A quick and easy Pulao with Cauliflower rice and peas to make it a low carb meal that is delicious at the same time.
Pulao is my go-to recipe when I don’t have a lot of time to make rice and a curry to go with it. Pulao is like an all-in-one deal. A Pulao is essentially a rice dish made with vegetables and spices in it, so all you need is a quick raita with yogurt and onions and cucumber or just some yogurt and pickle to make a meal out of it.
This Cauli Rice Peas Pulao is made with Cauliflower rice instead of basmati rice. Cauliflower rice is essentially riced cauliflower – where you take out florets of cauliflower and just pulse it in the food processor till it resembles small grains of rice.
The benefit of using cauli rice is that you are cutting all that white rice out of the equation and it instantly becomes a low carb version of your favorite pulao. Literally instant because it doesn’t need a lot of time like rice to cook, just a quick stir and cover and cook for a couple of minutes to just soften it a little but not too much that it gets all mushed up.
Some of our other favorite pulao recipes are these – these are with regular white basmati rice but I am sure you can substitute it easily with cauli rice as well. Let me know if you do!
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Cauli Rice Peas Pulao – The Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cauli rice
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 green cardamom pod
- 2 cloves
- ½ inch piece cinnamon
- 5-6 black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ red onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup frozen green peas
- salt, to taste
- ½ lime
- 2 tablespoon kasuri methi / dried fenugreek leaves (optional)
- ½ teaspoon garam masala (optional)
Method:
Heat the oil in a pan. Crush the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and black pepper in a mortar and pestle. Add this and the onions and garlic to the hot oil. Once the onion softens a little, add the cauli rice and salt to it and mix well. Add the green peas as well and sprinkle a little water. Cover and cook on medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
Open the pan and remove from heat. Crush the kasuri methi between your palms and top the pulao with it. Squeeze the juice of half a lime over the pulao as well and also sprinkle the garam masala over it.
Serve with yogurt or raita.
Cauli Rice Peas Pulao
Ingredients
- 2 cups cauli rice
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 green cardamom
- 2 cloves
- ½ inch piece cinnamon
- 5-6 black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ red onion , chopped
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- ½ cup frozen green peas
- salt , to taste
- ½ lime
- 2 tablespoon kasuri methi / dried fenugreek leaves (optional)
- ½ teaspoon garam masala (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a pan. Crush the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and black pepper in a mortar and pestle. Add this and the onions and garlic to the hot oil. Once the onion softens a little, add the cauli rice and salt to it and mix well. Add the green peas as well and sprinkle a little water. Cover and cook on medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
- Open the pan and remove from heat. Crush the kasuri methi between your palms and top the pulao with it. Squeeze the juice of half a lime over the pulao as well and also sprinkle the garam masala over it.
- Serve with yogurt or raita.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
One perfect veggie packed side dish!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
I would happily eat this for dinner! I love one-dish meals, especially ones containing rice.
Hauke Fox says
Now this looks like an exciting pulao!! Love the idea to use cauliflower. I wonder if you have to fry the cauliflower at some point or if you just have it raw?
Manju says
It's not all raw, you sauté the cauli rice and also cover and cook with just a little water.
Uma says
I love cauliflower rice too. But my method slightly different:) Your recipe also good Manju:)
Linda from Veganosity says
This is such a lovely recipe. I love the spices.
Anjali @ Vegetarian Gastronomy says
I love cauliflower rice! Never tried making pulao with it though!
Ceara @ Ceara's Kitchen says
This looks like the perfect dinner!
Heather says
I am a private chef and I make this for my client and she loves it! The freshly ground spices are so aromatic. I sometimes add chopped steak or chicken for added protein. Great recipe!!
Manju says
That is so great to hear. Thanks for sharing it. So glad your client loves it and those added protein elements are just fantastic.