Kale and Pesto Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower rice is cooked with kale and pesto for a low carb, gluten-free, easy and healthy dish! 

Cauliflower rice has become the new “it” vegetable. Not a day goes by where I don’t see a new cauliflower rice recipe being passed around by all the low-carb, veggie lovers. Even though it may seem like a trend, I am not so sure it will fade away anytime soon. I believe cauliflower rice is here to stay and I am perfectly okay with that! It has become a staple for my dinners as it lowers my carb intake. I also use cauliflower rice when I batch cook since it is so easy to prepare!

So, what’s with the hype for this smelly vegetable? Here are some quick facts about cauliflower:

• Cauliflower ranks one of the highest powerhouse vegetables according to the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention’s Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (Ranks food based on nutrient content in relation to calorie total.)

• The entire cauliflower (florets, leaves, and stalks) are edible!

• Just one cup of cooked cauliflower can provide 73% of your daily recommended amount of vitamin C.

• Great source of fiber!

Despite knowing how healthy it is to eat cauliflower, the taste sometimes discourages me from eating it. There is just something about the taste of plain cauliflower that my taste buds do not agree with which is why I have created this recipe in such a way that adds zest and boosts the nutritional value. The wonderful thing about cauliflower is that it’s a vegetable that will take on whatever flavor you add. In this cauliflower rice recipe, I have combined it with my quick and easy 5 ingredient pesto sauce. Kale is used to amp up the veggie and fiber intake, and finally, I add lemon to complement the pesto sauce and bring out the savory taste of kale.

You can use cauliflower rice to substitute your typical heavy carb sides. Here, I have made kale and pesto cauliflower rice for dinner along with grilled chicken, roasted cherry tomatoes, and steamed broccoli.

Cauliflower rice is so easy and quick to make that I often prepare it when I batch cook on Sundays!

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo with #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Cauliflower rice is cooked with kale and pesto for a low carb, gluten-free, easy and healthy dish! 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cauliflower head ((or 16 oz bag frozen cauliflower rice))

• 1 large bunch fresh kale ((stem out))

• 1-3 Tbsp pesto (less or more depending on preference)

• 1 tsp coconut oil

• 1/2 lemon

DIRECTIONS

1. Begin by bringing about ¼ inch of water to a boil in a large frying pan.

2. Add ½ tsp fine sea salt and cauliflower florets* (or frozen cauliflower rice)

3. Cover and steam for about 3-8 minutes until desired tenderness

4. Drain the cauliflower rice and add back to the frying pan with 1 tsp of coconut oil on medium-high heat. Cook for about 5 minutes.

5. Add kale, pesto sauce, and S&P. Stir and cook for about 5-10 minutes until rice is crispy, kale has wilted and rice is fully coated with pesto sauce.

6. Take off heat and garnish with freshly squeezed lemon.

NOTES

*If using fresh cauliflower, cut into florets and then briefly pulse in the food processor until they are the size of grains of rice.

1. This recipe will make four servings. With that in mind, if you would like to use this in meal prep, divide up your protein, roasted cherry tomatoes with avocado oil and basil, and steamed broccoli.