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Green Cauliflower Rice

Green cauliflower rice is the best low carb side dish that goes best with Mexican meals! This green cauliflower rice is easy to make and ready in under 15 minutes! Naturally gluten free, grain free, low carb, Whole30 and keto friendly.

Spoon scooping green cauliflower rice from a white bowl.
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Why you are going to love this recipe

  • Green cauliflower rice is made green by adding a simple chimichurri sauce to cooked cauliflower rice, making it the perfect side dish to any Mexican meals or even great for breakfast with eggs.
  • Cauliflower rice is the perfect low carb side dish! It’s easy to make, super filling and can be prepped ahead of time, making it perfect for weeknight meals!
  • Pair with your favorite meals! This green cauliflower rice would be perfect with skillet taco chicken or Cajun salmon for a simple yet filling weeknight meal!
  • Great for crowds too! You can easily double this recipe and serve a crowd! This recipe reheats really well and is great for meal prep too!

Ingredients

  • Cauliflower rice
  • Kale
  • Flat Leaf Parsley
  • Cilantro
  • Avocado oil or olive oil
  • Lime Juice
  • Garlic powder
  • Walnuts
  • Salt
  • Water

How to make green cauliflower rice

Check out the step by step instructions on how to make chimichurri cauliflower rice.

Step 1: Sauté fresh or frozen cauliflower rice in a large skillet for 5-7 minutes over medium heat. This will help dry out the cauliflower a bit so it’s not watered down.

Step 2: Make the green sauce (chimichurri sauce) in the food processor while the cauliflower rice cooks.

Step 3: Add the green sauce to the cauliflower rice. Stir well.

Step 4: Serve hot or cold.

Steps on how to make green cauliflower rice.

How to make the green sauce:

This green sauce is just like chimichurri and can be made in your food processor in about 2 minutes.

  • First blend up the fresh Italian parsley, cilantro, lime juice and avocado oil in the food processor until the herbs are broken down.
  • Next add the salt, garlic powder and walnuts (or pumpkin seeds, hemp hearts or cashews) to the food processor and process on high until well combined and the mixture forms a sauce. If needed, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to help thin it out.
  • Store in the fridge for up to 3 days ahead of time in a well-sealed container.

What to serve with chimichurri cauliflower rice

FAQ’s

How do you make cauliflower rice at home?

Cauliflower rice is made by cutting up fresh cauliflower florets up into little pieces so that it resembles rice. There are 2 ways to make cauliflower rice from scratch:

  • Food Processor: This is the easiest of the two methods. Simply cut the florets from the stalk and add them to a large food processor. Process on high until the cauliflower resembles rice. You likely will need to do this in batches.
Steps on how to make cauliflower rice in the food processor.
  • Hand grater: If you don’t have a food processor, you can also grate the cauliflower by hand. To do this, keep the cauliflower whole (don’t break it into florets) and grate it on the hand grater like you would cheese.

Once the fresh cauliflower has been riced, it can be cooked immediately, stored in the fridge for 3-4 days or frozen.

Cast iron skillet filled with green cauliflower rice.

Can you freeze cauliflower rice?

Yes! You don’t need to cook the cauliflower before freezing!

Once you rice fresh cauliflower, simply add it to a freezer safe bag and take the time to remove all the excess air from the bag. The less oxygen in the bag the better. This also helps the bag lay flat during freezing, allowing it to take up less room in the freezer.

Be sure to date your frozen cauliflower rice and indicate how much is in the bag. Fresh cauliflower rice can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months.

When you finally do want to cook the frozen cauliflower rice, sauté it in a skillet over medium heat 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Can you use frozen cauliflower rice?

Yes! I actually prefer to use store bought frozen cauliflower rice over fresh. You can buy frozen cauliflower rice from Trader Joe’s, Aldi or Whole Foods.

Although cauliflower rice is easy to make yourself, it can be a bit messy. Frozen cauliflower rice is inexpensive and super convenient.

Large white bowl filled with green cauliflower rice.

Storage:

  • Fridge: You can store this vegan green cauliflower rice in the fridge for up to 4 days after cooking.
  • Freezer: You an freeze green cauliflower rice after cooking. Freeze in a freezer safe bag (get out as much of the air as possible) for up to 2 months.
    • To defrost, simply store in the fridge overnight or defrost in the microwave or on the stove.
    • You will want to cook this for a few minutes in a hot skillet after defrosting, as there will be some excess liquid from defrosting that you will want to cook off.

Substitutions:

Cauliflower rice: You can also make this recipe with cooked rice or even riced broccoli in place of cauliflower rice.

Lime juice: you can use lemon juice or even red wine vinegar in place of lime juice. The flavor will be slightly different but it’s a great twist!

Walnuts: you can also use hemp hearts, pumpkin seeds (shelled), sunflower seeds, cashews or even almonds in place of the walnuts.

Garlic powder: you can use 1 clove fresh garlic in place of garlic powder, however I like that the garlic is not too overpowering in this recipe.

Wooden spoon scooping green cauliflower rice from a skillet.

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White bowl filled with green cauliflower rice with spoon.

Green Cauliflower Rice

Green cauliflower rice is the perfect low carb side dish, great with Mexican meals or even for breakfast with eggs! This simple dish is ready in under 15 minutes and is naturally gluten free, vegan, Whole30 and keto friendly.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chimichurri rice, green cauliflower rice, mexican cauliflower rice
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 package frozen cauliflower rice - 1 large cauliflower, riced in food processor
  • 1 cup kale - or baby spinach
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil
  • 2 small limes, juiced
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2-3/4 tsp sea salt
  • 2-3 tbsp. walnuts - see notes for substitutions
  • 2-3 tbsp water - optional

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, heat cauliflower rice over medium heat for 5-6 minutes until defrosted and most of the water has cooked off.
  • While cauliflower rice is cooking, make the green sauce in the food processor.
  • First blend up the kale, fresh Italian parsley, cilantro, lime juice and avocado oil in the food processor until the herbs are broken down.
  • Next add the salt, garlic powder and walnuts to the food processor and process on high until well combined and the mixture forms a sauce. If needed, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to help thin it out.
  • Take rice off of heat and add the green sauce to the skillet. Stir well to fully incorporate.
  • Serve with your favorite protein or use it as a base for a yummy veggie bowl.

Notes

How long can this be stored in the fridge?
You can store this vegan green cauliflower rice in the fridge for up to 4 days after cooking.
Can you freeze green cauliflower rice?
Yes! You an freeze green cauliflower rice after cooking. Freeze in a freezer safe bag (get out as much of the air as possible) for up to 2 months.
To defrost, simply store in the fridge overnight or defrost in the microwave or on the stove.
You will want to cook this for a few minutes in a hot skillet after defrosting, as there will be some excess liquid from defrosting that you will want to cook off.
Substitutions:
  • Cauliflower rice: You can also make this recipe with cooked rice or even riced broccoli in place of cauliflower rice.
  • Lime juice: you can use lemon juice or even red wine vinegar in place of lime juice. The flavor will be slightly different but it’s a great twist!
  • Walnuts: you can also use hemp hearts, pumpkin seeds (shelled), sunflower seeds, cashews or even almonds in place of the walnuts.
  • Garlic powder: you can use 1 clove fresh garlic in place of garlic powder, however I like that the garlic is not too overpowering in this recipe.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Amount per Serving
Calories
96
Fat
 
7
g
Carbohydrates
 
6
g
Fiber
 
1
g
Sugar
 
1
g
Protein
 
4
g
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database.
DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?Let others know by rating and leaving a comment below!

Update Notes: This recipe was originally posted in July of 2015, but was published again in February 2020 to include step by step directions, recipe notes and new photos.

Recipe Rating




Elaine

Tuesday 21st of July 2015

Never heard of cauliflower rice...wish there was a TJ near me!! Thanks for Linking up on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! I love having you!! Hope to see you again this week!! Pinned

Deborah Davis

Monday 20th of July 2015

I'm a big cauliflower lover so I can't wait to try your yummy recipe and enjoy it with my family. Thanks for sharing your “Green” Cauliflower Rice recipe with us on the Healthy Happy Green and Natural Party Blog Hop. I'm pinning and sharing.

Jess @hellotofit

Saturday 18th of July 2015

Oh my gosh, no A/C sounds terrible!! I'd prepare this alongside some grilled salmon...mmmm.

Stephanie

Saturday 18th of July 2015

What a great idea! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! This post has been pinned on the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! I love having you and can't wait to see you next week!

Randi

Thursday 16th of July 2015

Oh my this looks amazing! I have been on a huge cauliflower kick recently and this is perfect! Also, my heart goes out to you on the AC issue lol. That heat can be vicious! Thanks for sharing, I'll be making this very soon...

Sam

Sunday 19th of July 2015

Thank you for the love Randi!! I luckily have A/C back in my car now! Woohoo - cauliflower is just too good not to swoon over and now that trader joes already rices it for me, I can't get enough