This post has been a long time coming.
I should have posted it months and months ago but I really wanted to take photos of the process of making cauliflower “rice” and not just a dish with it in it.
Finally, last week, after a discussion on my Facebook page about serving Beef Bibimbap over brown rice or cauliflower rice (recipe coming later this week!), someone mentioned making cauliflower rice in big batches and freezing it.
Why hadn’t I thought to do that before? I freeze everything else right? Such a great idea so thank you!
I picked up a bunch of organic cauliflower at Trader Joe’s for a great price and set up to stock my freezer and (finally) take some in process photos.
OK, so let’s talk about cauliflower “rice”. Cauliflower rice has been making it’s way around the food blogging circuit for a long time now and for good reason.
It’s zero Weight Watchers Points Plus, Low-Carb, Slow Carb, South Beach diet friendly, Paleo, Primal and just a good way to get more vegetables into your diet.
The real deal is that you are not ever going to trick yourself into thinking you are eating rice. Maybe if you spice it up like crazy and close your eyes, you could convince yourself you are eating something similar to Uncle Ben’s Boil in a Bag White Rice? Maybe.
But the point is not to trick you, it’s to make a different choice sometimes.
To eat more vegetables and to have fun with ingredients.
To add volume without calories.
To bulk up dense dishes without adding carbs.
To mix things up and keep trying something different because you never know, you might love it!
Ginger Coconut Cauliflower Rice and HOW TO MAKE CAULI RICE IN THE OVEN
NOTES:
- I like to use cauliflower rice under really spicy food and I prefer it under drier foods as a lot of sauce tends to water-log the rice.
- Don’t try to sub cauliflower rice for regular rice in casseroles or in any dish where the rice is there to absorb liquid.
- I do not recommend the microwave cooking method as the “rice” retains moisture. I prefer the rice a bit dryer and more “rice” like so I use a non-stick frying pan or the oven method detailed below in the recipe.
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
How to Make Cauliflower Rice
- 1 or more head(s) of organic cauliflower
- food processor or hand-held grater
- sandwich size freezer bags
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Grab cauliflower and make sure there are no brown or black spots on it. If so, remove with a paring knife.
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Rip the leaves off of the bottom.
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Cut the cauliflower in half and cut the florets off from core until you are left with just the core.
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Discard the core and break up the florets into somewhat evenly sized pieces.
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Place florets in bowl of food processor in batches. Process until evenly chopped but not completely pulverized.
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Remove rice to a large bowl and continue processing florets in batches until all florets are "riced". Alternately, you could use a hand grater but I imagine it would take quite a bit of time. Grab a measuring cup (I like to freeze 2 cup portions) and some sandwich sized bags (preferably freezer bags even though I took a picture of the non-freezer ones.)
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Once you fill your baggies, press the cauliflower flat to be sure to remove the excess air and make storing in the freezer easier.
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If preparing the cauliflower rice from frozen, I suggest removing from the freezer and leaving on the counter to soften and defrost a bit while you cook whatever you are planning on serving it with.
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Preheat oven to 425F. Spread cauliflower rice out on one or more baking sheets (depending on how much you have) into a single layer. Don't make yourself crazy about the single layer thing, you just don't want to crowd the pan or it will steam and remain moist. Bake for 15 minutes, flipping the "rice" at least 1x. Remove, serve and Enjoy!
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Heat a small amount of olive oil or coconut oil in a non-stick pan over medium high heat and add cauliflower rice.
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I like to "dry fry" it to remove as much of the moisture as possible. Make sure to season with salt, pepper and another complimentary spice if possible. Enjoy!
Servings per cauliflower depend on size
Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.
Holly says
I love the idea of baking the cauliflower rice. What oven temp would you recommend and for how long?
Maria Acosta says
Yes I live here also! Been here most my life. I get a bunch of my ideas from my sister. She has a Paleo food truck based out of Renton but were all over Seattle. You should come by when you’re out and about =)
EverydayMaven says
Hi Maria! Out-of-the-box food truck?? My husband and I had lunch at the truck in SoDo one day (it was great!).
Maria Acosta says
Love the idea of freezing it in batches!thank you for posting! i used to dry fry mine also but i started to bake it instead i just put it in a bakingpan, sprinkle olive oil and sea salt and pop it in the oven. This dries it out completely and browns it. I love it! Are you from Seattle?
EverydayMaven says
Hi Maria – that is such a GREAT idea of baking it off. I am trying that for sure 🙂 We are not from Seattle but live here now. Do you live here?
Beebs says
Oh, yeah. This was just great. I made some for myself, while the rest of the family had white rice. They preferred my cauil-rice and I had to share. Thanks a lot! I guess I’ll be back at the grocery store for more cauliflower sooner rather than later.
EverydayMaven says
That is awesome Beebs!
Liz says
I use a blender when I make mine. Rough chop the cauliflower like above, put it in the blender and fill to the top with water. Pulse for around 30 seconds, then drain and press the water out!
Liz says
I have been making cauliflower rice for a long time, so long in fact, that my daughter thought that all rice was cauliflower until I clarified just recently! The first time I made it, I was nervous the kids wouldn’t eat it bc it was a veggie…so I left that detail out! My husband was astonished that my teriyaki chicken and ‘fried rice’ was better than take-out, and my daughter went back for seconds of just the ‘rice!’ Thanks for posting about freezing it! Now I can make a bunch at one time, rather than every week!
EverydayMaven says
Great blender tip Liz!