This Buttery Low Carb Cauliflower and Zucchini Rice is a simple and flavourful vegetable-packed side dish that works with so many different main meals. The cauliflower rice and zucchini are cooked until tender, then finished with a buttery flavour that makes it feel comforting while still keeping it light.
It is a great low carb alternative to regular rice and a delicious way to add extra vegetables to your plate. Serve it with grilled meats, chicken, fish, curries, stir-fries or any meal where you want an easy, versatile side.
Calories in Zucchini Cauliflower Rice
This recipe serves 4 and is 84 calories per serving.
If you're looking for more recipes by calories, you'll find plenty of options grouped by calorie range here: Slimming Eats Low Calorie Recipes
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie needs using a reliable calorie calculator. The calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary depending on the exact ingredients and portion sizes you use. Using your own calculations helps ensure you're meeting your individual needs. A calorie calculator can help you make informed choices and stay on track with your goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Cauliflower: A medium head of cauliflower is blitzed into rice-sized pieces to create the base of this low carb side dish. Fresh cauliflower works best for texture.
- Zucchini/Courgette: Grated zucchini adds extra vegetables and a lovely softness to the rice. Make sure to squeeze out the excess moisture before cooking, otherwise it can make the cauliflower rice watery.
- Onion and Garlic: These add flavour to the base of the dish and work well with the buttery finish and warm spices.
- Turmeric: Adds a lovely golden colour and mild earthy flavour to the cauliflower and zucchini rice.
- Cloves and Green Cardamom Pods: These add a warm, fragrant flavour that makes the dish feel a little more special. Remove the whole cloves and cardamom pods before serving.
- Butter (or Ghee): Adds the buttery flavour and gives this vegetable rice a more comforting finish while still keeping it light and low carb.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Used to season the dish and bring all the flavours together. Adjust to taste before serving.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.
Variations and Substitutes
There are plenty of ways to adapt this Buttery Low Carb Cauliflower and Zucchini Rice depending on what you have on hand, whether you want to change the vegetables, add extra texture or bring in a little sweetness.
- Cauliflower Rice: Fresh cauliflower gives the best texture, but you can use ready-prepared cauliflower rice if you prefer. Frozen cauliflower rice can also be used, but make sure to cook off any excess moisture so the dish does not become watery.
- Veggie Swap: You can swap the zucchini (courgette) for grated carrot if preferred, although this will add a little more sweetness and make the dish slightly higher in carbs.
- Extra Sweetness: A small handful of sultanas can be added for little bursts of sweetness, which work really well with the turmeric, cardamom and cloves. Just keep in mind they will increase the carbs slightly.
- Add Some Crunch: Sliced almonds are a lovely addition and add a bit of texture. You can stir them through at the end or toast them lightly and sprinkle over the top before serving.
- Herbs: Fresh coriander/cilantro works really well stirred through at the end for a fresh flavour. Parsley or chives can also be used if you prefer.
- Spices: Turmeric, cloves and cardamom give this dish a warm, fragrant flavour, but you can add a pinch of cumin, curry powder or chilli flakes if you want a little more spice.
More Side Dishes
Looking for some more side dish ideas? Check out these:
See more Side Recipes →
or if you would like more recipe ideas - head on over to the FULL RECIPE INDEX where you will find over 900 delicious recipes with calories and you can search by meal type, ingredients, course, diet and more.
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Recipe Card
Low Carb Cauliflower and Zucchini Rice
This Buttery Low Carb Cauliflower and Zucchini Rice is a fragrant vegetable-packed side dish with cauliflower rice, grated zucchini, warm spices, fresh coriander and a buttery finish that makes it perfect with a variety of mains.
Ingredients
- 1 medium head of cauliflower
- 1 zucchini (courgette), grated and squeezed of excess moisture
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
- ½ teaspoon of ground turmeric
- 3 whole cloves
- 5 green cardamom pods
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Break the cauliflower head into smaller pieces and add some to a food processor in parts and blitz for a couple of seconds until finely chopped (like grains of rice) repeat with the rest. (If you do not have a food processor you can use a grater).
- Add the butter to a large frying pan over a medium heat. Once melted, add onion and saute for a few mins to soften.
- Add the garlic and cook for a further few mins.
- Add in the cauliflower and saute until it starts to go slightly translucent and tender. Do not over cook as it will become mushy. Stir continuously so that each grain of cauliflower gets cooked.
- Add the zucchini, turmeric, cloves and cardamom pods and continue to stir for a further few minutes and then the cauliflower and zucchini rice is ready.
- Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
- Serve as a side in place of rice.
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
- Gluten Free Friendly
- Vegetarian, Vegan and Dairy Free Friendly - use olive oil or dairy free butter
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Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 94Total Fat 4gSaturated Fat 2gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 8mgSodium 48mgCarbohydrates 13gFiber 6gSugar 6gProtein 4g
Nutritional information and valuesetc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
lolg says
I was just wondering if you think this would keep in the fridge for a day or so?
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
yes it will keep in the fridge for up to about a week