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Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice Recipe


I've tried making cauliflower rice in the past and while it was edible, it wasn't my favorite. That is, until I started playing around with cilantro, lime, and a little bit of spice, which developed into this very tasty recipe that I'm sharing today.

This cauliflower rice goes REALLY well with my recipes for Sara's Chicken or Adobo Lime Chicken. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice Recipe

Recipe Ingredients:
1/2 medium head of cauliflower, chopped in food processor (about 6 cups "riced")
2-3 TBSP ghee, or other cooking fat of choice
1 garlic clove, minced
3 green scallions, sliced
1 TSP homemade Adobo seasoning
Zest and juice of one lime
1 heaping TBSP chopped fresh cilantro
Drizzle of chili infused oil or a pinch of red pepper flakes - optional


Recipe Directions:

1. Chop up 1/2 head of cauliflower in a food processor until it is the consistency of rice. In my ninja, it takes about 4-5 pulses. Set aside.
2. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
3. Melt ghee or other cooking fat of choice and sauté scallions and garlic for about 1 minute.
4. Add "riced" cauliflower to pan, sprinkle with adobo seasoning, and stir to combine. Let cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Add juice from 1 lime, stir to combine, lower heat to medium low. Let cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until done to your liking. I like my rice soft but slightly browned, and not mushy. (Don't over cook or cover - extra moisture will make it soggy).
6. Stir in fresh cilantro and lime zest. If you'd like a little heat, add a drizzle of chili infused oil or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
7. Do a final taste test and enjoy!

Tip: I like to chop up the whole head of cauliflower and save the rest in the fridge so I can quickly make this again later on in the week! 

Until next time!

XOXO,
SMP

Because sometimes you just want some rice!!!

When you are watching your weight, carb loaded sides like rice and pasta are usually a no-no, or at least you need to seriously eat them in moderation. Personally, it's easier for me to practice portion control when eating pasta than when eating rice. Maybe because its so delicious or I was just used to eating it almost everyday growing up in a Puerto Rican household. And it was NEVER just a cup of rice. More often than not, 75% of my plate was rice with a little meat and beans. Just how it was. So, I try to make rice only once in a while - more like a treat - than a staple. And today, I was craving me some spanish rice! And I know I can substitute with brown rice, quinoa, etc,  which I definitely do more often than not. But when you crave some fluffy, comforting rice, you have to go with white rice!

As most of you know, I try to be creative in the kitchen based on the ingredients I have on hand. Let me present to you the newest creation:  
Spanish Style Rice with Turkey Italian Sausage and Bell Peppers!
If my marriage with Mark was a dish, this would be it! (Spanish Rice + Italian Sausage = Love)
Basically, I made yellow rice (white rice, sazon, sofrito, salt, tomato sauce, etc) and added 4 links of turkey Italian sausage (removed from casings and cooked in pan before making rice) as well as some red and green bell peppers! Not gonna lie, this came out really good!  Based on the WW Recipe Builder, my pot made 10 servings of about 6 oz each. Each serving is only about 6 points! Luckily, I have enough points left to eat a second serving! (which according to the recipe builder, only equals 11 points! sweet!)

So for all of you skeptics out there -- healthy eating can be DELICIOUS! (Are you noticing a theme?) And you don't have to give up the traditional foods of your culture! Just do what I do: make them a little LESS FREQUENTLY, find a few ways to make them LIGHTER in calories without losing FLAVOR, WEIGH your servings, serve yourself on SMALL PLATES, and SAVOR every bite! If you house down your meal in front of your television you are bound to never even taste your food - plus it will be gone before you know it. If you take the time to eat slowly and experience your food (a la Enrique Iglesias on How I Met Your Mother), you are bound to enjoy it more and EAT LESS! 



Hasta luego!