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You are here: Home / Recipes / Side Dishes / Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Published March 30, 2020. Last updated July 12, 2020 by Lauren Vavala

Thanks for sharing!

This easy recipe for Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice adds a lot more flavor to your meal. It’s a low carb, gluten free side dish that pairs well with any meal that you’d normally serve rice with.

overhead of cilantro lime cauliflower rice with cilantro and lime with a wood spoon in it and cilantro and a lime in the background

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If you’re following a low carb or keto diet, or just trying to cut carbs and squeeze more vegetables into your diet, you’ve probably found yourself reaching for cauliflower...a lot.

It’s an awesome substitute for potatoes, rice, and other carbohydrate-heavy foods. But, it’s easy to grow tired of cauliflower.

This recipe for Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice is a simple way to add more flavor to your cauliflower.

It’s a great side dish for recipes like Pan Seared Chicken with Coconut Cilantro Sauce or as a base for recipes such as this one for Coconut Curry Chicken.

Why This Recipe Works

This recipe is super quick and easy – the way that vegetable side dishes should be.

It’s perfectly suitable for those following a low carb or keto diet. It’s also naturally gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan.

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice makes a great side dish to many different kinds of recipes for pork, chicken, steak, or even seafood. It’s a simple way to add a little more flavor to a meal.

How to Make Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

What You Need to Make This Recipe

Ingredients needed to make cilantro lime cauliflower rice on a white background

All you need to make this recipe is a head of cauliflower, a lime, fresh cilantro, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

It takes about 4 to 5 cups of riced cauliflower for this recipe. That’s about the amount that you will get from a medium to large size head of cauliflower.

Tip: ricing your own fresh cauliflower is best, but frozen can be used. If you use frozen, you will need to add a minute or two to the cooking time.

Prep!

Riced cauliflower in a food processor bowl over a white background

Rice the cauliflower, zest the lime, and roughly chop the cilantro.

Tip: you can reference this post on How to Rice Cauliflower, if needed.

Create!

You can cook your cauliflower rice with any method that you prefer. You can check out this post on How to Cook Cauliflower if you’d rather use another method other than the stove top method this recipe details.

Rice cauliflower cooking in a black skillet over a white background

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the riced cauliflower and season with salt and pepper.

Cook, stirring frequently, until tender. This takes about 5-7 minutes depending on how finely riced the cauliflower is.

Cilantro and lime zest on top of the cauliflower rice in a black skillet over a white background

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the lime zest and cilantro.

Present!

close up of cilantro lime cauliflower rice in a black skillet with a wood spoon

Garnish with additional chopped cilantro, if desired.

Tips and Techniques

  • Using fresh cauliflower is best, but frozen can be used. If you use frozen, you will need to add a minute or two to the cooking time.
  • Please reference this post on How to Rice Cauliflower, if needed.
  • You can cook your cauliflower rice with any method that you prefer. You can check out this post on How to Cook Cauliflower if you’d rather use another method other than the stove top method this recipe details.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-4 days.

FAQ’s

Does Cauliflower Rice Taste Like Rice?

While cauliflower is pretty bland for a vegetable, it’s still not as bland as regular rice. You will be able to taste some of cauliflowers signature flavor when using it as a stand-in for traditional rice.

Is Cauliflower Rice Better Than Rice?

Cauliflower rice is much lower in calories and carbohydrates than regular rice. It’s an excellent option for those trying to lower their carb intake or lose weight.

Is Cauliflower Rice Keto?

Yes, cauliflower is a good choice for those following a keto diet. Depending on how strictly you follow the diet, you may have to limit how much cauliflower you consume as it does still contain some carbohydrates.

More Easy Low Carb Side Dish Recipes to Try

Sticking with the quick and easy side dish theme, here are a few more recipes that you may enjoy that are also low carb.

Cheddar Broccoli Cauliflower Rice in skillet with a wood spoon

This recipe for Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Rice combines both riced broccoli and riced cauliflower in a rich, creamy cheese sauce.

You may also enjoy the simplicity of this Roasted Rutabaga recipe and the satisfying crunch of every bite of these low carb, gluten free Fried Zucchini rounds.

Love this Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice recipe? Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more!

close up of cilantro lime cauliflower rice in a black skillet with a wood spoon
Print

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

This easy recipe for Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice adds a lot more flavor to your meal. It's a low carb, gluten free side dish that pairs well with any dish that you'd normally serve rice with.
Course Side Dishes
Cuisine Gluten Free, Low Carb, Mexican
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 72kcal
Author Lauren Vavala

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 cups riced cauliflower * from one medium head
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 lime * zested
  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves * roughly chopped

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil.
  • Once the oil is hot, add in the cauliflower rice and season with salt and pepper.
  • Cook, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes or until the cauliflower rice is tender.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the lime zest and cilantro.
  • Garnish with additional cilantro, if desired.

Notes

Tips and Techniques

  • Using fresh cauliflower is best, but frozen can be used. If you use frozen, you will need to add a minute or two to the cooking time.
  • Please reference this post on How to Rice Cauliflower, if needed.
  • You can cook your cauliflower rice with any method that you prefer. You can check out this post on How to Cook Cauliflower if you’d rather use another method other than the stove top method this recipe details.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-4 days.
** Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 72kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 339mg | Potassium: 478mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 67IU | Vitamin C: 77mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg

This recipe was originally published on February 13, 2107. It was updated with an improved recipe, new images, tips, techniques, and FAQ’s in March 2020.

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Filed Under: Gluten Free, Low Carb, Recipes, Side Dishes

Comments

  1. Kristen says

    June 7, 2020 at 10:43 am

    I am forever struggling to find new and delicious side dishes for my family. This cauliflower rice definitely looks delicious. I will be adding this to my menu for this coming week. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

    Reply
  2. Catherine says

    October 16, 2018 at 12:07 pm

    I love the combination of flavors in this dish! A wonderful idea to try for cauliflower and rice!

    Reply
  3. Dan Zehr says

    October 16, 2018 at 12:01 pm

    My family loves rice. This looks sooooo good! Yummy! This made me drool. Cannot wait to try this. Thank you for a great recipe!

    Reply
  4. Marisa Franca says

    October 16, 2018 at 9:20 am

    I have not tried to make cauliflower rice, yet! Once we get our processor we will definitely give it a go. The rice looks delicious and I love the flavors you have going on there. Lime and cilantro are on of my favorite combinations.

    Reply
  5. Veena Azmanov says

    October 16, 2018 at 8:47 am

    Oh, now that is a delicious flavor combination. I love cilantro, lime, and coconut. We combine it often in Indian food but that cauliflower rice sound awesome.

    Reply
  6. Jyothi (Jo) says

    October 16, 2018 at 8:19 am

    Got to love cauliflower rice any day and especially with coconut, lime and cilantro flavors in it, what not to like. Looks delish!

    Reply
  7. Claudia Lamascolo says

    October 15, 2018 at 2:53 pm

    I love cauliflower and this rice sounds just perfect for me I will just love this recipe I cant wait to make this

    Reply
  8. Andi R. says

    February 13, 2017 at 6:19 pm

    Cauliflower is my favorite veggie (with Brussels sprouts coming in a close second). I will definitely try this recipe! I love trying new Cauliflower Rice and Cauliflower pizza crust recipes. This looks delish!

    Reply
    • ourlittleeverything says

      February 14, 2017 at 12:51 pm

      We eat a lot of cauliflower and Brussels sprouts around here too! I’m always trying new things to change it up! Thanks for stopping by and checking out this recipe 🙂

      Reply

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Welcome, I'm Lauren!

Delicious Little Bites is where I share all types of recipes from appetizers to desserts. You will also find plenty of keto, gluten free, and vegetarian recipes here to help you put a delicious meal on the table every night that the whole family will love! Read More...

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