CAULIFLOWER RICE

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October 25, 2026

CAULIFLOWER RICE – paleo recipe

YIELD: 4 to 6 servings | PREP TIME: 5 minutes | COOK TIME: less than 5 minutes • 1 medium head cauliflower • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) avocado oil • ½ teaspoon salt 1. Cut the head of cauliflower into quarters through the top and cut out the core. 2. Rice the cauliflower quarters one at a time by putting them through the chute of a food processor fitted with the shredder blade. Alternatively, grate the cauliflower using the large holes of a box grater. 3. Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cauliflower and salt and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until the cauliflower has softened a bit. 4. Add to soup right before serving, or serve on the side. ADD TO • Spring Chicken Soup with Lemon and Asparagus • Minestrone with Orecchiette • Meat and Potatoes Soup SERVE WITH • San Francisco Cioppino • Spicy Lamb Curry • Zenbelly Chili 2.0 • Roasted Tomatillo Pork Chili Verde • Moroccan Vegetable Stew

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Cauliflower rice is the two-ingredient side that stands in for grains anywhere you need it. Riced cauliflower meets hot avocado oil and salt, and two to three minutes later it is soft, fluffy, and ready for the table. Keep this in your back pocket — it goes with everything from curries to chilis to simple soups.

Pro Tips

  • Rice the cauliflower through a food processor's shredder blade, one quarter at a time. Pulsing it in a full head at once gives you uneven, mushy pieces.
  • Keep the skillet hot and the cook time short — 2 to 3 minutes is all it needs. Longer turns the rice soft and watery instead of fluffy.
  • Do not cover the pan. Trapped steam is what makes cauliflower rice soggy, and the goal is individual, distinct grains.
  • Stir it into soups right before serving, or serve it alongside stews and curries where it soaks up the sauce beautifully.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much cauliflower rice does one head make?

One medium head yields 4 to 6 servings — plenty to stretch a curry or chili into a full meal.

Can I make cauliflower rice ahead of time?

Yes — rice the raw cauliflower and refrigerate it for up to 3 days, then sauté it just before serving for the best texture.

What dishes go best with cauliflower rice?

Spicy lamb curry, Zenbelly Chili 2.0, Moroccan vegetable stew, and seafood dishes like cioppino — anything with sauce to soak up.

How do I keep cauliflower rice from getting watery?

Cook it hot and uncovered in a wide skillet, and salt it at the start so it draws out moisture as steam rather than pooling in the pan.

Recipe Card

CAULIFLOWER RICE – paleo recipe
Stav Kogan

CAULIFLOWER RICE

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium head cauliflower
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • Cut the head of cauliflower into quarters through the top and cut out the core.
  • Rice the cauliflower quarters one at a time by putting them through the chute of a food processor fitted with the shredder blade. Alternatively, grate the cauliflower using the large holes of a box grater.
  • Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cauliflower and salt and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until the cauliflower has softened a bit.
  • Add to soup right before serving, or serve on the side.

Method
 

  1. ADD TO
  2. Spring Chicken Soup with Lemon and Asparagus
  3. Minestrone with Orecchiette
  4. Meat and Potatoes Soup SERVE WITH
  5. San Francisco Cioppino
  6. Spicy Lamb Curry
  7. Zenbelly Chili 2. 0
  8. Roasted Tomatillo Pork Chili Verde
  9. Moroccan Vegetable Stew

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