Smoky Spanish Cauliflower Rice (One-Pot Vegan)
This quick one-pot cauliflower rice is packed with sweet, smoky flavors and makes a healthy, low-carb alternative to Spanish rice. Perfect as a main or side dish.
- Prep10 min
- Cook15 min
- Total25 min
- DifficultyEasy
- Servings2
This Spanish-style cauliflower rice comes together in one skillet in under 30 minutes. The secret is a quick tomato-onion puree spiced with cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika, which gives the cauliflower a deep, rich color and flavor.
It’s naturally vegan, gluten-free, and works for Paleo, Whole30, and low-carb diets. Serve it as a side with tacos or burrito bowls, or enjoy it as a light main dish with a squeeze of lime and fresh cilantro.
Method
- If you haven't already, pulse the cauliflower florets in a food processor until they resemble rice grains. (See tips for perfect texture.)
- In a blender, combine 1 tomato (save the remaining half for later), the chopped onion, pickled jalapeno, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and salt. Blend until completely smooth.
- Pour the blended mixture into a skillet and set over medium heat. Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the raw onion smell disappears and the mixture thickens slightly.
- Add the chopped bell pepper and the remaining chopped tomato. Cook for 1 minute, stirring.
- Add the grated cauliflower to the skillet. Toss and stir well to coat everything with the sauce. Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove the lid. Squeeze a little lime juice over the rice. If the cauliflower is still too firm for your liking, cook uncovered for another 2 minutes. Otherwise, fluff with a fork, taste and adjust seasoning, then cover again and let steam off the heat for 2–3 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro, salsa, and lime wedges. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
💡 Tips
- For the best texture, pulse the cauliflower in batches and avoid over-processing, which can make it mushy.
- Feel free to add cooked black beans or corn for extra protein and color.
- Adjust the heat by using more or less chili powder and pickled jalapeno.
Inspired by a recipe from Vegan Richa

