Not a cilantro lover? You can make cheesy cauliflower rice or cauliflower fried rice instead, or check out my full guide to cauliflower rice for the best ways to cook plain cauliflower rice. It’s one of the most versatile ingredients out there! Not only is it nutritious, but you can use it for a variety of flavors, meals, and even turn it into cauliflower pizza crust.
Cilantro Cauliflower Rice Ingredients
Here I explain the best ingredients for cilantro lime cauliflower rice, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Olive oil – Or any cooking oil of your choice, such as avocado oil. I prefer to avoid seed oils, such as canola, corn or soybean oil. Garlic – Use fresh minced garlic cloves or jarred minced garlic. Cauliflower Rice – You can rice your own cauliflower rice (simply pulse cauliflower florets in a food processor or grate with a box grater until it reaches rice size) or buy pre-made cauli rice, either fresh or frozen. This recipe calls for 4 cups of cauliflower rice, which is equivalent to about one head of cauliflower. Lime – Use a whole lime, as we’re using both the zest and the juice. If you don’t have limes around but do have lemons, they can work, though the flavor is different. Sea Salt & Black Pepper Fresh Cilantro – A must for cilantro lime cauliflower rice! But if you’re one of those people that thinks cilantro tastes soapy, feel free to swap in other fresh herbs, such as parsley or chives.
VARIATIONS: Add onions or spices. To add onion, dice it and saute before adding the garlic. Great spice pairings include cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, cumin, or chili powder.
How To Make Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
This section shows how to make keto cilantro lime rice with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Sauté garlic. Heat olive oil over medium heat in large skillet (or a saute pan), and saute garlic until fragrant. Sauté cauliflower rice. Add cauliflower rice, lime zest, lime juice, sea salt, and black pepper. Stir fry until soft.
Finish. Remove from heat and stir in chopped cilantro.
Should I use fresh or frozen cauliflower?
It’s up to you! You can make your own cauliflower rice (instructions can be found in my full guide to cauliflower rice) or use a prepared fresh or frozen cauliflower rice.
Is cilantro lime cauliflower rice keto?
Yes, cilantro lime cauliflower rice is naturally keto, low carb, paleo, whole30, gluten-free, vegan, and HEALTHY! The full nutrition stats can be found below, but each serving has just 4.6 grams net carbs.
Why is my cauliflower rice soggy?
Cauliflower rice may be soggy for a few reasons:
Cooking too long. This is the #1 reason for soggy cauliflower rice. Overcooking will make it soggy and mushy. Too low heat. Cauliflower rice is best cooked over medium heat, or even medium-high heat if you like a little browning. If the heat is too low, it will get too soft and the extra moisture won’t evaporate. Covering. Don’t use a lid when cooking cauliflower rice. This will cause it to steam and become watery.
Storage Instructions
Store: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Meal prep: Make cauliflower rice 3-5 days in advance and portion out into meal prep containers with your favorite protein. Reheat: Cook in a hot skillet or in the microwave. Freeze: Store in an airtight container in the freezer for 3-6 months.
Serving Ideas
I love to whip up a keto burrito bowl or taco bowl with cauliflower cilantro lime rice, loaded up with guacamole and fresh salsa. You can also serve it alongside my taco salad, or with one of my Mexican-inspired main dishes:
Carne Asada Beef Barbacoa Chicken Fajitas Cilantro Lime Chicken
More Healthy Cauliflower Recipes
If you like this cauliflower lime and cilantro rice, you might also like some of these other healthy cauliflower recipes:
Cauliflower Pizza Crust Mashed Cauliflower Cauliflower Risotto Cauliflower Cheese Soup
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