Spanish Cauliflower Rice (With Chorizo, Chicken & Shrimp)

Paella-inspired Spanish Cauliflower Rice with shrimp, rooster and chorizo is wholesome and scrumptious, excellent for a grain-free, low-carb dinner. Cauliflower is chopped into rice-like kernels and cooked in a superb sofrito of onions, garlic and pink candy peppers.

Up to date: This recipe was initially printed in 2013, one among my earliest creations. It has since been up to date with new photographs and additional copy. Images by Lindsay Fordham, recipe by Irena Macri.

This cauliflower Spanish rice is impressed by the normal Spanish dish generally known as paella. I didn’t need to name it that as such as a result of it options chorizo – a no-no in a paella when you ask a Spaniard – and it’s not made with correct paella rice, so I form of really feel like I’d be bastardizing the dish an excessive amount of. So, Spanish cauliflower rice it’s!

By way of flavours, it has these stunning hints of paprika and saffron (when you can afford it) in addition to loads of onions, garlic and pink peppers cooked down into attractive, caramelised sofrito.

This riced cauliflower recipe works as a primary dish and is satiating and nutritionally balanced. It’s grain-free, gluten-free, low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 pleasant.

WHAT IS SOFRITO?

A Sofrito ( also called sofregit, soffritto, or refogado) refers to a cooking methodology or a component used within the Mediterranean, Latin American, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese cooking.

It options fragrant elements like onions, garlic and sometimes carrots, celery, peppers or tomatoes, reduce into small items and sautéed or braised in cooking oil till delicate and translucent. Sofrito serves as a flavourful base for sauces or to coat different meals in and it’s important for paella and in addition for this cauliflower Spanish rice model.

INGREDIENTS FOR SPANISH CAULI RICE

Cauliflower rice: you’ll need about 1 head of cauliflower to make 5 cups of cauliflower rice. You too can use pre-chopped, store-bought cauliflower rice and even frozen cauliflower rice.

Protein: good-quality chorizo (search for the Spanish form, with numerous paprika) or one other sort of sausage when you can’t discover it; rooster breast or thighs; and shrimp/prawns, which might be uncooked, cooked or frozen.  

For sofrito: numerous olive oil, onion, garlic, pink candy pepper (bell pepper/capsicum), chili, candy and smoked paprika, white wine, vegetable or rooster inventory, and tomato paste. I like including some saffron or saffron powder for that genuine paella flavour BUT it’s costly and never all the time accessible so it’s non-compulsory on this recipe.

Plus: a bit of salt and pepper, lemon juice and inexperienced onion for garnish. 

HOW TO MAKE SPANISH CAULIFLOWER RICE

Prep the cauliflower. Utilizing a processor, or chopping by hand, cube cauliflower into small, rice-size crumbs. Put aside. If utilizing frozen cauliflower rice, measure out 4-5 cups and pop it within the microwave to defrost. Alternatively, add to a big bowl and canopy with boiling scorching water for 10-15 seconds, then pressure and put aside.

Put together the remainder of the elements and have every little thing prepared earlier than you begin cooking this dish.

Step 1. Warmth a tablespoon of olive oil in a big frying pan over medium-high warmth. Add the chorizo and cook dinner on either side for 1-2 minutes, or till browned and crisp. Take away chorizo to a plate however reserve the fats/oil that oozed from the sausage. 

Step 2. Add the prawns and cook dinner on either side for 1 minute, sprinkle with a bit of salt and take away to a plate. 

Step 3. Lastly, add the rooster with a bit of extra olive oil if the pan begins getting sticky. Season with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt and some pinches of pepper. Cook dinner rooster for about 6-7 minutes, till barely browned on all sides. Take away to a facet plate as nicely. Word: it’s going to cook dinner for a bit of longer as soon as we add the cauliflower rice into the dish. 

Step 4. Holding the warmth on medium, add 2 extra tablespoons of olive oil to the identical frying pan. Add the onions, pink peppers, chilli and a superb pinch of salt and cook dinner for 3-4 minutes, stirring a number of instances. Add garlic, paprika and saffron if utilizing. Stir by way of for 10 seconds to launch the aromas. 

Step 5. Add white wine and let it bubble away for 30 seconds. Add tomato paste and inventory and cook dinner on low warmth for five minutes till onions and pink peppers have softened and the sauce has thickened barely.

Step 6: At this stage, add the pre-cooked chorizo (reserve a number of slices for styling) and rooster along with the cauliflower ‘rice’. Combine by way of and cook dinner for 2-3 minutes, stirring a number of instances, till the cauliflower has softened barely however remains to be a bit of crunchy. You possibly can add a bit of extra oil or/and inventory if the pan will get a bit of sticky or it feels such as you want extra liquid. 

Step 7. Lastly, stir within the pre-cooked prawns and drizzle with lemon juice to complete issues off. Serve with some chopped inexperienced onions and a sprinkle of paprika.

NUTRITION NOTES

This Spanish cauliflower rice dish is excessive in protein and fibre, satiating but not heavy, and balanced in most important vitamins. In reality, I’d name it nutrient-dense, particularly excessive in B-vitamins, magnesium, zinc, iron, and antioxidant-potent vitamin C and E. It’s grain-free, gluten-free, low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 pleasant.

Diet Macros

Per serve: 499 energy, 19.9 g whole carbs, 6.1 g fibre (13.8 g web carbs), 38.4 g protein, 28.7 g fats.

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FULL RECIPE FOR SARDINE PATE

Discover the total record of elements, directions and additional cooking notes under. When you’ve got questions or cook dinner this recipe, please let me know within the feedback and ensure to charge this recipe so it’s straightforward for others to seek out.

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Storage, Freezing & Reheating

• You possibly can retailer cauliflower rice in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3-4 days.
• To freeze, cool the Spanish Cauliflower Rice and retailer in an hermetic, freezer-safe container or plastic bag for as much as 3 months.
• Defrost in a single day within the fridge and reheat totally in a frying pan with a bit of oil. In any other case, reheat within the microwave for 2-4 minutes, till warmed by way of.

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