to get the steps in a concise way.

    To make cauliflower couscous, simply process the cauliflower to slightly smaller bits.

    One more caveat: turning cauliflower into “rice” or "couscous" is a messy business. You might find cauliflower bits all over your kitchen from this endeavor.

    How to make cauliflower "rice"
    Photo: OhMyVeggies

    What if you don’t have a food processor?

    … Or are merely lazy, like me? Fortunately, you can find cauliflower rice (sometimes labeled “riced cauliflower” in the freezer section of well-stocked supermarkets, completely ready to use. If your store doesn’t have it, ask the kind manager to order it.

    Enjoy these creative cauliflower rice and cauliflower couscous recipes from VegKitchen, OhMyVeggies, and around the web.

    Cauliflower Spanish Rice
    Photo: Evan Atlas

    Vegan Food Hacks offers up Cauliflower Spanish Rice that’s super simple to make, thanks to a great new shortcut —frozen riced cauliflower.

    Cauliflower fried rice and mushrooms
    Photo: Evan Atlas

    The same shortcut — a bag of riced cauliflower that you will find in your supermarket’s frozen foods section — is used for Cauliflower Fried Rice with Mushrooms & Chickpeas. This one is also courtesy of Vegan Food Hacks.

    Basmati Cauliflower Rice Pilaf
    Photo: OhMyVeggies

    From OhMyVeggies, Basmati & Cauliflower Rice Pilaf with Fruit & Almonds is made with a mix of spiced basmati and cauliflower rice, crunchy almonds, and sweet pomegranate seeds. It's as beautiful as it is nourishing.

    cauliflower "risotto"
    Photo: Sophia Zergiotis

    Adapt this delicious Cauliflower “Risotto” with ingredients you have on hand; add mushrooms, peas, tomatoes, basil, or other veggies and herbs you may be craving.

    Mexican Cauliflower Rice
    Photo: OhMyVeggies

    Easy, healthy Lunchbox-Friendly Mexican Cauliflower Rice Salad from OhMyVeggies is especially perfect to prep on Sunday for no-fuss lunches during the week.

    Indian Cauliflower Rice Bowl
    Photo: Garden-Fresh Foodie

    Garden-Fresh Foodie presents a garden-fresh tasting Indian Cauliflower Rice Bowl — the beans and walnuts provide a generous amount of protein to make this a hearty main dish.

    Cauliflower Fried Rice
    Photo: Connoisseurus Veg

    From Connoisserus Veg comes Cauliflower Fried Rice, as simple preparation hat has all the flavors you love in Chinese Fried Rice, minus the greasiness and carbs.

    Tex Mex Cauliflower Couscous
    Photo: Ella Magers

    Tex-Mex Cauliflower Couscous is a calorie-light dish that will fill you up and please your palate with novel textures and luscious flavors.

    Spiced Cauliflower Couscous
    Photo: Love and Lemons

    Love and Lemons brings you Spiced Cauliflower “Couscous” flavored with nuts, currants, and exquisitely balanced seasonings.

    Spiced Cilantro Cauliflower "Couscous"
    Photo: Love and Lemons

    Kimberly Snyder presents Cilantro Lime Cauliflower “Couscous” — and you couldn’t ask for a lighter and more lovely vegetable side dish that can be enjoyed year-round.

    More Healthy Kitchen

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mora Young says

      March 15, 2017 at 3:11 am

      It looks nutritious and inviting to cook.

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    Hi, I'm Nicole! I'm the creator behind VegKitchen, and the author of the popular cookbook, Weeknight One Pot Vegan Cooking. Learn more about me here.

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