September 7, 2017

Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice

Name: Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Yield: 6 cups
Ingredients: 1 large head Cauliflower; 2 tablespoons Olive Oil; 1/2 medium Red Onion (peeled and chopped); 1 large Garlic Clove; 1/2 medium Sweet Pepper (any color) (chopped); 1 small Jalapeno Pepper (stem removed, seeds scrapped out (and discarded), diced); 1 cup Corn Kernels (fresh or frozen and thawed); 1 cup fresh chopped Tomato; 1 teaspoon ground Cumin; 1/8 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper; 1/2-1 teaspoon Kosher Salt (to taste)

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Looking for a fun spicy side dish? To get more vegetables into your meals? Something grain-free? You’ll love the bold flavors, and easy of making Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice. It is a tasty versatile side dish that pairs with anything and is fast to make.

For any of you that follow culinary trends, search recipes online or are into low-carb eating you’ve undoubtedly noticed the trend of ‘cauliflower rice’. It’s exactly what it sounds like; cauliflower processed into pieces the size of rice or couscous. It’s a fantastic option for those wanting to incorporate more vegetables into their meals (or their kid’s meals), to create a lower-carb recipe in place of traditional grains, or to try something new.

This recipe for spicy Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice perks up the mild cauliflower with traditional Mexican flavors and instructs on how to make cauliflower rice from scratch. Plain cauliflower rice can also be purchased at the grocery store and substituted to make the recipe prep even faster.

Last week I shared a mouthwatering Sicilian Cauliflower Salad recipe and had purchased some extra cauliflower when buying the ingredients. It seems a perfect time to break out a cauliflower rice recipe to share.

One of my favorite flavor profiles (and my family’s too) is Mexican. I love the aromatic scent of cumin and it’s the one spice I constantly run out of so am using it often. Colorful sweet peppers, red onion, corn, jalapeno come together to create a feisty side dish.

An obvious way to use the Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice is as a side dish but it is also great in a bowl recipe layered with meat or burrito fillings and toppings. I served this with some grilled chicken shish kabob and I don’t think anyone realized it wasn’t rice.

A classic question about cauliflower rice is ‘does it taste the same as rice?’ No it doesn’t, it only looks like it. However, if you are a rice-lover, do give this recipe a try. It’s a great alternative to rice. And if you aren’t a cauliflower lover, never fear. The spicy, strong spices really mask any distinct cauliflower flavor!

How to make Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice:

5 from 10 votes

Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower 'rice' is all the rage and there's no question why. It's a great alternative to traditional rice for those wishing for a grain-free option or to get more vegetables into their meals. The bold Mexican flavors make this recipe a favorite for everything from a side dish to main for building a delicious bowl recipe.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Total Time 27 minutes

Servings 6 cups

Calories 72 kcal

Author Toni Dash

Ingredients

1 large head Cauliflower
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1/2 medium Red Onion peeled and chopped
1 large Garlic Clove
1/2 medium Sweet Pepper (any color) chopped
1 small Jalapeno Pepper stem removed, seeds scrapped out (and discarded), diced
1 cup Corn Kernels fresh or frozen and thawed
1 cup fresh chopped Tomato
1 teaspoon ground Cumin
1/8 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1/2-1 teaspoon Kosher Salt to taste

Instructions

Cut the cauliflower head into quarters. Cut off the bottom stalk, cut out any stalk inside the cauliflower head and break or cut into florets. Process 2-3 batches through a food processor processing the cauliflower into rice or couscous size pieces. TIP: doing this in batches ensures the cauliflower will end up uniform in size.
Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil. When hot add the onion and sauté until translucent (about 5 minutes). Add the garlic and sauté 2 minutes more or until garlic is fragrant.
Add the remaining vegetables and spices. Sauté to coat all the vegetables and allow to cook, covered stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower is cooked (about 5 minutes). Add salt to taste. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice

Amount Per Serving

Calories 72 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 5g 8%

Sodium 247mg 10%

Potassium 123mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates 6g 2%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 1g

Protein 1g 2%