Skip to Content

Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice

Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice made with just 5 ingredients and in 2 easy steps. It has never been so easy to customize your dream vegan rice bowl.

The Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice being prepared in a pan.

Only recently I discovered that I could use cauliflower as more than just a veggie side. In fact it is a great substitute  for carbs if you aim for a low-carb diet.

I have already used sliced cauliflower as a crust in my Low Carb Pizza with Kale Pesto or as the base for the patty in my Veggie Burger with Cauliflower.

So now, let’s take it a step further and make a Cauliflower Rice.

I had tried a couple of recipes before. You grate the cauliflower, season with salt and pepper, and heat a bit oil in a skillet.

As promised and often read this is the perfect low carb or paleo recipe and your whole friends and family will all love it. But I did find it lacking a certain punch.

A plate full of the Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice with extra dipping sauces in the background.

As it is, Cauliflower Rice is a nice idea but I’m all about flavors and my love for Mexican inspired food is always present.

I never get tired of trying new recipes, and you can of course see that in Mexican recipes like my Vegan Cream Cheese Taquitos, Vegan Cheese Quesadillas, or Quinoa Taco Salad [vegan, gf] – just to give you some of my all-time favorites.

Want more? Just feel free to use the search box and type Mexican and you get the full experience.

Closeup on a plate, showing the extra black bean topping.

You know I’m a lazy kid and that’s not that big a secret. So I won’t grate cauliflower by hand. I would always use my high speed blender for it. One can of course also go for a food processor, both will do the trick in no time.

The idea of making my own Cauliflower Rice recipe became real when I had invited some friends for dinner.

This time it was all about Mexican inspired food, yes we’re meeting from time to time to make some special topic food and this time this was my turn.

Do you have some theme inspired nights with friends?

I was responsible to prepare a Mexican inspired dinner. What can I say? I originally didn’t plan to post it here but it turned out so amazingly delicious that I will feel bad If I don’t post it here.

Closeup on a serving of Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice.

No big deal. I mean I love Mexican food and I could eat it almost every day so I was really looking forward to that dinner night.

Not long and it popped up in my mind to make this a Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice. The basic recipe is so simple: just 5 ingredients and 2 easy steps but of course you can customize your dream rice bowl, so dream big and get excited friends!

I hope you are all come on board with me and get ready for my Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice. It’s flavorful, garlicky, Mexican inspired, the best reason to try Cauliflower Rice, my first try, easy, customizable, satisfying, drool-worthy and so delicious.

Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice.

Shall we begin? Yes I think it’s time to get in the loop.

First hop over to a blender or food processor and simply use the pulse button. That is what I did – I simply put the cauliflower florets in my high speed blender and pulse.

So easy and fast, the same game you can do it in your food processor, there is no difference. But if you’re not a lazy kid like me and pretty diligent you can jut use your grater and do it by hand.

Next, heat a skillet with 2 Tbs of oil and fry the cauliflower rice with garlic, season with salt and pepper.

While the florets are frying heat another small skillet add 1 Tbs of oil add drained black beans and garlic to the pan. When all is done, assemble in bowls, garnish with the chili (optional) and cilantro, done.

Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice .

But of course you can refine your bowl. Just choose some optional toppings, like guacamole, salsa, fresh lime juice, organic tortilla chips, or vegan sour cream.

Please try to get organic tortilla chips whenever you can, because those contain no preservatives and additives and have a smaller ingredient list than non-organic tortilla chips. Those are probably not vegan and contain milk and traces of cheese and eggs.

I often say you can use vegetable broth for cooking as an alternative to oil.

This time you can’t. If you use vegetable broth for the cauliflower rice instead of oil (and the same with the beans) you will miss the flavor and crunch of the ingredients. It really needs the oil this time.

Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice.

So this time please stick to the amount of oil in the recipe. I suggested it’s not much and the dish is pretty healthy so no worries about the oil intake. Plus you get a big batch of this so you can really easily feed a big crowd.

Me and my friends were so surprised how delicious this Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice turned out. Definitely something I want make again on a regular basis.

Plus it’s party approved. So good my new to-go recipe for cauliflower rice and from there you can put some toppings on it, yum.

Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice.

Get the flavor and be inspired by my Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice

This Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice is full of amazing benefits thanks to cauliflower, garlic, and black beans which are full of protein.

The benefits are not new. I’m sure you get the picture: add some fresh guacamole, delicious organic tortilla chips, cashew sour cream and maybe freshly lime juice to it (optional as suggested in my recipe) and you get the whole package made from wholesome foods.

A serving of the Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice with chips on a plate.

Need more inspiration? Just browse around and type “Cauliflower” in my search box.

Or just check out this article “Feel the Cauliflower Power! Our 11 Most Delicious Recipes!

Collage of two pictures of the Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice with recipe title text.

As always I’m excited to see a tag and picture on Facebook or Instagram.

So I can see your lovely creations and the toppings you choose with the Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice.

Talk to you soon and see you, Florian.

Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice | #vegan #glutenfree #contentednesscooking

Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice made with just 5 ingredients and in 2 easy steps. It has never been so easy to customize your dream vegan rice bowl.

Ingredients

For the Cauliflower Rice:

  • 1 cauliflower, cut into florets
  • 5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 2 Tbs olive or canola oil
  • 1 chili, seeded and cut into small pieces (optional)
  • cilantro for garnish
  • salt, pepper to taste

For the Black Beans:

  • 1 Tbs olive or canola oil
  • 1 14 oz can black beans, drained
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

Instructions

  1. Put the cauliflower florets in a high speed blender or food processor and pulse until you have rice-like bits.
  2. Heat a skillet with 2 Tbs of oil and fry the cauliflower rice with garlic, season with salt and pepper. While the florets are frying heat another small skillet add 1 Tbs of oil add drained black beans and garlic to the pan. When all is done, assemble in bowls, garnish with the chili (optional) and cilantro, done.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 25Total Fat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 30mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 2gSugar: 1.9gProtein: 1.9g

Lisa

Thursday 31st of January 2019

Hi can you freeze this?

Florian

Thursday 31st of January 2019

Hi Lisa! I haven't tried that so I can't vouch for accurate results! Let me know if you try this out!

Catherine

Monday 13th of August 2018

Hi, can frozen cauliflower be used?

Florian

Monday 13th of August 2018

Hi Catherine! That should work! Let me know what you think!

Ashley

Thursday 22nd of February 2018

Love this healthy and easy fried rice option. Looks delicious! 🙂

Florian

Thursday 22nd of February 2018

Thanks, Ashley! It tastes even better!

Skip to Recipe