Cauliflower rice in fried rice form? Oh yes—quick, veggie-packed, and every bit as satisfying as the classic, but in a fun, lighter, and easier version!
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OK, let's get real for a second: trading cauliflower for rice? That's kinda weird, right?
I totally get it. I was skeptical too. How could a vegetable play the part of rice and still satisfy my fried rice craving? My curiosity got the best of me (but mostly my forever quest for shortcuts), and when I next had a fresh, fluffy head of cauliflower in my fridge, I decided to give it a try.
And Oh. My. Goodness! It worked. It really worked.
Not only did this cauliflower fried rice turn out absolutely delicious - like, ridiculously close to the real thing - but it was also so much quicker and easier than the traditional version. No waiting for rice to cook. No fluffing. Just a quick blitz of cauliflower in the food processor and straight into the pan everything went for some sizzling action.
Ingredients for Fried Cauliflower Rice
1 Large Head of Cauliflower
This is the star of the dish, so pick a good-sized one! We’ll be grating the cauliflower into coarse, rice-like pieces. My go-to method is a food processor—just a few pulses until it resembles larger grains of rice. You can use the larger side of a box grater for the same effect.
Oil
I love using (a mild) olive oil for its health benefits, but if you want that classic fried rice vibe, sesame oil is the way to go.
Garlic and onion
The dynamic duo for any savory stir-fry.
Vegetables of your choice
Think of what you'd toss into "real" fried rice: peas or edamame, sweet corn, and diced carrots are my go-to, but you can switch and swap the veggies to your liking.
Cubing Tip!
I use this super-affordable, cute little device called the Nicer Dicer, which is basically a vegetable chopper. It makes cubing carrots and onions (or any veggies, really) a breeze.
Some optional ingredients (but highly recommended)
- Green onions
Sprinkle these on at the end for a pop of color and fresh oniony bite.
- Sauces
I usually keep it simple—this dish is flavorful enough as is—but if you’re feeling saucy (pun intended ;), try a splash of Tamari, soy sauce, or vegan oyster sauce.
- More protein
Edamame and peas bring some protein to the dish but if you want to make it extra hearty, you can toss in cubed (smoked) tofu or sliced vegan sausages (hot seitan merguez, I'm looking at you).
Alright, let’s get down to business—shredding the cauliflower in the food processor and then giving everything a quick fry. You see? Easy. We got this.
🍽 Recipe
Fried Cauliflower Rice with Vegetables
Equipment
- food processor I'm using a Magimix 5200 XL
Ingredients
- 1 onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 small carrots
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 big cauliflower head
- 100 g frozen peas or edamame
- 100 g corn (canned or frozen)
- 2 small dried chili peppers, minced or ½ fresh chili pepper, deseeded
- ½ bunch parsley, washed and minced
- Salt
- Pepper
Optional ingredients
- Handful of cubed (smoked) tofu
- 2-3 vegan sausages
- 3-4 sprigs of green onion
- A splash of Tamari, soy sauce, or vegan oyster sauce
Instructions
- Peel and dice the onion. (If you’re using a dicing device like the Nicer Dicer, it can speed things up.) Heat olive oil in a pan, add the onion, and sauté until fragrant and translucent.
- Peel and mince the garlic cloves, then stir them into the onions.
- While the onion and garlic are frying, wash the cauliflower. Discard the leaves and tough core (you can save them for another recipe, like a stew). Cut the cauliflower into chunks small enough to fit in your food processor. Process it into rice-sized pieces—be careful not to over-process, or it will turn into a puree. Alternatively, use a box grater.
- Trim the ends of the carrots, peel them, and dice them into small, pea-sized cubes. You can use a veggie dicer to speed things up.
- Add the carrots, cauliflower, chili peppers, corn, and peas to the pan. Stir occasionally and cook until the cauliflower is tender (about 10 minutes).If you’re using cubed tofu or vegan sausages, add them now fry along the vegetables.
- When done, stir in the minced parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, add a splash of Tamari, soy sauce, or vegan oyster sauce, and sprinkle with chopped green onions
Did you give it a try it? Would you say it resembles the 'real' fried rice?
Wishing you planty of cauli rice delights,
Ramona
Pssst ... you'll also like this Lemony Cauliflower Curry and the Simple Leek & Cauliflower Bake.
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