This Indian spiced cauliflower rice recipe is a flavorful alternative to traditional rice dishes. Made from scratch, this light and fluffy shredded cauliflower features aromatic and earthy Indian inspired spices.
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Cauliflower rice has a pleasing texture and is a great way of getting more vegetables into your diet and weekly meal plan.
My version of cauliflower rice is inspired by earthy Indian spices and results in a warm and cozy side dish.
The aromatic blend of a few warm spices combined with the light and fluffy texture of the cauliflower creates a dish that is both satisfying and nutritious.
Whether you're looking for an extra vegetable dish on your plate, or you're replacing traditional rice with this lighter alternative this Indian spiced cauliflower rice is great addition to your recipe collection. Pair this cauliflower rice with a curry dish for a complete and wholesome meal.
Ingredients
See the recipe card for exact amounts.
- onion: gives an aromatic start to the dish.
- cauliflower: this forms the base of the dish, providing a light and fluffy texture and mild flavor.
- spices: Indian inspired spice give the real flavor to this dish, including whole cumin seeds, ground cinnamon, and ground cardamon.
- seasoning: taste and season with salt and black pepper, to your preference.
- cilantro: I love fresh cilantro as a garnish on almost anything.
Substitutions
- cauliflower: try riced broccoli instead.
- cilantro: If you're not a fan of cilantro try fresh parsley or green onions.
You can use store-bought riced cauliflower if you don't want to grate your own or don't have a food processor.
Instructions
Prep Tips
To make this Indian spiced cauliflower dish you'll need to 'rice' the cauliflower first.
You can do this by grating it on a box grater, which is a bit tricky and it tends to fall apart.
You can also rice cauliflower in a food processor by sending it through the grating disc, or by gently pulsing it a few times to get it to the texture you want.
I prefer to use the grating disc method on my food processor as I think it gives the lightest texture.
How to cook cauliflower rice
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add the onions and cumin seeds and sauté for about 6-8 minutes or until the onions have softened.
- Add the riced cauliflower and cook for 5-6 minutes, until just softened.
- Add the spices and cook for another few minutes to toast the spices.
- Season with salt and pepper, tasting, until it's seasoned to perfection.
To serve the cauliflower rice
Plate the cauliflower rice and sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro.
Tips for making cauliflower rice
What to serve with cauliflower rice
I love this aromatic cauliflower rice on the side of a curry dish. Try it with Instant Pot chickpea curry for a hearty and satisfying dinner.
Try this Spanish inspired cauliflower rice next!
Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat until warm or in the microwave.
FAQs
Cauliflower rice is a vegetable-based alternative to traditional rice. Cauliflower rice is made by pulsing cauliflower florets in a food processor or shredding it with the shredding disc until it reaches a rice-like consistency.
Yes you can use frozen riced cauliflower to make this recipe but the cooking time will increase slightly as it will have more moisture in it. Cook frozen cauliflower rice until the moisture has released and evaporated and the cauliflower is cooked until softened.
Recipe
Indian Spiced Cauliflower Rice
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 small onion diced
- ½ head cauliflower about 3-4 cups when riced
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- salt and black pepper to taste
- cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Rice the cauliflower: You can shred cauliflower florets on a box grater, send it through the shredding disc on your food processor, or pulse it a few times with the S blade.
- Cook the cauliflower rice: Heat the oil in a pan (I use a cast iron skillet) over medium heat then add the onion and cumin seeds. Sauté for a few minutes until the onions soften and have a bit of color.
- Add the riced cauliflower and cook for 5-6 minutes, until cooked. It will be a little softer and have some color.
- Add the ground spices and season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine and cook for another minute or so to cook the spices. Remove from heat and garnish with chopped cilantro. Serve while hot.
Notes
Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used. Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
This post was originally posted on June 5, 2018.
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