Spanish Cauliflower Rice with kale is a nutrient-packed low-carb side dish to enjoy alongside your favorite main entrees! This easy-to-prepare recipe is just like your favorite Spanish-style rice!
In honor of yesterday’s publication of my cookbook, Let Them Eat Kale (update: now known as The Quintessential Kale Cookbook) , I thought I would share one of the recipes from the book.
My friend, Jen Schmidt snapped photos of me prepping the cauliflower rice, and once the recipe was finished, Jen and I both took photos of the end result.
Cauliflower rice is one of my favorite side dishes to make and eat in volume.
Grating it requires a little elbow grease, but you can also use a food processor.
I figured because cauliflower is a thing and kale is a thing, I may as well put the things together and create the ultimate trendy dish. Spanish Cauliflower Rice with Kale should be in all your burritos until the end of time. It will make you quiver and slur your words. Or is that tequila? Bygones.
You may remember how to make cauliflower rice from the Cauliflower Rice Burrito Bowls or the Jalapeño Ginger Cauliflower Rice, but in case you missed those posts, here’s a little tutorial.
Oh, here I am! I’m about to destroy – nay, improve – a head of cauliflower.
You begin by grating up a whole head of cauliflower and chopping your onion, garlic, and jalapeño.
You then remove the stems from your kale leaves…
… and chop the leaves up. You can use the stems in a smoothie or feed them to your dog!
You sauté the onion, garlic, and jalapeño until they’re nice and soft. Then add your cauliflower.
Let the cauliflower cook down for 5 to 8 minutes or so. Then, in go the diced tomatoes, chili powder and salt.
Followed by the kale leaves. Continue cooking until the kale leaves are nice and wilted.
What happens next is between you and the cauliflower rice.
Check out The Quintessential Kale Cookbook on Amazon!
Spanish Cauliflower Rice with Kale
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp avocado oil
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 large head cauliflower grated
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 jalapeño seeded and finely chopped
- 2 cups tightly packed kale leaves*
- 1 14.5-oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 tsp kosher salt or to taste
- 1.5 Tbsp chili powder
- Cherry or grape tomatoes for serving optional
Instructions
- Remove all of the green stems from the cauliflower and chop the head in half. Using a box grater (or a food processor), grate the whole head of cauliflower.
- In a large skillet, heat the oil to medium-high and sauté the onion until fragrant and softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the jalapeño, and garlic and sauté another 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the grated cauliflower and cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to turn brown and cook down, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Add the diced tomatoes, salt, and chili powder and stir well to combine. Cook until much of the liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes.
- Add the chopped kale leaves and stir them into the mixture well. Cook until they have turned bright green and have wilted, about 3 minutes.
- Serve cauliflower rice alongside your favorite entrée.
Nutrition
Congratulations on your book! I just found your blog via Kitchen Treaty — I’m looking forward to following along.
Thank you so much, Jacki!!
Love how delicious this recipe looks, and the amazing photos!
Thanks so much, Marisa! Cauliflower rice is always such an inviting dish! Let me know if you try the recipe 😀
Cauliflower rice is my favorite because I, for some cruel joke of a reason, can’t manage to cook real rice (not even instant. I wish I was kidding). I’m loving this + burrito + my face. Match made in heaven.
Isn’t it funny how cauliflower “rice” is more fool-proof than regular rice? I have an issue with rice too – it tends to come out poridgy or hard as a rock…very rarely do I get the perfect batch. Let me know If you try the recipe!!
Stuffing my face with this right now. I threw in a can of cannellini beans because I was feeling too lazy to make anything else to go with it. Now it’s a whole, delicious meal on it’s own and it’s soooo good.
Yaaay! So happy you’re enjoying it!! The cannelini beans sound like an awesome addition! Great thinking, my dear! 😀
Yay!! (Belated) and huuuuge congrats on your second book…..so thrilled for you!!
I’m so late to the cauliflower rice game, it’s sad. Getting on it immediately!
OH KELLI, YOU’D LOVE CAULIFLOWER RICE!!! <- Phew! Had to get that off my chest. Anyway, I really do think you'd love it, so let me know when you get on the cauli rice train 😀
“Eat like no one’s watching” is my new mantra. Thank you 🙂
Haha! It’s pretty much my approach at all the feeding times, too. Thanks, Kate!!
This dish was so good! I just ate leftovers for lunch. I will be making it again and again. Congrats on your beautiful cookbook Julia!
I wish I could just squuuueeeeeze you right now! Thank you so much for your support, and I’m SO happy you made and enjoyed the cauli rice!
Julia, I made the cauliflower Spanish Rice and everyone LOVED it. Thank you for sharing these wonderful recipes. I will buy your books soon.
I’m so happy to hear that, Diane!!! I love cauliflower rice and it’s amazing all the flavor combinations you can add to it to make it fun and exciting. Thanks so much for your feedback and support!! xoxo
Congratulations on your book! Yep, I would eat this like no one is looking. Love!
Thanks so much, Norma!
Gorgeous shots! And uh, yeah, I think you know what you’re doing behind the lens missy. Your work is always beautiful! I love me some cauliflower rice and I think adding kale too it a brilliant idea. Looks delicious!
Thank you, thank you, my dear!! I think you would absolutely love this rice!
I like this post because it has you.And I lurve you.
I also really love cauli rice, and had it for dinner today…YUM
I must try this recipe!
I know that was the least funny comment ever. But I got no more juice today. But I am pinning this!
Oh girly, I always love your comments. Hope you have a rejuvenating weekend and thanks a million for your sweetness! 😀 xoxo
Congratulations on the new book!!! Now about the cauliflower and kale, I would be perfectly happy to snuggle up to a giant bowl of this spicy yumminess!
Thanks so much, Kari!! The rice is definitely the perfect dish to get cozy with. I love adding it to my burritos or putting it on pretty much anything. Hope you have a marvelous weekend!!
big yay! Congrats on the release + welcome back from vacay! (did i say that already?) I spy more sunshine freckles 🙂
Oh yes, I came back from the DR with far more freckles than when I left, ha! I’m more of a freckler than a tanner. 😉
Mmm…this looks incredible! I love cauliflower rice but I can’t even remember the last time I made it…THanks for the inspiration 🙂
Oh heeeck yeah! Get that cauliflower rice, sister!
Spanish rice used to be my all-time favorite meal! Will definitely have to try this 🙂
I’m a big fan on Spanish-style rice, too! I was so pleasantly amazed at how well the cauliflower rice did when mixed with all them Spanish rice flavors. I think you’ll love the recipe!
Beautiful shots! Love your tutorial and love seeing you on the picture too 😉
Your work is always beautiful, Ju! You are so inspiring!!
Thanks so much, Olivia!! It was fun shooting, cooking, and eating! Thanks for your sweet compliments! xoxo
Whoa! This look impressively delicious. The cauliflower looks like ground chicken! I want a few thousand bites!
Haha! I never thought about that, but it does kinda look like ground chicken! It’s a super satisfying dish, too!
Yeeeeehawwwwwww!!!!!! I’m raising a pint of oregon beer to you and this amazing cookbook that highlights one of the greens we grow the most of!!! Cheers to kale!!!! Congrats girl. XOXO
Thank you so much, my love! Your support means the world to me! I hope you enjoy the book and can’t wait to hear your feedback!! One of these days, we’ll be able to toast to all of our bloggy achievements together in person. I really must get my ass up there!
Sounds delicious! Loved all of the photos too!!! You’re adorable 🙂
My must-make list of recipes from your book is getting longer by the second! But this just got moved to the top. Especially if the CSA cauliflower in my crisper has anything to do with it!
Joanne, I think you’d go cuh-cray-zeee over the cauliflower rice! Let me know when you try it!
I made this recipe last night and it is the best cauliflower rice recipe I have ever made. It’s tasty and delicious AND healthy. I made it as a side dish with trout and we loved.
Thank you for this great addition to our diet and I will follow more of your posts!!
Love it.