• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Fork's Tale
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Reviews
  • Projects
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Reviews
  • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Reviews
    • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Low Carb Recipes

    Mexican Cauliflower Rice-low carb Mexican Rice

    January 7, 2019 Updated: January 6, 2022 By Katie Crenshaw 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    This Mexican cauliflower rice is a great substitute for the traditional Mexican rice. This dish offers all of the great spicy flavors without the high calories and carbs! Make it whether or not you are on a low-carb diet! It is a healthy side dish you can feel good about eating. #lowcarb #Mexicanfood
    This Mexican cauliflower rice is a great substitute for the traditional Mexican rice. This dish offers all of the great spicy flavors without the high calories and carbs! Make it whether or not you are on a low-carb diet! It is a healthy side dish you can feel good about eating. #lowcarb #Mexicanfood
    This Mexican cauliflower rice is a great substitute for the traditional Mexican rice. This dish offers all of the great spicy flavors without the high calories and carbs! Make it whether or not you are on a low-carb diet! It is a healthy side dish you can feel good about eating. #lowcarb #Mexicanfood
    This Mexican cauliflower rice is a great substitute for the traditional Mexican rice. This dish offers all of the great spicy flavors without the high calories and carbs! Make it whether or not you are on a low-carb diet!  It is a healthy side dish you can feel good about eating.

    This Mexican cauliflower rice is a great substitute for the traditional Mexican rice.

    This dish offers all of the great spicy flavors without the high calories and carbs!

    Make it whether or not you are on a low-carb diet! It is a healthy side dish you can feel good about eating.

    Mexican Cauliflower Rice with jalapeño and cilantro

    I don't follow a low-carb diet, but I do cut carbs out as often as I can.

    I am a huge lover of Mexican rice. If you put a big bowl of it in front of me, I would wolf it down in seconds. It tastes so good!

    While there is nothing wrong with eating Mexican rice from time to time, this Mexican cauliflower rice has all of the same delicious flavors you crave for in rice without the calories!!

    In other words, you can wolf 5 bowls and not feel one bit guilty!

    Watch to see how to make it

    Does cauliflower rice taste like real rice?

    Does it taste just like real rice? No. I am not going to mislead you.

    It will look like rice. It will taste similar to rice. But the Mexican cauliflower rice will not have the same hard texture as true rice.

    The cauliflower does a great job absorbing the tasty flavors and seasonings to create a bright, spicy, flavorful dish; but it won't have that perfect heartiness as a true rice dish.

    The key is to not overcook the cauliflower to where it becomes mush. If you don't overcook it, you will be happy with it.

    Mexican Cauliflower Rice

    Bonus! This is also a great way to make boring cauliflower DELICIOUS!!

    If you are into "rice bowls," this Mexican cauliflower rice makes a great base.

    Top with grilled chicken, beef, or shrimp, add a little guacamole and maybe some cheese, and you have a tasty healthy meal!

    how to make Mexican cauliflower rice

    How to make Mexican cauliflower rice

    Follow these steps on How to make Mexican cauliflower rice:

    • Chop 1 head of cauliflower in your food processor using the grating attachment. If you do not have the grating attachment, you can use the regular blade, but it will be cut different.
    • Heat olive oil in a pan. Add salsa,  tomatoes, onions, garlic, and jalapenos. Stir fry for a few minutes until all vegetables are softened.
    • Add chopped cauliflower. Sauté until cauliflower becomes tender. Do not overcook or it will become mush!

    Note: (You can use frozen chopped rice, but it may become a little more watery from thawing out.)

    Mexican Cauliflower Rice

    For more tasty low carb sides, try these:

    • Cauliflower Fried Rice
    • Southern Cauliflower Potato Salad
    • Greek Green Beans
    • Instant Pot Fried Cabbage
    • Oven Roasted Broccoli 
    • Sriracha Grilled Zucchini
    • Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Speck Ham

    Please leave me a comment below if you make this Mexican cauliflower rice, and tell me what you think about it. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.

    Also post your picture of your cauliflower rice on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!

    Mexican cauliflower

    Mexican Cauliflower Rice-low carb Mexican Rice

    This Mexican cauliflower rice is a great substitute for the traditional Mexican rice. This dish offers all of the great spicy flavors without the high calories and carbs! Make it whether or not you are on a low-carb diet!  It is a healthy side dish you can feel good about eating.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Save Recipe Saved! Rate
    Course: Low Carb, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Mexican, Paleo, Whole 30
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 51kcal
    Author: Katie Crenshaw

    Ingredients

    • 1 cauliflower head
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 cup salsa picante
    • 1 tomato diced
    • 1 jalapeno diced
    • ½ bell pepper diced
    • 1 small onion diced
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 3 garlic cloves crushed
    • cilantro
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Push 1 cauliflower head through food processor using with the grating attachment. Pulse until you have the rice consistency. If you do not have the grating attachment, you can use the regular blade, but it will be cut different.
    • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in skillet.
    • Add 1 cup salsa, 1 diced tomato, 3 crushed garlic, 1 diced onion, ½ diced bell peppers, and 1 diced jalapeño. Cook until softened.
    • Add in cauliflower. Stir continuously. Mix in 1 teaspoon cumin. Add salt, and pepper to taste. Cook until just tender. You do not want to overcook. Let stand 2 minutes before serving for cauliflower to absorb in all the liquid.
    • Garnish with fresh cilantro and jalapeno slices.

    Video

    Notes

    You can use frozen chopped rice, but it may become a little more watery from thawing out.

    Nutrition- Nutrition info is based on estimation only.

    Calories: 51kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 309mg | Potassium: 238mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 715IU | Vitamin C: 21.9mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    Tried this recipe? I want to see it!Mention @aForksTale or tag #aForksTale!

    More Low Carb Recipes

    • tomato cucumber onion salad in a white bowl
      Tomato Cucumber Onion Salad
    • stuffed jalapenos on a white plate with sour cream dip in a bowl in the center
      Stuffed Jalapeños with Cheese and Ground Beef
    • barbacoa beef in taco shells on a red plate
      Barbacoa Beef Recipe (Slow Cooker)
    • taco dip on a blue and white striped platter
      Cream Cheese Taco Dip

    Primary Sidebar

    Katie Crenshaw-A Fork's Tale

    Hi, I'm Katie!

    Thanks for stopping in!! I am a foodie and I LOVE to eat. I am so excited to share my recipes and adventures with you! My recipes are simple and easy for the modern cook.

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy

    Subscribe

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Katie Crenshaw is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to A Fork's Tale at www.aforkstale.com to Amazon.com.

    creator expertise banner  for a fork's tale

    Copyright © 2020 A Fork's Tale