Cauliflower Rice Pilaf
Tasty cauliflower rice pilaf is a quick side dish made entirely with riced cauliflower. It’s loaded with amazing texture and flavor!
This easy cauliflower pilaf is guaranteed to become a weekly staple! It’s a grain-free side dish made with riced cauliflower, frozen veggies, sliced almonds, Parmesan cheese, and lemon zest.
The flavor is crunchy and bright. And it’s ready in about 10-minutes!
It serves well as a side dish to chicken and seafood. Or make a “rice” bowl topped with creamy shredded chicken, guacamole, and fresh salsa.
Cauliflower Pilaf Tips
- For best results use fresh store-bought riced cauliflower that is larger with rice-like pieces. We like the Trader Joe’s brand found in the produce section.
- Do not overcrowd the pan, otherwise, the cauliflower will turn mushy. A 12-inch non-stick skillet works best for this recipe.
- Leave riced cauliflower on the heat for too long and it will become soggy. Our tip is to use medium-high heat and to cook the cauliflower for 3 minutes while stirring frequently.
Ingredients
- Riced cauliflower – this can be done by using a box grater or a food processor. You can also find riced cauliflower in most supermarkets.
- Frozen veggies – a combination of corn, peas, carrots, and green beans works great in this recipe.
- Garlic – for best flavor, use fresh minced garlic.
- Sliced almonds – buy almonds that are already toasted or toast them yourself.
- Parsley – don’t like parsley? Try fresh dill or even cilantro.
- Parmesan cheese – freshly grated Parmesan cheese is going to give the best flavor. Asiago or Pecorino Romano can also be used.
- Lemon juice and zest – you’ll need 2 large lemons for this recipe.
How to Make Cauliflower Pilaf
- Heat olive oil in a large non-stick pan. Add cauliflower and cook for 3 minutes.
- Stir in garlic and vegetables. Cook for a few minutes until tender.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in almonds, parsley, Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and juice. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Ways to Serve Cauliflower Pilaf
Cauliflower pilaf goes with almost any main protein. Here are a few suggestions:
More Rice Side Dishes
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Cauliflower Rice Pilaf
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Side
- Method: Saute
- Cuisine: American
Description
Tasty cauliflower rice pilaf is a quick side dish made entirely with riced cauliflower. It’s loaded with amazing texture and flavor!
Ingredients
- 3 Tbps. olive oil
- 5 cups riced cauliflower, not frozen
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup frozen diced carrots, peas, corn, and green beans
- 1/4 cup sliced toasted almonds
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp. lemon zest, from about 2 large lemons
- 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- Kosher salt and fresh black pepper
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add cauliflower and cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Stir in garlic and vegetables. Cook for a few minutes until fragrant and tender, stirring nonstop.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in almonds, parsley, Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Notes
- Leftovers: Leftover cauliflower rice keeps for approximately 4 days in a sealed container in the fridge.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 143
- Sugar: 2.7 g
- Sodium: 91.6 mg
- Fat: 11.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 8.4 g
- Protein: 4.8 g
- Cholesterol: 2.4 mg
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Hi! I'm Katya -- a former corporate paralegal turned full-time recipe developer and blogger behind Little Broken. Here you'll find family-friendly and seasonal recipes made from real ingredients.
