Sauteed Turmeric Cauliflower Rice Recipe
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 turmeric cauliflower rice
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.
So, let’s talk ingredients and substitutes for this Mustard Dill Cauliflower Rice (Save/Pin)
- 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.
Tools
How to make Turmeric Cauliflower Rice – Sauteed Cauliflower Recipe (Save/Pin)
Method
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 (Save/Pin)
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 1/4 tsp of asafoetida in warm water. Apparently, it was very effective.
Frequently asked questions
No. Cauliflower is a vegetable and though you process it or grate it finely it will still taste like a vegetable. It is a great alternative to rice but it does not replace it as a grain. So if you choose to eat cauliflower rice don’t expect it to taste like rice.
Cooked cauliflower rice can be kept in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. If you place it in a ziplock or freezer bag it can last for up to a month in the freezer.
Actually the same way you cook cauliflower but for much less time.
Place it in the microwave at 30-second intervals.
Stir-fry it gently in a saute pan Or
Spread it on a roasting pan and bake at 180 C / 380 F for 10 to 12 minutes
Cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts are a Cruciferous variety of vegetables that can cause uncomfortable stomach gas and sometimes severe stomach pain too. In the posts, I have given a few tips and suggestions used by my mom.
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Sauteed Turmeric Cauliflower Rice Recipe
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Equipment /Tools
Ingredients
- 450 grams Cauliflower rice
- 2 tbsp Cooking Oil
- 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1/2 cup Cilantro chopped
- 1/4 cup Onion chopped
- 1/2 tsp Garlic minced
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
Conversions – Switch between Metric & US for other measurement options
Instructions
- 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.
Recipe Video
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Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
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Arlene Mobley
I also love cauliflower rice and adding turmeric is genius!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Arlene.
eijia
I make cauliflower rice all the time so I tried this today and tried the mustard and dill one last week. Both were excellent recipes. Thank you for sharing. Love all your recipes.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Eijja. So happy you have success with these two recipes. Thank you for coming back to write this feedback. Have a wonderful day.
Marco Flores
It is an excellent article. Perfect. I loved.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Marco.
Lynn | The Road to Honey
Ha! Ha! I’m glad I’m not the only one whose waistline hates carbs. For that reason, cauliflower rice is also a regular on my menu. And if you use the shredder in the food processor. . .it even looks like rice!!! Turmeric is such a clever substitute for saffron. My hubby is Persian so saffron is in so many of the rice dishes. . .but it can be expensive & hard to find.
Veena Azmanov
Oh yeah, I have to rely on low carb a lot if I want to keep my waist Lynn. This looks absolutely gorgeous with that color.
Kallee
I have been wanting to try new ways to enjoy cauliflower. this looks delicious and so full of color.
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Kallee. You will love it.
Janette | Culinary Ginger
I love the color turmeric brings to a dish and of course the added benefits. Looks delicious.
Veena Azmanov
Me too, Janette. Love the color of turmeric.
Monica | Nourish & Fete
I have been wanting to find ways to cook with turmeric, since you see so much these days about its health benefits, and this is a brilliant simple way to work it into a side dish! Love it!
Veena Azmanov
We love turmeric in our house – and this is definitely a great way to use it.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife
Mmmm I love cooking with turmeric, and cauliflower rice is so big right now as well. Looks like amazing flavors in this dish!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Marlynn. Love the bright color too!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
I love cauliflower rice – I would never have thought to add turmeric to it but I bet it tastes amazing and so flavourful! Definitely going to be giving this a try!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Bintu. It really is wonderful to have turmeric in the cauliflower rice. You must try.
Shinta Simon
I am tempted to try your recipe, I’ve seen and heard so much about cauliflower rice, and cauliflower crust, but haven’t given it a go so far. Must remedy that! Thanks for sharing.
Veena Azmanov
Yeah, I know what you mean Shinta. It took me a while too! but once I tried it, it totally swept me away.
Corina Blum
I need to try this cauliflower rice! It’s a beautiful colour and sounds delicious too. I think turmeric is a wonderful spice and so healthy as well.
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Corina. You really will love it. Please do try.
Elizabeth
Cauliflower rice is my go-to side when I’m trying to slim, and this sounds like a fantastic way to jazz it up (and hide the taste of the cauliflower!)
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Elizabeth. I have the same necessity. I love my carbs so this works a treat.
Claire
What a great low carb side dish!
I am always looking for ways to add flavor but reduce our carbs, so this will be perfect 😀
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Claire. I do you try
Amy Nash
This is the only way I can get my husband to eat cauliflower too! He loves it when it is riced, but hates it in all other forms! So funny to me, because it is one of my favorite veggies. Will have to try your version for him!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks Amy, my husband use to be the opposite – he can eat cauliflower otherwise the rice was an effort – now he loves it though.
Cindy @ The Sweet Nerd
So healthy and light – I just love using cauliflower rice instead of rice. Turmeric is so good for you with its anti-inflammatory qualities. Great recipe.
Veena Azmanov
Me too, Cindy. Love cauliflower rice when I need to go low carb. Yes, turmeric does have anti-inflammatory qualities as well.
Gloria
Cauliflower rice is such a great side dish. Love the colour of this recipe. This would be great for any night of the week, not to mention how healthy it is too.
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Gloria. Definitely a great side dish or replacement for carb.
Deepika
This recipe for Cauliflower rice is a great addition to my list of everyday meals. Saving this for sure.
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely, Deepika. Perfect everyday meal.
Christina Shoemaker
What a fun way to add flavor to cauli rice!! And that color!! Loving every bit of this!!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Christina. Yes, love that color too!
Pam
Great recipe, and I love that you offer substitutes for different ingredients. It’s so helpful in case you don’t have something on hand.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Pam. Happy you like my writing style.