Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

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Updated Aug 05, 2020

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Cilantro lime cauliflower rice is a fresh and flavorful side dish that brightens up any meal. Use it as a base for a burrito bowl or simply eat it alongside baked chicken, creamy chipotle shrimp, or grilled carne asada. It’s a great way sneak in more veggies!

I don’t know about you, but I love having cauliflower rice prepared in my fridge. It’s a simple ingredient that can be made into fried rice, tabbouleh, and more. But once you add lime juice and cilantro into the mix, it really does take it to the next level.

This cilantro lime cauliflower rice has zest from the lime and freshness from the herbs. Not only does it taste amazing on it’s own, but will brighten up anything you pair with it. Just throw it into a bowl with extra greens, salmon, or chicken, and you’ve got yourself a delicious, healthy, and easy meal!

Which Type Of Cauliflower To Use

If you watched my cauliflower pizza crust video, you’ll know that cauliflower rice can be made three different ways. But for those who haven’t seen it, you can use fresh cauliflower, frozen florets, or buy it pre-riced.

While frozen florets is fine for the pizza, I recommend using fresh cauliflower in this recipe. The pre-riced option is great if you want to skip the prepping steps, but the grated pieces tend to be a bit chunkier.

How To Make Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

All you need to do is follow my original cauliflower rice recipe, then toss in the lime juice, lime zest and cilantro towards the end.

Prep the cauliflower. Slice the cauliflower head in half and use a knife to remove all the florets. Cut some of the larger florets into smaller pieces so that they can go through the food processor.
Grate the florets. Make sure to use the grater attachment on your food processor.
Saute the diced onion and garlic. Heat olive oil in a pan and saute for a few minutes, until translucent.
Add the cauliflower rice to the pan. Saute for another 5-7 minutes, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Add in the lime juice, lime zest and chopped cilantro. Toss everything together and serve immediately!

*Note: there’s a video on my original cauliflower rice recipe, if you’d like to watch a step-by-step video tutorial.

What To Serve With Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

With the zesty flavors in this recipe, it can pair well with just about anything. But for me, I think it tastes amazing when it’s used in a bowl that’s filled with various greens and proteins. That way, you can meal prep this to mix and match with other ingredients throughout the week.

Here’s a few combination ideas to get you started:

Chicken Bowl: cilantro lime rice, shredded chicken or slow cooker chicken, microgreens, a dollop of guacamole and pico de gallo
Pork Bowl: cilantro lime rice, shredded pork, salsa, green onions, and sliced avocados
Fish Bowl: cilantro lime rice, orange glazed salmon, and steamed broccoli
Shrimp Bowl: cilantro lime rice, garlic butter shrimp, and bok choy
Veggie Bowl: cilantro lime rice, roasted sweet potatoes, sauteed swiss chard, and topped with a poached egg.

And if you love to rice veggies, don’t forget about broccoli rice as well!