Gluten-Free Cauliflower Fried Rice

Gluten-Free Cauliflower Fried Rice

Julia

This Gluten-Free Cauliflower Fried Rice transforms humble cauliflower into a spectacular low-carb alternative to traditional fried rice. Inspired by Asian cuisine but adapted for modern dietary needs, this dish delivers all the savory, umami-rich flavors you crave without the gluten or heavy carbohydrates. The cauliflower rice provides a light, fluffy base that perfectly absorbs the tamari and sesame oil, while maintaining a satisfying bite that rivals grain-based versions.

What makes this recipe truly special is its versatility and speed. Ready in just 25 minutes from start to finish, it's the perfect solution for busy weeknights when you need something nutritious and delicious on the table fast. The combination of colorful vegetables, scrambled eggs, and aromatic garlic and ginger creates layers of flavor and texture that keep every bite interesting. Each forkful offers a delightful contrast between the tender cauliflower, crisp vegetables, and savory sauce.

This dish is naturally gluten-free when made with tamari (gluten-free soy sauce), making it safe for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Beyond being diet-friendly, it's genuinely delicious enough to satisfy anyone at your table. The recipe is also highly customizable—add shrimp, chicken, tofu, or keep it vegetarian. It works beautifully as a main course or as a side dish alongside your favorite protein. Best of all, it reheats wonderfully, making it ideal for meal prep or next-day lunches.

Nutrition

25 minutes
None servings
185 calories
Fat 11.00g
Carbs 15.00g
Protein 9.00g

Ingredients

1 large headcauliflower, riced (about 4 cups)
2 tbspsesame oil
1 tbspvegetable oil
3 largeeggs, beaten
3 clovesgarlic, minced
1 tbspfresh ginger, minced
1 cupcarrots, diced
1 cupfrozen peas
1 mediumred bell pepper, diced
4 stalksgreen onions, sliced
3 tbsptamari or gluten-free soy sauce
1 tbsprice vinegar
1/2 tspsalt
1/4 tspblack pepper
1 tbspsesame seeds, toasted (optional)

Equipment

Cutting board
chef's knife
measuring cups and spoons
food processor or box grater
large wok or large skillet
spatula or wooden spoon
small bowl for eggs
plate for cooked eggs

16:8 Diet

This balanced, nutrient-dense meal is perfect for the 16:8 eating window, providing sustained energy from protein, healthy fats, and fiber-rich vegetables that help maintain satiety during the fasting period.

80/20 Diet

This recipe easily meets the 80/20 principle with nutrient-dense whole foods like cauliflower, fresh vegetables, and eggs comprising well over 80% of ingredients, with only small amounts of oils and sauces.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients like fresh ginger, garlic, colorful vegetables, and sesame oil rich in omega-6 fatty acids, this recipe avoids refined carbohydrates and processed foods that trigger inflammation.

Atkins Diet

This recipe aligns with Atkins principles by eliminating grains entirely and focusing on low-carb vegetables, eggs for protein, and healthy fats from oils, keeping net carbs minimal for all phases of the diet.

Carb Cycling

This recipe is ideal for LOW-CARB days in a carb cycling plan, featuring cauliflower rice instead of grains, protein from eggs, healthy fats from oils, and keeping net carbs minimal through non-starchy vegetables.

Clean Eating

This recipe exemplifies clean eating with whole, recognizable ingredients like fresh cauliflower, vegetables, eggs, and simple oils, avoiding all refined sugars, white flour, and artificial additives.

Diabetic Diet

This low-glycemic recipe is diabetic-friendly by replacing high-carb rice with cauliflower, emphasizing non-starchy vegetables, and providing protein from eggs to help maintain stable blood sugar levels without blood sugar spikes.

Flexible Dieting

This nutrient-dense recipe fits flexible dieting principles by using whole food ingredients with easily measurable portions, providing quality protein, healthy fats, and vegetables that can be tracked and adjusted to individual macro goals.

Flexitarian Diet

This plant-forward recipe centers on vegetables as the main ingredient with cauliflower rice as the base, while eggs provide optional protein, perfectly embodying flexitarian principles of emphasizing plants with minimal animal products.

Gluten-Free Diet

This recipe is naturally gluten-free when made with tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) instead of regular soy sauce, using only vegetables, eggs, and oils without any wheat, barley, or rye-containing ingredients.

Heart-Healthy Diet

This heart-healthy recipe features abundant vegetables, minimal sodium when using low-sodium tamari, healthy unsaturated fats from sesame and vegetable oils, and lean protein from eggs without saturated fats or processed ingredients.

High-Fiber Diet

This recipe delivers excellent fiber content from cauliflower rice, peas, carrots, bell peppers, and green onions, providing 5-8+ grams of dietary fiber per serving to support digestive health.

High-Protein Diet

With three eggs providing substantial protein and the option to add additional protein sources like chicken, shrimp, or tofu as mentioned in the description, this recipe can easily deliver 25-30+ grams of protein per serving.

IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros)

This macro-friendly recipe provides easily trackable portions with clear measurements of protein from eggs, healthy fats from oils, and low-carb vegetables, allowing flexible dieters to fit it into their daily macronutrient targets.

Intermittent Fasting

This nutrient-dense recipe is ideal for intermittent fasting eating windows, providing quality protein from eggs, fiber-rich vegetables, and healthy fats that promote satiety and stable blood sugar levels throughout fasting periods.

Intuitive Eating

This satisfying recipe honors both nutrition and pleasure with flavorful ingredients, varied textures, and colorful vegetables that provide nourishment without restriction, supporting intuitive eating principles of satisfaction and gentle nutrition.

Ketogenic Diet

This cauliflower fried rice is keto-friendly as it replaces high-carb rice with cauliflower rice, keeping net carbs very low while providing healthy fats from sesame and vegetable oils. The combination of eggs, vegetables, and minimal carbohydrates fits perfectly within ketogenic macronutrient ratios.

Low-Carb Diet

By substituting traditional rice with cauliflower rice, this recipe stays well under 15g net carbs per serving while delivering satisfying flavor and texture through non-starchy vegetables and protein-rich eggs.

Macro Diet

With clearly portioned ingredients and a balanced combination of protein, healthy fats, and low-carb vegetables, this recipe makes macro tracking straightforward for flexible dieters monitoring their daily intake.

Mindful Eating

This recipe encourages mindful eating through its variety of textures, colors, and aromatic ingredients like ginger and garlic, inviting sensory appreciation while providing whole, minimally processed foods.

Pegan Diet

This recipe aligns with Pegan principles by centering on vegetables (cauliflower and colorful produce make up 75%+ of the dish), using healthy oils, and including eggs as a small protein component while avoiding dairy, gluten, and processed ingredients.

South Beach Diet

Perfect for South Beach Diet phases, this recipe features lean protein from eggs, abundant non-starchy vegetables, and healthy fats while completely avoiding refined carbohydrates and processed ingredients.

Vegetarian Diet

This vegetarian-friendly recipe provides complete nutrition through eggs for protein, a rainbow of vegetables for vitamins and minerals, and no meat, poultry, or seafood ingredients.

Weight Watchers

This vegetable-forward dish emphasizes nutrient-dense ingredients like cauliflower, colorful vegetables, and eggs while using minimal added fats, making it a satisfying, low-point option for Weight Watchers members.

Instructions

1

Cut the cauliflower into florets, removing the core and leaves. Working in batches, pulse the florets in a food processor until they resemble rice grains, about 10-15 pulses. Alternatively, grate the cauliflower using a box grater. You should have about 4 cups of riced cauliflower.

5 min
2

Prepare all remaining ingredients: mince the garlic and ginger, dice the carrots and bell pepper, slice the green onions (separating white and green parts), and beat the eggs in a small bowl.

8 min
3
2 min

Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, pour in the beaten eggs and scramble them, breaking them into small pieces with a spatula. Cook until just set, about 1-2 minutes.

4

Remove the scrambled eggs from the wok and set aside on a plate.

5
1 min

Add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil to the same wok. Add the minced garlic, ginger, and white parts of the green onions. Stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant.

6
3 min

Add the diced carrots and bell pepper to the wok. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften but still retain some crunch.

7
1 min

Add the frozen peas to the wok and stir-fry for 1 minute until heated through.

8
5 min

Add the riced cauliflower to the wok along with the remaining tablespoon of sesame oil. Stir-fry for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the cauliflower is tender but not mushy.

9
1 min

Return the scrambled eggs to the wok, breaking them up into smaller pieces. Add the tamari, rice vinegar, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together and cook for 1 minute to allow the flavors to meld.

10

Remove from heat and stir in the green parts of the sliced green onions. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional tamari or salt if needed.

11

Serve immediately, garnished with toasted sesame seeds if desired. Enjoy hot as a main dish or side.

Frequently Asked Questions