Be advised: ย It would be best not to get in between me and my burrito.
I’m talking about the kind of burrito that’s the size of a newborn baby and served, covered in cheese and red sauce, on a scalding hot that plate that I always touch even thought I’m cautioned against it. ย The kind of burrito that is filled with so much cheese, so much rice, so much stewed beef, so much guacamole… it feels as right as it does obscene.
Yea… don’t get in between me and that burrito. ย It’s probably best if we don’t even make eye contact.
This (thankfully/sadly) is not that burrito.
Let’s welcome cauliflower to the table. ย We’ll set aside all the beef, red sauce, and most of the cheese momentarily.
This recipe starts with Cauliflower Rice which I’m pretty sure is ALL THE RAGE on paleo blogs. ย I make the opposite of a paleo blog, so…. this might seem a little strange.
We’re talking aboutย the simple art of turning raw cauliflower florets into little bits of simulated rice. ย It’s good, it’s really really good!
Cauliflower + Food Processor = Cauliflower Rice.
I used a purple and green cauliflower, not because I’m fancy, mostly because that’s what looked fresh at the grocery.
Once the cauliflower is pulverized, it’s placed into a hot skillet with olive oil. ย It’s sautรฉed, softened, and browned. ย Salt and pepper are generously added.
Cauliflower, olive oil, salt and pepper are just the basics. ย This rice really can take on any flavor that you’d like.
You might consider adding:
– sautรฉed onions and garlic.
– roasted tomatoes and fresh cilantro.
– fresh lemon juice and parsley.
You can decide on your degree of fancy. ย It’s up to you!
I surrounded my simply seasoned cauliflower rice with burrito bowl inspired flavors: ย fresh avocado, black beans, spicy salsa, cilantro, jalapeรฑos, leafy kale greens, ย cheese and freshly fried corn chips because CAN WE LIVE A LITTLE!? ย Yes, of course we can.
The kale is cooked down with olive and garlic. ย Wilty but not too wilty.
Cheese is grated, because we like treats, and chips are ready to be fried.
I think this bowl is best served in zones… unlike, very unlike a well-made burrito.
Warm cauliflower rice, garlic greens, black beans, crispy salty fried corn chips, shredded cheddar, avocado chunks, lime and spicy salsa.
Totally burrito bowl good-times without feeling like we ate an entire burrito baby. ย Protein + greens + vegetables + a little cheese for good measure. ย I’m pretty sure the next step is getting way way into CrossFit, so… get ready!
Cauliflower Rice Burrito Bowl
makes 2 bowls
For the Cauliflower Rice:
(Like any rice, this cauliflower rice takes on any flavor that you’d like. ย Feel free to add sautรฉed onions, garlic, or fresh herbs to this rice. ย Below are the bare bones of cauliflower rice.)
1 small head of raw cauliflower, any color, cut into medium florets
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
For the Burrito Bowls:
(Divide and heap each of the following ontoย two large shallow bowls, or two plates.)
2 large portions of cauliflower rice
1 cup black beans, warmed
2 cups kale or spinach, wilted and sautรฉed in olive oil and garlic
2 spoonfuls spicy salsa
2 small handfuls shredded cheddar cheese
1 ripe avocado, sliced or cut into chunks
pickled jalapeรฑos
fresh fried corn tortilla chips
fresh cilantro leaves
To make the cauliflower rice, place florets in a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. ย Process until cauliflower is ground into fine bits that resemble bits of rice or couscous.
Place a large skillet over medium heat. ย Add olive oil. ย Add the cauliflower bits to the heated pan and toss to combine. ย Allow to cook until the cauliflower rice has softened slightly and browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. ย Season generously with salt and pepper. ย Add any other flavoring, herb, or seasoning you might enjoy. ย Remove from heat and spoon into two large bowls. ย If you have any excess rice, store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To make a burrito bowl, start with a large shallow bowl or plate. ย Spoon cauliflower rice onto the plate. ย Spoon warmed black beans next to the rice. ย Spoon sautรฉed kale next to the beans. ย Top generously with hot salsa, shredded cheese, ripe avocado, pickled jalapeรฑos, fried tortilla chips, and fresh cilantro leaves. ย Enjoy!
45 Responses
i love cauliflower at the mo – rice and for pizza base, it’s amazing ! this looks like my next cook in the kitchen
Lauren x
Please nominate my blog for Best Lifestyle Blog and Newcomer here !
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I had to try cauliflower rice after you posted about it and I loved it! And this? This looks like lunch tomorrow.
The CrossFit comment made me laugh. After the first class I was like “hell no, not again!” and now I’m HOOKED.
Did not realize cauliflower rice was that simple! I will have to try it out, I’m thinking more along the lines of some cauliflower fried rice?
Thank you so much for this, Joy! I am a cauliflower rice convert and can’t wait to give a “rice” burrito bowl a try.
Also, the “Dear Guy Who Just Made My Burrito” link you posted in the last “Let it be Sunday” had me giggling like craaaaazy. Burrito zones are a terrible, terrible thing.
Woah!! Definitely want to give this a try. Those cauliflower colors are amazing!!
This is particularly great having read your link to “Dear Guy Who Just Made My Burrito”!
I love that you put cauliflower rice in your burrito!! So yummy!
I want to lounge in that multi-zoned bowl of goodness. I think if I add a little meat I might even be able to get my manly man boyfriend to eat cauliflower rice.
Thanks Joy!
This looks so great, and really easy to change into a vegan recipe. All I would need to do is replace the real cheese with either Daiya or perhaps some homemade cashew cheese. I’ll definitely have to give it a shot!
This burrito bowl is SCREAMING my name!!!!!!!! Get in my belly you badass bowl of delicious burrito goodness!
Yum! I love me a burrito too, and this looks like a very yummy and healthier version of that love.
xoxo
Taylor
I can’t wait to try this! Your photos are so beautiful.
Love, love this, you just jazzed up my cauliflower rice to a thousand :)
This is looking so good! I think I need to try out cross fit just looking at this :p
This looks gorgeous! I love cauliflower rice. You should also try cauliflower mash ;-)
An inspired burrito bowl. Cauliflower rice really is good, isn’t it?! I think it’s tastier than rice– use it as a rice replacement in every dish now… even gumbo. Don’t tell your N.O. neighbors.
Joy, this recipe changed my life. Or, well, at least drastically increased the amount of cauliflower in my diet. I can’t believe how delicious it is! I fell in love with roasted cauliflower last year, but clearly 2014 is the Year of Cauliflower Rice. It’s a real thing.
Loved the sound of this and tried to make it but cooking the cauliflower rice almost made me be sick. The smell of the raw plant when I blended it was bad but when I was cooking it it became even worse :( I definitely think it would be better to boil it before pulverizing it. The cauliflower ended up being saved when I added water to the skillet and boiled it but it certainly wasn’t rice-like. I couldn’t even eat the boiled cauliflower because I still felt sick. I will try cauliflower rice again, but with a different recipe sorry. I’d still love to try the rest of the recipe with that future rice though.
Looks great!! Lagniappe Fitness (across from the Broad Ave Whole Foods) is waiting for you when you want to get way way into Crossfit!