{"id":5829,"date":"2011-09-27T16:32:52","date_gmt":"2011-09-28T00:32:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/?p=5829"},"modified":"2011-09-27T16:32:52","modified_gmt":"2011-09-28T00:32:52","slug":"cauliflower-spanish-rice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/?p=5829","title":{"rendered":"Cauliflower &#8220;Spanish Rice&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;m not going to lie, it&#8217;s been pretty brutal going from the 17 Day Diet&#8217;s cycle 3 back to a repeat of cycle 1. I would pretty much kill for a bowl of oatmeal, whole wheat pita or bowl of brown rice or quinoa right about now. I decided that this go around, I needed to get a little more creative with my food. I\u00a0have been\u00a0eating too much of the same thing. I kept seeing a bunch of recipes on the 17 Day Diet facebook page for riced cauliflower. I had tried cauliflower mashed potatoes on other food plans, I even tried cauliflower pizza crust and found a recipe for cauliflower breadsticks &#8211; which I will be creating another post for &#8211; but I&#8217;ve been craving Mexican food and I&#8217;m a bit burned out on turkey\u00a0taco salads.<\/p>\n<p>I did a quick google search on &#8220;riced cauliflower&#8221; and found a bunch of veggie, gluten free, and low carb blogs, websites, and videos,\u00a0that all\u00a0shared similar recipes. I decided to use what I had on hand, combined with some of the things mentioned on the sites, and I got to work in the kitchen.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5949.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5842\" title=\"IMG_5949\" src=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5949.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5949.jpg 450w, http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5949-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5910.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5831\" title=\"IMG_5910\" src=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5910.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"319\" srcset=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5910.jpg 450w, http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5910-300x212.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ingredients:<\/strong><br \/>\n1\/2 Head Cauliflower &#8211; cut into small pieces<br \/>\n1 Onion &#8211; rough chopped<br \/>\n2 Garlic Cloves &#8211; minced<br \/>\n1 Tablespoon Olive Oil<br \/>\n3\/4 Can Diced Tomatoes<br \/>\n3\/4 Cup Fresh Salsa &#8211; I used medium heat<br \/>\nPinch of Red Pepper<br \/>\nSalt and Black Pepper to Taste<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m apparently obsessed with colored cauliflower &#8211; expect to see the chartreuse green soon. \ud83d\ude09 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.colorfulharvest.com\/Cauliflower.php\" target=\"_blank\">Colorful Harvest<\/a> out of Salinas, CA, is the brand I keep seeing in my local stores. It&#8217;s the\u00a0little things on this diet that bring me joy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Directions:<br \/>\n<\/strong>I broke as many florets off the cauliflower head as I could before tackling it with my knife.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5919.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5834\" title=\"IMG_5919\" src=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5919.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5919.jpg 450w, http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5919-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I then\u00a0used my &#8220;cheater&#8221; steamer solution for the microwave. I filled a shallow dish with water, added my cauliflower, covered the dish\u00a0with a big mixing bowl, and it worked great. I ended up cooking the cauliflower for 5 minutes &#8211; testing every minute after the first 3 (I didn&#8217;t want to overcook it) &#8211; I was looking for &#8220;al dente&#8221; &#8211; not overcooked and mushy.<\/p>\n<p>Once the cauliflower had cooled a little, I chopped it into small &#8220;rice-like&#8221; pieces. I might use a food processor next time, it took a while to get the pieces small enough.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5920.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5835\" title=\"IMG_5920\" src=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5920.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5920.jpg 450w, http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5920-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, in a larger pan&#8230; I heated the olive oil over medium\/high and then added my chopped onion and garlic.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5926.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5836\" title=\"IMG_5926\" src=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5926.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5926.jpg 450w, http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5926-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I stirred often and once translucent, I added my diced tomatoes. I only added some of the liquid from the can. I let\u00a0the tomatoes\u00a0cook with the onion for a minute or two and then I dumped in the cauliflower.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5927.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5837\" title=\"IMG_5927\" src=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5927.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5927.jpg 450w, http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5927-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I gave the mixture a good stir and let things simmer until some of the tomato liquid absorbed. I then added the fresh salsa.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5936.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5838\" title=\"IMG_5936\" src=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5936.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5936.jpg 450w, http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5936-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Some of the pieces look more like corn than rice&#8230; that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m thinking I&#8217;ll break out the food processor next time or I&#8217;ll use white cauliflower. Continue simmering and stirring until the liquid has cooked off. I tasted it, added some salt, red pepper and black pepper and let it cook some more.\u00a0 It took about 10 minutes before the majority of liquid cooked off.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5940h.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5847\" title=\"IMG_5940h\" src=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5940h.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5940h.jpg 450w, http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/IMG_5940h-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I ate the <strong>Cauliflower &#8220;Spanish Rice&#8221;<\/strong> along with salsa chicken and loved it! Something new, something different, and I have lots of leftovers for future lunches. Now if only I could make a tortilla out of cauliflower&#8230; ha!<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/foo1121.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1460\" title=\"foo1121\" src=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/foo1121.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"74\" height=\"41\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;m not going to lie, it&#8217;s been pretty brutal going from the 17 Day Diet&#8217;s cycle 3 back to a repeat of cycle 1. I would pretty much kill for a bowl of oatmeal, whole wheat pita or bowl of brown rice or quinoa right about now. I decided that this go around, I needed &hellip; <\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link btn\" href=\"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/?p=5829\">Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[271,15,21],"tags":[297,296,298],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5829"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5829"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5829\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5870,"href":"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5829\/revisions\/5870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5829"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/foodiddy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}