This Pesto Cauliflower Rice is light and delicious and makes a perfect side dish to grilled chicken or fish!  

This Pesto Cauliflower Rice comes together in just 20 minutes and makes a delicious healthy side dish to grilled chicken or fish

This easy cauliflower rice recipe comes together in just 20 minutes and makes a delicious healthy cauliflower side dish or light vegetarian main!

This Pesto Cauliflower Rice comes together in just 20 minutes and makes a delicious healthy side dish to grilled chicken or fish

Pesto Cauliflower Rice Recipe

  • 1 small head cauliflower (approximately 4 ups), stem and florets blended in a food processor or finely chop
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2-3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Find printable recipe with the measurements below.

This Pesto Cauliflower Rice comes together in just 20 minutes and makes a delicious healthy side dish to grilled chicken or fish

How To Make Cauliflower Rice

  1. Add the cauliflower florets in a food processor and process until it resembles rice.  Scrape down the sides of the processor as needed.  Set aside.
  2. Heat the olive oil to a large skillet over medium low heat.  Add the chopped onion and saute until the onions are light golden-brown in color.
  3. Add the cauliflower rice to the pan and mix in with the onions.  Cook over medium-low heat for about 8-10 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender.  Stir occasionally.
  4. Drizzle about 3 tablespoons of the pesto over the cauliflower and onion mixture and toss to coat the cauliflower.  Add more pesto as desired.
  5. Serve with pan-roasted tomatoes.

This Pesto Cauliflower Rice comes together in just 20 minutes and makes a delicious healthy side dish to grilled chicken or fish

 

For the Pan Roasted Tomatoes

To make the pan roasted tomatoes, heat the olive oil to a pan, then add the tomatoes and cook for over medium-low heat for about 1-2 minutes or until they begin to soften.

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup tear-drop tomatoes or baby heirloom tomatoes, sliced in half

This Pesto Cauliflower Rice comes together in just 20 minutes and makes a delicious healthy side dish to grilled chicken or fish

For The Pesto

To make the pesto, combine the basil, garlic, cheese and walnuts in a food processor or blender and process. While the motor is running, and the olive oil in a slow, thin stream. Continue to process until you reach your desired consistency. Add a little more olive oil if needed.

  • 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup toasted walnuts
  • 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

This Pesto Cauliflower Rice comes together in just 20 minutes and makes a delicious healthy side dish to grilled chicken or fish

Looking For More Cauliflower Recipes?

This Pesto Cauliflower Rice comes together in just 20 minutes and makes a delicious healthy side dish to grilled chicken or fish
Yield: 4 servings

Pesto Cauliflower Rice

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

This Pesto Cauliflower Rice is light and delicious and makes a perfect side dish to grilled chicken or fish!  

Ingredients

  • 1 small head cauliflower (approximately 4 ups), stem and florets blended in a food processor or finely chopped
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2-3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup toasted walnuts
  • 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup tear-drop tomatoes or baby heirloom tomatoes, sliced in half

Instructions

  1. Add the cauliflower florets in a food processor and process until it resembles rice. Scrape down the sides of the processor as needed. Set aside.
  2. Heat the olive oil to a large skillet over medium low heat. Add the chopped onion and saute until the onions are light golden-brown in color.
  3. Add the cauliflower rice to the pan an mix in with the onions. Cook over medium-low heat for about 8-10 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender. Stir occasionally.
  4. Drizzle about 3 tablespoons of the pesto over the cauliflower and onion mixture and toss to coat the cauliflower. Add more pesto as desired.
  5. Serve with pan-roasted tomatoes.
For the Pesto
  1. Combine the basil, garlic, cheese and walnuts in a food processor or blender and process.
  2. While the motor is running, and the olive oil in a slow, thin stream.
  3. Continue to process until you reach your desired consistency.
  4. Add a little more olive oil if needed.
For the Pan-Roasted Tomatoes
  • Heat the olive oil to a pan.
  • Add the tomatoes and cook for over medium-low heat for about 1-2 minutes or until they begin to soften.