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Spanish Cauliflower Rice is a light and healthy side dish mixing cauliflower rice with spice, diced tomatoes, kale and jalapeños. Serve this side dish with your weeknight meals or add beans and make it a meal! This is one you will love!
SPANISH CAULIFLOWER
I am really excited about today’s recipe for Spanish Cauliflower Rice from Julia at The Roasted Root’s new cookbook Let Them Eat Kale!
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of her new cookbook and can’t wait to try a long list of the recipes including the Cheesy Mashed Yams, Southwest Stuffed Bell Peppers and Kale and Chickpea Salad with Ginger-Tahini Dressing.
What I love about her cookbook, aside from the mouth watering photos, is how easily she incorporates kale into each dish and brings rich flavors and spices in to complement it.
Her book includes information about not only the health benefits of kale but also different methods for preparing kale and incorporating it into your cooking, gardening tips and 75 recipes that include the leafy green. This Spanish Cauliflower Rice vegan recipe is a great example!
I remember a few years ago when kale first became a huge food trend. I have to be honest I wasn’t on board right away and thought it had a slightly bitter taste and was a little bit tough.
After using kale in salads and cooking with it throughout the past year I have warmed up to it and really like it. I now try to use it in dishes I cook as much as possible.
It really is a “super” food that offers so many healthy benefits.
If you are wondering what the health benefits are here are just a few: kale is one of the most nutrient-dense super foods in the world.
It contains a high concentration of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, is low in calories, boosts immunity, and fights disease. Kale is full of Vitamins K, A, and C, beta-carotene, and antioxidants, and phytonutrients. Just one cup of chopped kale earns you 684% of your daily value of Vitamin K, 206% of Vitamin A, and 134% of Vitamin C.
All of these factors contribute to kale’s ability to help keep your immune system strong and prevent and alleviate disease.
I have become more interested in super foods lately and am trying to incorporate them into my family’s meal.
If you are looking for an easy side dish that packs a health punch, this is your dish.
When I was looking through Let Them Eat Kale! for a recipe to try I knew I had to make the Spanish Cauliflower Rice.
We eat a lot of rice in my house and I had never tried creating a rice texture from cauliflower.
Even my picky husband really enjoyed this Spanish Cauliflower Rice dish!
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Spanish Cauliflower Rice
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 cauliflower, grated (stems removed)
- 6 garlic , minced
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
- 2 cups kale
- 1 – 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, unsalted if possible
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
Instructions
- Remove the green stems from the cauliflower and chop the head in half. Using a box grater or food processor, grate the whole head of cauliflower (one half at a time).
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil to medium-high heat and sauté the onion until fragrant and slightly softened, about 3 minutes.
- Add the grated cauliflower, garlic, and jalapeño to the skillet and stir consistently until the cauliflower begins to cook down and turn brown, about 5-8 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium, add the kale leaves and stir them into the cauliflower rice. Cover the skillet, allowing the kale leaves to soften about 2 minutes.
- Add the diced tomatoes, salt and chili powder, and stir them into the “rice.”
- Continue cooking another 2 to 3 minutes to allow some of the moisture to burn off, stirring consistently.
- Serve the Spanish Cauliflower “Rice” alongside your favorite meal!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe from Julia at The Roasted Root with her permission
I love to add kale to soups.
I love plain steamed kale!
I have to admit I don’t cook with kale much. I tried kale chips once and was disappointed. I love it in smoothies!
I can’t thank you enough for giving my book a shout out and for trying the cauliflower rice! I love it alongside pretty much any meal and love using it in burritos. I’m so happy you and your hubs enjoyed it. A million times, thank you, thank you!! xoxo
Thank you for letting me share your beautiful cookbook with my readers. Congratulations again! Such an accomplishment!
I like it sauteed plain with garlic, onions and garlic. It’s so good.
i like putting kale in my smoothies or in my soup
I like sautéed kale in a crustless quiche!
I’m all for another “faux” cauliflower recipe – this one looks delicious. Shocking as it may be, I’ve never cooked with kale – this cookbook sounds exactly like what I need.
What a fantastic dish! That cookbook looks wonderful, too!
I didn’t jump on the kale bandwagon right away either but I have come to really like it. Cauliflower has become a wonder vegetable. It can take the place of so many ingredients. Can’t wait to try it as rice.