Turmeric Cauliflower Rice Recipe

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The Turmeric is also known as 'poor man's saffron' changes the everyday cauliflower into something more elegant and desirable. This simple, easy and effortless sauteed turmeric cauliflower rice makes a snack on its own. Can replace your carb to make a low carb diet or serve it as a side dish to add some variation to your everyday cooking.

Cauliflower rice has become my go-to carb these days.  I love rice, chapati, and OMG the bread!! But my waist hates them so I have to sometimes go the less carb route to address the carb cravings and keep my pretty waist.  I do love cauliflower so it works a treat for me and often I will find ways to make them more fun which means the kids join in too!

Back when I started with just plain old cauliflower? I was the only one eating it. So I made one cauliflower head for myself and it would serve me for the next two days. Now that the kids and Ziv (yes Ziv eats cauliflower rice too!) it's a one-time affair. Rhea loves it and refers to it as couscous.

One of our family's favorite ways to eat cauliflower rice is with slow-cooked meals. OH MY, the luxury of a slow-cooked meat dish on a bowl of cauliflower rice is absolute heaven. If you have not tried it out.. you must!!!  Tell me that ain't calling your name?

About this recipe

For me, the best part about cauliflower rice is that it takes 5 mins to cook. You can use frozen but I don't get that here. I make my own cauliflower rice and even that takes literally 5 minutes! I can eat flavored cauliflower rice like this sauteed turmeric cauliflower rice on its own. No meat, nothing to accompany it. Sometimes, it's a quick snack and on busy days it's a quick meal. This one is so simple and easy you will be surprised.

Ingredients and substitutes

• Cauliflower rice - you can use store-bought frozen or make your own at home. Do not thaw the frozen cauliflower rice. Cooking it from frozen makes it less mushy.
• Cooking Oil - use cooking oil that has a high smoking point such as canola, sunflower, grapeseed or peanut because you want the mustard to crackle in really hot oil.
• Turmeric - This one adds flavor and color not so much taste. Turmeric, however, is a good anti-oxidant for your body and a tsp of it in your food is a good thing.
• Herbs- I love cilantro or dill with my cauliflower rice, but parsley goes well too.
• Onions  - I like using onions as it adds flavor but if you prefer to keep it simple. You can omit it.
• Garlic - a little goes a long way - I like to chop it finely or grate it too.  You can omit the garlic if you don't care much for it.
• Peppers - I like to add just a few as a garnish but they also add a nice crunch to the cauliflower rice.

Step by step instructions  (Save/Pin)

• In a saute pan, add the oil over medium heat.
• Saute onion, garlic and saute for a minute on medium heat.
• Next, add the cauliflower rice and cook on medium-high heat.
• Cook for 5 minutes stirring every minute until the rice is cooked thru.
• Add lemon juice and chopped herbs.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• This is ready to serve.

Tips for cooking perfect homemade cauliflower rice

1. I find that if I cover the rice it retains moisture and makes it mushy - soggy. But if you keep the rice open when cooking the excess moisture is evaporated and you have nice fluffy rice.
2. Never season this rice before it is cooked. Adding salt makes vegetables release their liquid which in this case makes the grains mushy. So cook the vegetable rice first, then season with salt and pepper.
3. The best way to avoid wet mushy rice when sauteing it is to keep the heat on medium-high so the moisture evaporates as soon as it is released. This will give you a nice light and fluffy sauteed rice.
4. The trick to getting fluffy rice when roasting in the oven is to use a very hot oven no less than 200 C/400 F and make sure you preheat the oven well before you put the cauliflower rice in the oven. This will again evaporate the moisture as soon as it is released.

Cauliflower and stomach gas

Yeah I know it's a sensitive topic but has to be said. Cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts are a Cruciferous variety of vegetables that can cause uncomfortable stomach gas and sometimes severe stomach pain too.

My mom always cooked these veggies with herbs and spices which she claimed helped with these gasses. I cannot scientifically prove this to you but I have followed my mom's advice over the years and I must say compared to most other people my family has fewer issues with gas.

Mom would always say - add any two or three of these with these veggies and it will help - cumin seeds, carom seeds, anise seeds, fennel, cilantro, mint, dill, mustard, cardamon seeds, garlic, ginger, onion, lemon juice.

The other important ingredient that my mom (most Indian households) always used was asafoetida. It's a gum from the fennel with a really terrible smell but very effective in helping with gas.  I remember when my neighbor was nursing her baby and she was suffering from severe gas, my grandmother would give her ¼ tsp of asafoetida in warm water. Apparently, it was very effective.

Frequently asked questions

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You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.

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