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    You are here: Home / Entrees / Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice & Beans

    LAST UPDATED: January 22, 2022 • FIRST PUBLISHED: October 20, 2014

    Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice & Beans

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    cauliflower rice and beans featured side


    Do all new vegetarians go through the "rice and beans" phase? I feel like it was a big thing when I first converted.

    I went through my own rice and beans phase some time during my late teens. That would be after my rice and rice phase, or maybe if I was feeling ambitious, occasional rice and soy sauce and shredded lettuce phase. At some point I realized I wasn't getting adequate nutrition and someone informed me that rice + beans = complete protein. So I graduated to rice and beans, and that was my choice of quick and easy meals for quite some time. Complete proteins were a big deal back in my early vegetarian days in the 90's. They don't seem to be anywhere near as big a cause for concern these days.

    cauliflower rice and beans top portrait


    Nutritional priorities change, as do my own personal dietary priories. These days, my version of a complete meal always involves copious amounts of veggies. I still eat rice and beans from time to time, but now it's usually accompanied by a salad.

    This version of rice and beans is my kind of rice and beans. The veggies are the rice. Clever. I became pretty enamored with cauliflower rice a while back when I created a version of cauliflower fried rice. I decided if it works for Chinese food, it should work for Tex-Mex. It did.

    For the "rice" part of this dish, I opted to recreate a popular Tex-Mex cilantro lime rice that I've enjoyed eating in many-a-lunch burrito I could not finish. To make a nice-well balanced meal, I added beans and skipped the burrito part, because it's just as nice to eat with a fork, if you ask me. I also threw a few avocado slices on top, which was nice. Feel free to stuff yours into a burrito, or a taco, or anything else that sounds like it might be good, for that matter; it probably will be.

    cauliflower rice and beans detail
    Plate of Cauliflower Rice & Beans with Fork and lime Slices, Bottle of Hot Sauce in the Background
    5 from 2 votes
    Print

    Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice & Beans

    This stir-fried cauliflower rice and beans is hearty, healthy, and infused with the tangy Tex-Mex flavors of fresh cilantro and lime juice.
    Course Entree
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Servings 4 -6
    Author Alissa

    Ingredients

    • 1 large cauliflower crown
    • 2 tbsp. olive oil
    • 1 red onion diced
    • 4 garlic cloves minced
    • ½ tsp. salt
    • ½ tsp. pepper
    • ¼ cup lime juice about 2 limes
    • 3 cups cooked or canned black beans rinsed and drained
    • 1 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

    Instructions

    1. Remove outer leaves from cauliflower. Break into 8-10 large chunks (sufficiently small to fit into food processor bowl). Working in batches if necessary, place cauliflower chunks into food processor bowl. Pulse a few times until finely chopped to about the the size of rice grains. Set aside.
    2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion. Saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute another 30 seconds.
    3. Add cauliflower, salt and pepper. Stir fry until cauliflower begins to crisp-up and brown in spots, about 5-7 minutes.
    4. Add lime juice and beans. Flip a few times to mix everything and get beans thoroughly heated. Remove from heat and add cilantro.
    5. Divide onto plates. Serve with hot sauce.
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    About Alissa Saenz

    Hi, I'm Alissa! I'm a former attorney turned professional food blogger. I love creating vegan recipes with bold flavors! You can read more about me here.

    I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joanne says

      October 21, 2014 at 6:57 am

      I somehow skipped the rice and rice phase, but I am always up for rice and beans! Especially CAULI rice and beans! Sounds so perfect for stuffing into a burrito shell.

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        October 23, 2014 at 8:36 am

        Yes!! I picked up a bunch of tortillas so I could make this again and do just that!

        Reply
    2. Logan C says

      October 21, 2014 at 3:04 pm

      5 stars
      Hi, Glad to see I was not the only "Convert" to latch onto the Rice n Beans phase...(still luv them but have so many other dishes as options). This Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice & Beans so brilliant, and will be making it this weekend, with tortillas (currently going through my burrito/tortillas phase and loving it!.). Thanks for posting so many interesting and tempting recipes.

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        October 23, 2014 at 8:38 am

        So it's not just me! I do still love some rice and beans too, though I used to eat them like crazy. This would be awesome with tortillas and I'm actually going to try that myself. Glad you're enjoying the recipes - thanks and I hope you enjoy this one!

        Reply
    3. Katie (The Muffin Myth) says

      October 21, 2014 at 4:38 pm

      They used to think you had to combine foods in the same meal to make a complete protein, but now know that as long as you're eating a relatively balanced diet those amino acids take care of business all by themselves and complete the proteins you've eaten over the course of a day or couple of days. Regardless, this looks fab. I love anything cilantro and lime, and can totally get on board with this cauli rice and beans bowl. Yum!

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        October 23, 2014 at 8:43 am

        I knew it was something like that! I realized it wasn't such a big deal anymore but couldn't remember exactly why (and yeah, I was kinda hoping someone who knew what they were talking about might chime in ;) ). Thanks Katie!

        Reply
    4. Chery says

      August 01, 2017 at 3:46 pm

      Can't wait to make this and eat with guac!

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        August 01, 2017 at 9:57 pm

        Guac would be awesome with this. :)

        Reply
    5. Beth says

      May 07, 2019 at 7:06 pm

      Super easy and healthy! Will make again.

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        May 12, 2019 at 4:15 pm

        Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Beth!!

        Reply
    6. Cathy says

      July 17, 2019 at 5:40 pm

      5 stars
      Wow that was delicious!! Thanks!! Will do this again for sure!!! 😊

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        July 21, 2019 at 10:55 am

        Yay! Glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Alissa! I'm a former attorney turned professional food blogger. I love creating vegan recipes with bold flavors!

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