This delicious low carb recipe is SO simple, and so tasty, that it’s become one of my go-to meals lately. 🙂
It all started when my favorite little local grocery store (FINALLY) started carrying Riced Cauliflower and I decided to try it for the very first time.
I quickly discovered just how fast you can whip up a healthy meal – without having to be stuck in the kitchen for hours!
The Riced Cauliflower is a frozen food, by the way. And I used frozen shrimp & frozen veggies to make the rest of the dish – including the crisped roasted vegetables that make an EASY low carb side dish.
Here’s a recent low carb grocery haul so you can see my usual staples, what I keep on hand in the freezer. Because I don’t usually cook right away, and I like having things in the freezer I can grab to throw together a QUICK & healthy low carb meal. 😉
(click on the image below to see it full size)
You walk in the door after a full day and still have things to do, but know you have to throw something on for dinner – right?
This is when I like to toss a pan of veggies in the oven!
You can dump a whole bag of whatever frozen vegetables you prefer onto a baking sheet, lined with foil for easy clean-up later.
I dash some olive oil on the foil, then dash olive oil and garlic powder over the veggies – and throw it in the oven at 350, then go about my chores!
Note: the grape tomatoes were fresh, and higher in carbs than I realized! But not so bad spread across the whole recipe.
You can cook it as long as you please – to desired roastedness. 🙂 I like my veggies CRISPED, but you might want to cook yours less time. Just check on them now and then and take them out when they look good to YOU.
When my veggies are getting close to done, I start the cauliflower rice…
Cauliflower has basically no flavor, so I add lots of butter & salt. I just put it in a non stick skillet with butter and cover it. It only takes 5 or 10 minutes.
And my preference: add Spicy Chili Pili Nuts to it in the last 2-3 minutes! 🙂
(Learn more about Pili Nuts – and use our code LOWCARBTRAVELER for a discount there!)
The frozen shrimp I use still has the tails on, otherwise it’s cooked already so pretty simple. Refer back to the grocery pic above. 😉
I dump the frozen shrimp into a big bowl before starting the cauliflower rice, and cover the shrimp with water. They thaw super fast – then I pluck the tails off, rinse them, and dump them onto a paper towel to get the excess water off.
Then just toss them into a skillet with butter (or olive oil or coconut oil) and your favorite spices – and sear them real quick on medium heat. I used the Oh My Spice: Sweet & Savory on the shrimp for this dish, which is delicious on seafood!!
Last time I made this dish I used that same seasoning, and also used the Primal Foods Chipotle Lime Mayo to make a cream sauce with the shrimp. Just a couple TBSP of that mayo makes a delicious cream sauce when you add it into the skillet!
As you can see, the simple dish turned out beautifully delicious. 🙂
Here’s the whole plate – and no, I couldn’t finish it all. 🙂
I told you I like my veggies CRISPED.;)
If you leave out the shrimp, it’s a complete and very hearty low carb vegetarian meal. With the shrimp, it’s a great pescatarian meal! 🙂
Either way, it’s a great meal ANYONE would love…
The roasted vegetables are super simple to make. It’s best if you have time to mince a fresh garlic clove and roast that in with your veggies, but if you’re in a hurry or just want a no-fuss healthy side dish – garlic powder works just fine.
I usually just toss broccoli, cauliflower & asparagus straight onto the pan (yes, still frozen) then straight into the oven. Quick & easy!
You can use fresh vegetables if you prefer of course, and add more color – like green & red peppers for example.
The addition of Pili Nuts adds a beautiful nutrient-dense buttery crunch to the cauliflower rice! 🙂
I prefer the Spicy Chili flavor to add some kick to the dish, but the Coconut Oil & Himalayan Salt Pili Nuts are great to cook with as well.
Speaking of, they just came out with two new flavors:
I can’t wait to try the NEW Turmeric & Black Pepper and Raw Cacao Pili Nuts. 🙂
I just got those in! If you aren’t familiar with Pili Nuts, you really MUST read the story here. And if you decide to order some, use our special code for a discount: LOWCARBTRAVELER (all caps)
They are still being wild harvested from volcanic soil in the Phillipines at the moment, so they are PACKED with nutrients. Plus they are the biggest, softest, most buttery nut you’ll ever put in your mouth!
They’re so unique and totally addictive. Everyone I’ve shared them with falls in LOVE with them!! 🙂
Another way I like to cook with Pili Nuts is to just saute them in real butter with broccoli slaw – or any other veggies really. So if you don’t have cauliflower rice, or you’re just not a fan, here’s a great alternative:
* note: you can usually find “broccoli slaw” in the produce section near or with the bagged salads at larger grocery stores like Wal-Mart or Kroger. It’s very low carb and delicious – cooked or raw!
I hope you enjoyed this quick & easy low carb recipe, and ideas for a simple low carb dinner or fast side dish.
I love anything EASY, but this dish looks & tastes like you slaved in the kitchen – when really, you just threw everything together from the freezer to the table. 🙂 haha
This is one of those recipes you can whip up when you have a variety of people to please: gluten free, diabetic, vegetarian (without the shrimp), pescatarian (with salmon or shrimp), calorie counters (!!), and of course it’s low carb – and with the butter & olive oil & pili nuts it has great LCHF macros.
Have you tried the frozen Cauliflower Rice yet, or tried cooking with Pili Nuts?
You could add other types of nuts too, I haven’t tried that myself, but I’m sure it would turn out just as great. I’m loving the frozen riced cauliflower. What a great low carb time saver, and versatile side dish! I would love to find more ways to use the cauliflower rice, so leave a comment and share some creative ideas with us. 😉
Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler
Discount Code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
Thank you for this great post and for showing how you actually cook the various foods. I get in to a panic when I can’t think of what to cook at home and my default position is fast food. I’m trying hard to break this pattern and seeing how quickly you put together this great meal gives me confidence that I can too.
I’m going to make this exact meal over the weekend, I can’t wait. Thank you again! Love your site!
I’m the same way, Jesse – the idea of putting together a whole meal is enough to make me go to McDonald’s for sausage and eggs. π lol. This meal is SO easy though, and impressive when you have company even. π
Let me know how yours turns out this weekend!
Thank you I didnt know about the frozen riced cauliflower n I loved seeing your groceries I’m very visual. Stealing lol
I’m so glad to hear that, Pam. I have so many GREAT cooks in this community, but I try to share what I’m doing like I’m writing it for myself π lol – because I don’t always “get it” on other people’s recipes! I need simple, especially in the kitchen. π
You’ll LOVE the riced cauliflower!! It really doesn’t have any flavor, but it’s so fun to get creative with and make up delicious meals when you add other low carb foods. And plenty of butter & salt, of course. π
How funny! I finally tried the exact riced cauluflower hour last night ,it took me quite a while to try it .I found the exact bag in the store bought it a few months ago microwaved it last night addedone scrambled egg, soy sauce, garlic and onion and small cooked shrimp. Surprisingly it tasted the same if not better as Chinese takeout
lol Kim – what a cool coincidence! I’ve heard about it for years, but it wasn’t until they featured it at my local grocery (at the end of the aisle: IN MY FACE lol) that I finally decided to try it. π
Your fried rice version sounds fantastic! I must try that… great idea!
p.s. I love “shrimp fried rice” and the pili nuts would be MUCH better than icky water chestnuts. π I’m definitely making that!
Hello Lynn,
I love your blog! However, I’m a vegetarian trying to navigate a LCHF diet which is challenging. I incorporate low carb veggies, eggs, cheese, etc… any helpful hints for us plant based eaters who recognize the many pasta, potato and bread laden recipes lead to increased weight?
Thank you,
Patty
Hi Patricia π There are tons of great low carb vegetables to enjoy – and when you add in eggs and cheese there are lots of varieties! Here is a list of low carb vegetables in alphabetical order with carb counts: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/4964/low-carb-vegetables/
The meal in this post is ideal as one example, just don’t add shrimp if you don’t eat seafood. Aaron (the handsome man I eat with π ) is pescatarian so we add the seafood when we cook together, but you can simply leave that out.
Pili Nuts are vegan, and a great addition to your diet. Check out the nutrients and details: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/pilinuts They are so fun to cook with too! π
Thank you!
I just ordered the pili nuts with your discount code. Am looking forward to trying and cooking with the nuts.
Always love all that you show – I’m visual so I love seeing what you eat and cook!
Great job,
Gaynel
Thank you Gaynel! Like I said above, I try to share it like I’m writing it for myself: SIMPLE. π You are going to *love* the pili nuts!! I really enjoy them as a snack, or with cream cheese & berries when I want something sweet ‘n salty – and especially love cooking with them. π Enjoy!
This is absolutely fantastic! Thank you for sharing this quick and easy meal! I love roasted veggies and rice cauliflower. Definitely need to try the PILI nuts!
Thank you for sharing this recipe! It looks delicious! Haven’t tried PILI nuts yet but looking forward to it. I just got back on this WOE and am always looking for fast and delicious things to make so as not to get bored. thanks again
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Eileen. π Welcome back to the low carb lifestyle!!
I just LOVE the riced cauliflower. I had it with salmon with the Seal Sama sugar free Teriyaki sauce that I ordered at Netrition. Today I saw the riced cauliflower at our local Meijers store for only $2.50! Needless to say I bought several pkgs. They also had the Riced Cauliflower Medley which has peas, and carriots added and is only 3 net carbs per serving. I also really like the Pili nuts and have ordered several times and they send a 10% off coupon with the order but they are still pretty expensive. Thanks for all the meal tips!
What a GREAT deal, Diana! And thanks for the heads-up on the medley. I have to try that one too. π Pili Nuts are not cheap, that’s true. But they are also not being farmed yet, which is why – and also why they are SO nutrient dense. π
I make Fried Rice with the cauliflower. I cut up eye of round in small pieces and sautΓ© it in a skillet with soy sauce. Remove it from the skillet and add minced onion, peppers and celery to the skillet. SautΓ© till crisp tender. Stir in the beef and chopped garlic. Add the cauliflower and stir fry. It cooks quickly. I season with soy sauce, red pepper flakes, and a squeeze of lime juice. Tastes pretty good. I also like my vegetables cooked crisp.
I’m glad I’m not the only one. π Thanks for another great recipe idea, Anne – that sounds delicious, and super easy! Just my style. π
Would love to get those petite steaks. Where do u shop?
Hi Barbara π I found those individual steaks in the freezer section at my little locally owned grocery store. They are Great American Steak Company brand and they are called Bacon Wrapped Filet of Beef.
I am getting my Pili nuts today! I am so excited to try them!
Keep sharing recipes with them included. Please π
You will LOVE those Pili Nuts, Samantha! π I was just researching new recipe ideas for them myself earlier today. I can’t wait to try some new ways to cook with them!
Just awesome Lynn. had me at Easy! That’s my kind of recipe. My store is always out of stock in the Green Gian riced cauliflower. Makes me so sad.
My store isn’t carrying it anymore either, which really stinks. π Now I have to drive across town for it… because I’m hooked! lol
FYI, through cauliflower pieces into blender and voila, fresh cauliflower rice. Easy Peary
Cauliflower rice. My favorite low carb fix. I use it in my chicken homemade soup place it in at the end.
Cauliflower tater tots: one bag sauteed in olive oil salt pepper. Remove from heat add 3 tablespoons almond flour and 1/2 cup parm cheese. Combine. Roll into bite size tots. Pan fry small batches til golden brown. Great with burgers!
That sounds fabulous, Deb – I’m going to have to try the cauliflower tots recipe! π
Which nut would you say would be best to substitute for the Pili nuts? They are a bit pricey and just aren’t in my budget, but I’d love to make this dish with some type of nut. Thanks in advance.
Hi Erica π
Cashews I know, because chinese restaurants use those – but they are higher in carbs so you’d have to use a lot less. Toasted pecans might work well stirred in at the last minute. You’d definitely want a softer nut – not something hard like almonds or macadamia nuts.
Thank you! I will try these. I wonder if macadamia would work? They’re high fat and relatively soft.
Delicious, simple and fast. I use the Macadamia nuts because that is what I had in my pantry. Putting them in with the cauliflower rice at the end as suggested with a cover lid help in making them soft but still with a crunch. I did not see the carbs per serving listed for this. Do you have to put everything in your tracker separately? Thanks
Awesome π Yes, I enter everything into MyFitnessPal that I eat – based on the number of servings/amount and the labels on my brands.
I also used Old Bay seasoning for the Shrimp.
I grew up with rice, so trying to limit it is hard. I was surprised by how great cauliflower tastes as a rice substitute. I will be making this quick yet delicious recipe again.
Hello!
Just wanted to let you know that my wife and I tried this recipe the other night. It so happens that my inlaws were there too. They like the recipe so much that they ask for the leftovers to go!
Anyways, thanks a lot for sharing this. Excited to send the next recipe here to my wife.
Have a great day!
Tried this one today and boy oh boy, delish! Thanks for the idea.