How to Make Cauliflower Rice {5 Ways} - The Girl on Bloor (2024)

FAQs

Is cauliflower rice actually healthy? ›

Substituting cauliflower rice for white rice is a great way to get more antioxidants while reducing calories and carbohydrates in order to save room for other nutrient dense foods.

With both techniques you're aiming for little pieces the size of 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.

Cauliflower rice is finely chopped (either by hand or pulsed in a food processor) raw cauliflower that's small enough to look like grains of rice. It's used as a low-carb substitute for grains like couscous or rice. It's often eaten as a side dish with some dressing or herbs for flavour.

Research links low calorie, water-dense foods like cauliflower to weight loss, as they may reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness. Both of these factors may reduce your calorie intake ( 4 ). In addition, cauliflower rice is low in carbs.

Using cauliflower rice, which is rich in fibre, will benefit weight loss. Moreover, the cauliflower will give you additional nutrients, making your meal healthier without sacrificing the flavour and taste.

While they are both very nutritious vegetables, broccoli has a higher vitamin content, specifically in vitamin K and C, than cauliflower and is specifically known to be great for eye health. Broccoli florets also provide more minerals and fiber as well as contains vitamin A that isn't in cauliflower.

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.

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

It can also serve as a low calorie substitute for high calorie foods, such as rice and flour. As a good source of fiber, cauliflower slows digestion and promotes feelings of fullness. This may help reduce the number of calories you eat throughout the day, an important factor in weight control ( 2 , 9 ).

Store cooked cauliflower rice in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Cooked riced cauliflower doesn't taste the same after freezing, so freeze it uncooked instead, following the directions below.

Is cauliflower rice or quinoa better? ›

Brown rice actually has more selenium (good for heart health) and vitamin B3 (needed for the production of sex and stress hormones) than quinoa, but quinoa is still the healthier choice. Cauliflower rice is a grain-free, gluten-free and nutrient-dense way to replace the white rice on your plate.

Just like cauliflower rice, you can also find frozen broccoli rice (which should just contain one ingredient: broccoli), fresh riced broccoli or you can make your own with a few heads of broccoli.

Andrews says the biggest pitfall with cauliflower is the possibility of digestive discomfort like bloating, gas or cramping, especially if you are sensitive to other cruciferous vegetables. Cauliflower can also cause issues in people with an allergy to cruciferous vegetables or those vulnerable to kidney stones.

Purple. Purple cauliflower is the healthiest option, with numerous advantages. The purple hue is due to the antioxidants called anthocyanins. These are the pigments present in various other plants and plant-based products, including red cabbage and red wine.

Certain vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, and cauliflower are known to cause excess gas. Like beans, these vegetables also contain the complex sugar, raffinose. However, these are very healthy foods, so you may want to talk with your doctor before eliminating them from your diet.

They've proven themselves to be a super-versatile, grain-free substitute when you want a vegetable alternative to rice. Despite the difference in flavor, riced cauliflower can do just about everything your favorite variety of rice can do — just as long as you avoid these missteps along the way.

Cauliflower Nutrition Facts

0.25 grams of fat. 5 grams of carbohydrates. 2 grams of dietary fiber. 2 grams of sugar.

Cauliflower rice is lower in calories and carbohydrates than both white and brown rice, making it a suitable option for those watching their carb intake. However, brown rice offers more nutrients and fiber than white or cauliflower rice.

Brown rice actually has more selenium (good for heart health) and vitamin B3 (needed for the production of sex and stress hormones) than quinoa, but quinoa is still the healthier choice. Cauliflower rice is a grain-free, gluten-free and nutrient-dense way to replace the white rice on your plate.