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!

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

FAQs

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

Season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lime juice to help remove any bitterness from the raw cauliflower.

How do you make cauliflower rice not soggy? ›

Easy DIY Raw Cauliflower Rice Recipe (That's Not Mushy!)

In a food processor, add the cauliflower florets and pulse for 30-60 seconds. Add 2-3 cups at a time and remove as it is riced. This will prevent the cauliflower from being over-processed. With a towel, pat dry or squeeze the liquid out from the cauliflower.

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 get moisture out of cauliflower rice? ›

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.

Why is my cauliflower so bitter? ›

It can also taste bitter from a lack of moisture, uneven watering, waiting too long to harvest, or overcooking.

Should 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 is my fried cauliflower mushy? ›

When you fry cauliflower with batter, it also cooks the cauliflower. So if you parboil beforehand, you will end up with mushy cauliflower. With the no-parboil technique, the cauliflower will still be fully cooked through, but have an incredible no-mush texture.

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.

How do you keep fried rice fluffy? ›

The moisture, not temperature, of your rice is crucial for good fried rice. I make my rice using a 1:1 rice to water ratio, and then use it - straight from the rice cooker and piping hot - to make fluffy fried rice with distinct grains.

How do you make fried rice less gummy? ›

While it may sound unusual, you can quickly fix mushy rice with some table salt.
  1. Fill a small sauce bowl with salt.
  2. Place the bowl with the salt inside the pan of rice.
  3. Leave it in there and the salt should absorb all the extra moisture.
May 5, 2023

Why did my fried rice come out crunchy? ›

If the heat is too high, the water evaporates before the rice has a chance to fully cook. If you don't add enough water, the rice ends up dry and crunchy.

Can you overcook cauliflower rice? ›

Overcooking It

"When it is riced it's really easy for it to turn mushy from overcooking and then it won't hold up as well in your dishes where you're trying to use it to substitute rice," says Maggie Michalczyk, MS, RD.

Why does my cauliflower rice smell? ›

Cauliflower, like all cruciferous vegetables (cabbages, mustard, broccoli, etc.) contains sulfur compounds which will begin to smell when the vegetable is overcooked. Blanching, roasting or steaming just until the cauliflower is fork tender will keep it from smelling up your kitchen.

What's the best way to dry out cauliflower? ›

Arrange blanched cauliflower in single layers on drying trays. Dry at 140 degrees F (60°C) in an oven or dehydrator. If necessary, turn large pieces over every 3 to 4 hours during the drying period. Vegetables can scorch easily toward the end of drying, so monitor more closely as drying nears completion.

Why does cooked cauliflower taste bitter? ›

The results showed that neoglucobrassicin and sinigrin were responsible for the bitterness of cooked cauliflower.

How do you fix bitter rice? ›

  1. Hi, rice can sometimes taste bitter due to a few reasons:
  2. Here's what you can do to prevent or fix bitter rice:
  3. If your cooked rice is already bitter, you can try to salvage it by adding some seasoning or ingredients like soy sauce, vegetables, or proteins to mask the bitter taste.
May 4, 2023

How do you cover up the taste of cauliflower? ›

boil in vegetable broth and herbs you like,or make a cheddar cheese sauce or any other cheese you like to pour on the cauliflower. try roasting in oven with barbecue sauce.

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