Moroccan Cauliflower Rice with Chickpeas

This colourful Moroccan cauliflower rice bowl bursts with flavourful and nutritious ingredients. It's super quick to prepare, perfect for a speedy dinner or a healthy lunch box.

Moroccan Cauliflower Rice Recipe

Info

Nutrition per serving
NutrientAmountRDA
Net Carbs47.9 g17.4%
of which Sugars19.6 g21.8%
Fibers22.5 g80.3%
Fats21.3 g32.7%
of which Saturates2.9 g14.4%
of which Omega 30.4 g40.6%
Proteins23.6 g51.2%
Calcium343 mg34.3%
Vitamin A1409 mcg201.3%
Vitamin C167 mg223.2%
Iron8.7 mg59%
Potassium1407 mg40.2%
Sodium138 mg6%
Cholesterol0 mg0%
Kcal477 23.9%
Macro split
  • net carbs 42%
  • sugars 17%
  • fats 18%
  • saturates 2%
  • proteins 20%
  • fibers 20%
*RDA based on a 2000 kcal diet;
**Nutritional data sources: USDA, food labels.
KCAL
477 per serving
TIME
30m
HEALTH

With our quick step-by-step recipe, you can prepare this delicious and healthy Moroccan cauliflower rice, a vegan and gluten-free dish perfect for dinner or your next lunch box.

Made with grated cauliflower, chickpeas, kale, dried fruit and nuts, and a tasty blend of spices, this rich cauliflower rice bowl not only bursts with Mediterranean flavours but it's also nutritious.

Each serving provides 3 of your 5-a-day for fruit and vegetables thanks to the cauliflower, kale, and Goji berries, which are also high in vitamin B, C, and K, and minerals including calcium.

Goji berries are also rich in vitamin A and health-promoting antioxidants. You can learn more about it in our latest article here. And if you'd like to try more recipes with them, check out this delicious vegan Goji soup.

In this Moroccan salad, we added chickpeas to balance the dish with a source of plant-based protein and fibres, which help you feel full for longer. Pistachios provide healthy fats and a tasty and crunchy finish to this dish.

Each delicious bowl comes in 500 calories and covers half of your daily proteins and fibres — perfect for a healthy and filling lunch!

Ingredients

Adjustments
Serves
Measuring System
Cauliflower Rice
Fresh Cauliflower Florets320 g
Moroccan Dressing
Extra Virgin Olive Oil1 tbsp
Cumin1 tsp
Paprika1 tsp
Allspice1/2 tsp
Cinnamon1 tsp
Lemon1
To Serve
Canned Chickpeas260 g
Curly Kale120 g
Goji Berry30 g
Pistachios40 g
Fresh Coriander to taste

Step 1

If you're using a whole cauliflower, slice it in half, pull the florets, and trim off the hard stems.

Add the cauliflower florets to a food processor and blitz them in short pulses.

Four or five pulses should be enough to grind the cauliflower into small grains.

If you don't have a blender, you can use the large side of a box grater, but you'll have slightly coarser grains.

Now, pat the cauliflower dry with kitchen paper as removing excess moisture is key to a good cauliflower rice.

cauliflower rice

Step 2

Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a skillet, add the prepared cauliflower rice, and season it with salt to taste.

Cook the rice uncovered for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

The cauliflower has to be just slightly soft and yet feel chewy to the bite, exactly like cooked rice.

cooked cauliflower rice in a skillet

Step 3

Meanwhile, prepare the Moroccan dressing.

Zest and juice the lemon, reserving half of the juice for the kale.

Mix the zest, juice, and spices in a small bowl.

Then, season with salt and pepper to taste.

moroccan salad dressing

Step 4

Remove the chunky, tough stems from the kale and tear the leaves into small pieces.

Then, toss them in a bowl with the reserved lemon juice.

Squeeze and massage the kale with your hands to soften it.

This way, it will be easier to chew and digest. Still, if you feel the kale is too hard for your tastes, you can cook it for a few minutes in the skillet with cauliflower rice.

how to soften the kale by hand

Step 5

Finally, drain and rinse the canned chickpeas and optionally toast the pistachio nuts.

Divide the cauliflower rice, chickpeas, and kale among bowls. Then, top them with goji berries, pistachios, and fresh coriander if you like.

Pour in the dressing, toss well, and enjoy.

moroccan cauliflower bowl with chickpeas

Tips

  • We recommend using fresh cauliflower as the frozen one retains moisture and water, which will make your rice mushy and soggy. As an alternative, you can find already frozen cauliflower rice.

  • You can swap pistachios with almonds or pine nuts.

  • Store this Moroccan cauliflower rice in the fridge for 3-4 days.