Cauliflower Fried Rice

I have been meaning to add this recipe to my blog for a while. I've been making it on a regular basis with my orange chicken or, recently with my char siu. There's a bit of prep, which I generally do early in the day, but the dish itself comes together easily and can be on the table in under 20 minutes.

Serves 2-3 as a main dish or 4 as a side

INGREDIENTS

1 medium head, about 24 oz cauliflower, rinsed

1 tbsp sesame oil

2 eggs

pinch of salt

cooking spray

1/2 small onion, diced fine

1/2 cup frozen peas and carrots

2 garlic cloves, minced

5 scallions, diced, whites and greens separated

3 tbsp soy sauce, or more to taste 

OPTIONAL:  chopped water chestnuts

INSTRUCTIONS

Remove the core and let the cauliflower dry completely.

Coarsely chop into florets, then place half of the cauliflower in a food processor and pulse until the cauliflower is small and has the texture of rice or couscous – don't over process or it will get mushy. Set aside and repeat with the remaining cauliflower.

Combine eggs in a small bowl and beat with a fork. Season with salt.

Heat a large saute pan or wok over medium heat and spray with oil.

Add the eggs and cook like an omelet until set; cool, then slice in ribbons

Add the sesame oil and saute onions, scallion whites, peas and carrots and garlic about 3 to 4 minutes, or until soft.Raise the heat to medium-high.

Add the cauliflower "rice" to the saute pan along with soy sauce. Mix, cover and cook about 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until the cauliflower is slightly crispy on the outside but tender on the inside.

 Add the egg then remove from heat and mix in scallion greens.

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TASTE NOTES

This cauliflower rice is excellent as is, but I love mixing any leftovers with cooked chicken or shrimp or beef or, my favorite, diced char siu (see recipe here). I do not eat fried rice from Chinese restaurants. It's flavor is one note and I wouldn't waste the calories. This dish, however, is so good I can make it once a week. And, the leftovers are even better, if there are any.