What Does Cauliflower Rice Taste Like? Does It Taste GOOD?

We know, cauliflower rice has become a popular trend, but it’s not widely appreciated by most people. However, there are a lot of things to love about it —it’s low-carb, gluten-free, highly nutritious, and quite easy to prepare. (*) Not only that, but this keto staple is also a lot tastier than your regular white rice. So what does cauliflower rice taste like?

Unfortunately, the bitter flavor of the raw version might surface if you don’t know how to cook cauliflower rice the right way.

If you wish to know more about cauliflower rice and how to make it taste better, keep on reading!

What Does Cauliflower Rice Taste Like?

As mentioned, raw cauliflower rice tastes a bit bitter. On the other hand, cooked cauliflower rice is slightly sweet and nutty.

Does cauliflower Rice Taste Like rice?

No, cauliflower rice doesn’t taste like normal rice. While its flavors are quite subtle, it’s still more flavorful than the average white rice that we’re used to.

Even when cooked, it won’t have the same neutral flavor profile as white rice. It will still taste like the vegetable but with a slightly different texture.

Because of this, it’s not the best rice alternative for certain dishes. However, it can certainly make other dishes taste richer and more flavorful.

Does cauliflower Rice have the same texture as rice?

Yes, it can have the same texture as rice when it’s cooked the right way.

What is Cauliflower Rice?

It is a rice alternative that’s widely used in the keto diet. Because of the way it was processed, it looks like rice or couscous, but it’s often just 100% cauliflower.

To achieve this texture, the florets are finely chopped or placed in a food processor until the florets are of the same size as a rice kernel.

Just like rice, you can season it in whatever you wish. You can add spice, seasonings, herbs, or other condiments to it. You can also fry it up or prepare it as a porridge.

What’s the Nutritional Content of Cauliflower Rice?

Is cauliflower rice healthy? Is it good for you? Yes, of course!

This substitute has all the cauliflower’s health benefits and nutritional content. To give you a better idea of what we’re talking about, here are the nutrients you can get from one cup (107 grams):

• Calories: 27 Kcal
• Total Carbohydrates: 5.3g
• Dietary Fiber: 2.14g
• Sugars: 2g
• Protein: 2g
• Fat: 0.3g

Aside from these macronutrients, it also has the following vitamins and minerals:

• 51.6 mg of Vitamin C,
• 32 mg of Sodium,
• 47.4 mg of Choline,
• 0.45 mg of Iron,
• and 320 mg of Potassium

What are the Benefits of Cauliflower Rice?

Aside from these amazing nutrients, here are all the other health benefits you get from eating cauliflower rice:

Better Digestion

In addition to its low carbohydrate content, another thing that makes it a healthier option is its high fiber content. A cup can already provide you with 10% of your daily fiber needs.

Since fiber is known for improving gastrointestinal function, you can enjoy better digestion when you consume this regularly.

Stronger Immune System

It’s also rich in vitamin C which is one of the most powerful antioxidants out there. This type of vitamin is known for its ability to fight off free radicals and its anti-inflammatory effects.

Weight Loss

The main reason that cauliflower rice has become a keto staple is its low calorie, carbohydrate, and sugar content.

Not only that, 92% of cauliflower’s weight is made up of water so it keeps you feeling full for longer.

How to Prepare Cauliflower Rice? The Tips You Need to Know!

Now that you already know everything about cauliflower rice, it’s time for the best part—learning how to prepare it the right way!

Here are some of the tips we’d love to share with you:

Use a food processor.

To achieve better shape and size in the easiest way possible, blend the florets in a food processor. The uniform size and shape will allow it to cook evenly.

Pro Tip: Using the S blade is the best way to achieve that “grated” look.

Saute, not steam, the cauliflower rice.

The best way to achieve that rice-like texture is to saute the cauliflower bits instead of steaming them. Steaming it may result in a soggy porridge-like texture that may not work well on certain dishes.

There are two ways to do this.

• First, remove any excess moisture from the processed florets. To do this, wrap them in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze off any remaining liquids.
• Second, make sure that you use a large enough skillet and preheat it to medium-high heat before adding the cauliflower. In this way, you can arrange the florets in a thin layer so that everything is in contact with the heat.

These simple steps will result in proper browning or caramelization and will give you that crispy rice-like texture.

Add oil generously.

Doing so can help achieve that amazing caramelized texture.

Skip the thawing process.

If you’re using the frozen version, don’t thaw it if you want that browned and caramelized exterior.

When you thaw it, the vegetable will release excess moisture that will make it hard for you to achieve the crispy texture that you want.

How to Make Cauliflower Rice Taste Good?

If your main concern is the cauliflower’s bitter aftertaste, we’ve got solutions for that too! Here are some of the best ways to make it taste better:

• Add a bit of broth.
• Experiment with different seasonings, spices, and herbs.
• Play with condiments and lemon juice.
• Cook it with a bit of fat, like avocado or olive oil.
• Add in vegetables to boost their texture and nutrition.
• Saute it with white or yellow onions.
• Give it an international flavor (e.g. curry, taco seasoning, paella flavoring, etc.)

The Bottom Line

What does cauliflower rice taste like? It tastes slightly sweet and nutty with a little bit of aftertaste.

But of course, it will depend on how you cook it and what kind of ingredients and seasonings you add to it. If you want to enjoy the best-tasting version,  follow all the cooking and seasoning tips we’ve shared with you!

Learn more: 14 Easy Rice Side Dishes with Few Ingredients (Recipes Included!)