Make this cilantro lime cauliflower rice quickly in your instant pot because it’s a great way of subbing white rice or brown rice. It’s the perfect low-carb and keto recipe that’s perfect for the whole family on busy weeknights.
Want to make cauliflower rice quickly and easily?
Do what I like to do!
Cook the entire cauliflower in the instant pot or pressure cooker.
This is the perfect recipe to make for busy nights. It will be the perfect side dish or main dish.
Tips for making this Instant Pot cauliflower rice
- For the perfect cauliflower, use smaller 2Lb ORGANIC cauliflower. Get a fresh cauliflower that weighs less than 3lb. Use the scale that grocery stores provide.
- Remove as many of the green stalks as you can. The base may remain raw, if you keep too many stalks.
- I set my Instant Pot setting to “steam” for 1 minute. Also, I changed the setting from “high pressure” to low pressure. If you have a cauliflower larger than 2.5 lbs, set it to 2 minutes.
- To cook it evenly, place the whole fresh cauliflower in a container or (Affiliate Link) steamer basket before putting it in the inner container.
- Instead of using hot oil in this recipe, I went with grass-fed butter over olive oil because the butter melts the cauliflower in your mouth. For the vegan option, you can try coconut oil.
- Be sure to make it cool the cauliflower before chopping it into cauliflower florets.
- Don’t make it too mushy in the food processor. I didn’t press the chop button for more than 3 times. The big chunks might need more processing.
Cauliflower rice is the new Basmati rice
For a long time, I have LOVED my Basmati rice! Most of the rice recipes on my blog have been made using basmati rice.
It’s the rice I grew up on and it’s the only rice in existence, as far as I am concerned!
But, a good thing happened last year. I went away from eating too much rice for health reasons. Even though it was good for my body, it was very very very hard to do! Rice runs in my blood!
Just like everyone else, I turned to cauliflower to help satisfy that intense rice craving! It was an easy shift to make because I was able to make most of my usual rice recipes using this wonderful vegetable.
Now, every time I have a rice craving, this perfect cauliflower rice takes the place of traditional rice. Trust me, it’s a great alternative.
If you like the traditional recipe, check out this cilantro lime rice in a rice cooker. It’s a very easy way of making a comforting rice dinner.
The health benefits of cauliflower
- Low on the glycemic index.
- It’s loaded with Antioxidant-fighting nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and Manganese (Source: Live Science)
- It contains many nutrients like Vitamin B6, Magnesium, and more. (Source: USDA)
- It’s a cruciferous vegetable that helps fight cancer and gives you better heart health.
- Cauliflower is high in choline, a huge helper for keeping the liver healthy.
- Studies have shown that it helps support hormonal balance
Source: Live Science, USDA, BBC Good Food.
Answering Common Questions
Ideally, you want to let the natural pressure release happen because the Instant Pot is still cooking the contents after the end of the cooking time. If you can’t wait, use the pressure valve to release the steam.
My first try was using florets and it was a giant mushy cauliflower mess. So, I prefer cooking it whole.
If this is your first time making it, you may have used too much water. Don’t add more than 1 cup of water to the bottom of the Instant Pot.
– Asparagus or Green beans.
– Broccoli which is great for a low-carb diet
– Red bell pepper and chopped onions
– Tofu and tempeh crumbles for a little protein
– Black beans
– Jalapeno or chili powder to add a little kick.
– Soy sauce
If you do not like making cilantro lime butter sauce, try cilantro lime crema instead. It’s going to make your cauliflower rice taste even better.
You can use a potato masher but be gentle with it. Or, grate big chunks on a box grater. For the processor, use the grater blade.
Freezing cauliflower rice
You can easily make frozen cauliflower rice for meal prep. Follow the recipe as described, but only cook the cauliflower rice. DO NOT add the grass-fed butter mixture.
Let the riced cauliflower cool down after you have food processed it. Then, put it in an airtight container and refrigerate. To freeze the rice, place it in ziploc or freezer-friendly containers. Label the date and use up within a short period of time.
To reheat, place the rice in a 30-second heated wok or skillet (stove top). Add the compound butter mixture and stir using a wooden spoon. Cook for 5 minutes or until all the ingredients are mixed well. This healthy meal is now ready to serve.
Alternatively, you can select sauté option on the Instant Pot and heat it that way.
Try these cauliflower recipes
Looking for easy meals or side dishes? Cauliflower is a very versatile vegetable.
I have roasted a whole cauliflower in the air fryer and it turned out so delicious. Or, make this cauliflower orzo dinner where the sauce is the hero of the recipe.
Want a more “meatier” cauliflower recipe? Use vegan sausage! Or, go the “fishy” route to make this vegan cauliflower sushi bowl.
Did you know that cauliflower makes for a delicious Pizza crust? If you are gluten sensitive you can still enjoy pizza. See how easy it is to make a vegan cauliflower pizza crust.
I have collected a few of my favorite cauliflower recipes and cilantro lime recipes in one place. Which one is your favorite?
Don’t like cauliflower? You can use fresh herbs like basil or make scallion butter.
Want to make more Instant Pot recipes? Try these and let me know your favorite vegetable recipes!
A creamy, chunky potato soup is exactly what you need on a cold winter night! So easy to make in the Instant Pot!
Cook frozen peas in the Instant Pot and you will be impressed by how plump they turn out.
Did you know that you can easily make apple butter in the Instant Pot? It’s quick and easy.
P/S: The Instant Pot I use in this recipe is the (Affiliate Link) Duo Nova Mini 3 Quart version.
Sharing is caring
Don’t be shy, chime in the comments below (under the recipe card). Let me hear your opinion on this cilantro lime cauliflower rice recipe. If you enjoyed this, please give it a 5 star rating and share it on Social Media – Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, and even YouTube.
Equipment needed to make it
- Instant Pot (6qt)
- Instant Pot safe container
- Food processor
- Knife to cut the cauliflower
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice Recipe
Equipment
- Instant Pot (6qt)
- Instant Pot safe container
- Food Processor
- Knife to cut the cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 cauliflower about 2 to 2.5lbs, 1 head
- 4 Tbsp butter half a stick of grass-fed butter
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2.5 Tbsp lime juice about 3/4 of a lime
- 1.5 tsp pink salt adjust to taste
- 1.5 cup cilantro chopped, about 1/2 a bunch of cilantro
Instructions
- Cut the green stalks from the bottom of the cauliflower
- Place the cauliflower head in an Instant Pot safe container
- Put 1 cup of water in the inner container of the instant pot
- Place the cauliflower container on top of the water
- Close the lid of the Instant Pot
- Set the following settings on your instant pot: Choose the steam option, Set the time to 1 minute, Turn off "Keep Warm", Set the pressure to "Low"
- Once the instant pot is done cooking, wait for the valve to drop.
- Open the lid and remove the cauliflower.
- Cut pieces of the steamed cauliflower so that they will fit in your food processor
- Chop the cauliflower until the cauliflower is chopped but not mushed.
- Wash your instant pot container, dry it and place it in the instant pot
- Set the instant pot saute and then add the butter in it.
- Gently transfer the cauliflower rice to the container
- Add the garlic, lime juice and cilantro.
- Mix well and cook for 2 minutes or until all the butter has completely melted
- Now, it’s ready to serve.
Video
Notes
- I like working with smaller size of cauliflower. My cauliflower was about 2lbs. Try to keep your Cauliflower under 3 pounds.
- Remove as many of the green stalks as you can. The base remains uncooked, if you keep to many stalks.
- I set my Instant Pot setting to “steam” for 1 minute and put it on low pressure. If you have a cauliflower that is larger than 2.5lbs, set it to 2 minutes.
- Use a container to place the cauliflower in before putting it in the Instant pot. It will cook the cauliflower more evenly.
- Instead of using oil in this recipe, I went with grass fed butter and that made ALL the difference. Butter is so much better because it made the cauliflower practically melt in your mouth.
- You can u se vegan butter too, but, I preferred using regular butter in this recipe because it doesn’t have any additional seed oils.
- Once you have cooked your whole cauliflower, use your food processor to turn it into rice. It’s faster and easier than trying to cut it by hand.
- Be sure to make it cool down first before chopping the cauliflower. It’s better for your food processor.
- Don’t make it too mushy in the food processor. I didn’t press the chop button for more than 3 times. Eyeball it and see if it looks mushy or not. It will depend on your food processor.
- You may have to put some of the large pieces back in the food processor to make them smaller.
- Use as many organic ingredients as you can in this recipe.
So amazing to see this recipe, can’t believe you made cauliflower rice in the IP. Soon trying this recipe.
Thank you, Hayley
Thanks for the great instant pot cilantro lime cauliflower rice recipe and good information. Count me in on the jalapeños. Yay for cauliflower!
Thank you, Jenny
Sounds like a perfect substitute for my regular rice. It is so easy and delicious!
Thank you, Amy
Lovely recipe, loved the combination of flavors and cauliflower rice is an all-time favorite at home.
Thank you, Laura
I made this recipe last night to go along with bbq pork tenderloin. It was delicious and easy to make. And the tip of cooking the cauliflower before chopping it was genius!
Thank you, Amy
It was delicious and full of flavor. Definitely a good side dish to keep in my repertory.
Thank you, Helene
This cilantro lime cauliflower rice was the perfect addition to taco night! So easy to make too.
Thank you, Sharon
Cauliflower rice in the Instant Pot! I’m blown away! I love cilantro rice so trying this recipe was a no-brainer. It turned out perfectly fluffy and flavorful and took hardly any time at all.
Thank you so much, Linda. I love the tangy and herby flavors in this recipe. It’s become my weekly staple now.
Definitely vegan, healthy and a One pot meal. Looks delicious.
Thank you, Veena
Great recipe, the combination of cilantro and lime is just so good! We served this cauliflower rice with some grilled fish and it was so light and so tasty!
Thank you, Anna. I am so happy to hear that you served it with fish. The flavors are the perfect compliment.