Look no further for a tasty and easy paleo, vegan and keto side dish! This Whole30 Turmeric Cauliflower Rice can be made with frozen or fresh riced cauliflower and boasts the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits of curcumin. It pairs well with Instant Pot main dishes, too!

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Ohhhh, the ways this humble vegetable has changed my life over the last few years!

And, FYI, I don’t *love* cauliflower. Surprised?

I do love that super fresh and frozen cauliflower have a pretty neutral flavor with the ability to take on the flavors of yummy spices and seasonings.

I love using cauliflower in Instant Pot Cauli-tatoes, as the creamy base of chowders, and as “rice”.

This paleo, keto, and Whole30 Turmeric Cauliflower Rice is my favorite way to make cauli-rice.

It’s such an easy and quick Whole30 side dish and goes well with main dishes and Instant Pot recipes like…

• Whole30 & Keto Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
• Keto Instant Pot Mexican Beef Stew
• Instant Pot Asian Fusion Short Ribs
• Super Simple Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken
• Orange-Ginger-Jalapeno Grilled Pork Chops
• Sweet ‘n Spicy Instant Pot Asian Pulled Pork

So, we’ve got Mexican, Indian, and Asian-y flavors — and this Whole30 cauliflower rice with anti-inflammatory turmeric goes well with ALL of them!

Plus, it’s so quick to whip up this Turmeric Cauliflower Rice while cooking Instant Pot main dish recipes!

Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric & How to Eat It

This beautiful, yellow Turmeric Cauliflower Rice is just as nourishing as it is delicious.

Maybe you’ve heard about the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric, specifically the curcumin in turmeric?? Did you know that turmeric has other benefits besides being anti-inflammatory?

• Turmeric fights damaging free radicals because it’s loaded with antioxidants.
• It helps boost the immune system, especially when eaten with black pepper.
• Turmeric is a low-FODMAP food that has been used to treat gut issues like colitis and inflammatory bowel disease.
• It’s been studied for its potential to boost mood-boosting neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.

Curcumin, the compound in turmeric with all the good benefits, makes up only about 5% of the turmeric itself. Curcumin is kind of “locked” inside turmeric.

So, we need black pepper to “unlock” the curcumin. Specifically, piperine — the magical compound in black pepper that activates the curcumin in turmeric.

Therefore, this Turmeric Cauliflower Rice contains a bit of black pepper, too!

The BEST Way to Make Cauliflower Rice That Doesn’t Taste Cauliflower-y

The most important tip I have for making successful cauli-rice is to use VERY FRESH or FROZEN cauliflower.

If your head of cauliflower has been hanging out in your fridge for a while, it’s NOT fresh. If it has a few black spots or wilting leaves, it’s NOT fresh. 

This not-fresh cauliflower will definitely give your cauliflower rice a bit of an off flavor.

So, if you’re planning on grating a whole head of cauliflower to make cauliflower rice, only use very fresh cauliflower. I have a blog post with a video on how to make and freeze your own cauliflower rice.

When you make and freeze cauli-rice yourself, you not only save money — you can also take advantage of the cauliflower when it’s at its freshest.

To bypass the freshness issue, you can buy pre-made cauliflower rice, such as the organic cauli-rice at Trader Joe’s.

I have made this yummy Turmeric Cauliflower Rice with both homemade and store-bought cauliflower with equally great results!

How to Make Paleo, Vegan, Keto, & Whole30 Turmeric Cauliflower Rice

Begin by heating a paleo- and Whole30-friendly fat in a cast iron skillet. I prefer sauteeing veggies in neutral-flavored, nourishing avocado oil.

When the fat is hot, add the riced cauliflower.

Saute it for a couple of minutes before adding seasonings: salt, cumin, turmeric, paprika, and black pepper.

Continue sauteeing the cauliflower until it’s tender.

Remove from the heat and serve!

See my list of paleo, keto, and Whole30 main dish recipes above for serving ideas!

5 from 6 votes

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Whole30 Turmeric Cauliflower Rice (keto, paleo, vegan)

Look no further for a tasty and easy paleo, vegan, and keto side dish! This Whole30 Turmeric Cauliflower Rice can be made with frozen or fresh riced cauliflower and boasts the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits of curcumin. It pairs well with Instant Pot main dishes, too!

CourseSide Dish

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 142 kcal

Author Lindsey Dietz

Ingredients

• 3tablespoonsavocado oilor expeller pressed coconut oil or lard
• 24ouncescauliflower riceTrader Joe's sells it fresh and frozen, or you can use a grater or Salad Shooter and make your own!
• 1teaspoonsaltto taste
• 2teaspoonsturmeric
• 1teaspooncumin
• 1/2teaspoonpaprika
• 1/2teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Heat the fat on medium heat in a large cast iron skillet.
2. Add the cauliflower rice (no need to thaw if you're using frozen).
3. Next, add the salt and spices.
4. Saute the cauliflower rice, stirring every couple of minutes.
5. Serve when tender!

Recipe Notes

Frozen cauli-rice will take longer to cook than fresh, but you'll be eating Smokey Turmeric Cauliflower Rice in 15 minutes or less!

Nutrition Facts

Whole30 Turmeric Cauliflower Rice (keto, paleo, vegan)

Amount Per Serving (0.75 cup)

Calories 142Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 7g

Sodium 897mg39%

Potassium 46mg1%

Carbohydrates 5.8g2%

Fiber 3.5g15%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 3g6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Do you love cauliflower’s versatility? Do you eat cauliflower rice?

Originally published on February 24, 2017. Updated with new text and new photos and republished on June 14, 2020.