Broccoli Rice

Don't toss that broccoli stalk! Instead, pulse it into broccoli rice to add to burritos, bowls, stir-fries, and more. It's easy, healthy, and delicious!

Everyone’s crazy for cauliflower rice, but if you ask me, broccoli rice deserves just as much love. It’s a great way to take an entire head of broccoli – stalk and all – and turn it into something delicious. Lightly sauté it with cilantro and lime to make a grain-free base for a homemade burrito bowl, mix it with brown rice to make a zesty side dish, toss it into a stir fry, or roll it into a wrap. Really, your options are endless.

If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you know that I love to find ways to cook with parts of vegetables that are commonly scrapped. This has been especially true in the last few weeks, as I’ve had to make my produce last longer between trips to the store. If you’re in the same boat, don’t toss the stalk next time you’re cooking broccoli. Instead, try making broccoli rice! It’s easy, tasty, and healthy, and it puts every ounce of broccoli to good use.

How to Make Broccoli Rice

Broccoli rice is SO easy to make! All you need is a head of broccoli, a knife and/or vegetable peeler, and a food processor. Then, follow these simple steps:

• First, trim the stalk. Use the knife to cut away any tough, woody parts at the bottom. If the skin is thick, peel it off with the vegetable peeler.
• Next, chop the broccoli into 1-inch pieces. This step is crucial! If the pieces you add to the food processor are too large, they won’t process evenly. You’ll end up with a mix of big chunks and mushy, over-processed broccoli. For the best results, break or cut the broccoli florets and stem into 1-inch chunks.

• Then, pulse! Add the broccoli to a food processor and pulse until it resembles (green) grains of rice. Stop there and use it in any recipe that calls for broccoli or cauliflower rice, or follow the recipe below to make my easy cilantro lime broccoli rice. That’s it!

Broccoli Rice Recipes

Below, you’ll find my go-to broccoli rice recipe. I sauté it with scallions, garlic, cilantro, and lime to make a fragrant, zesty cilantro lime “rice.” Often, I mix in cooked brown or white rice for extra texture. Then, I serve it as a simple side dish, in the Broccoli Rice Black Bean Burritos on page 149 of Love and Lemons Every Day, or in any recipe that calls for cilantro lime rice. Try stuffing it into a burrito or using it as the base of a DIY burrito bowl topped with pico de gallo, fajita veggies, black beans, and plenty of guac.

You could also use broccoli rice in any recipe that calls for cauliflower rice, like my Turmeric Cauliflower Fried Rice or Cauliflower Rice Kimchi Bowls. In addition, it would be a great substitute for the regular rice in my Mango Ginger Rice Bowl, Buddha Bowl, or any of these rice bowl recipes.

More Favorite Cooking Components

If you love this recipe, try cooking these plant-based basics next:

• Zucchini Noodles
• Sweet Potato Noodles
• Spaghetti Squash
• Sriracha Baked Tofu
• Marinated Tempeh
• Lentils (any variety!)
• Dried Beans

And for more of my favorite rice recipes, check out this post!

Broccoli Rice

Ingredients

• 1 small broccoli head, about 8 ounces

For Cilantro-Lime Broccoli Rice:

• Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
• 2 scallions, diced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro stems, plus ½ cup leaves reserved
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin, plus more to taste
• 1 lime, zest and juice
• 1 cup cooked brown rice, optional

Instructions

• Remove any tough, woody parts from the broccoli stalk. If the outer skin of the stalk is very tough, you can peel it with a vegetable peeler. Chop the remaining stalk and the florets into 1-inch pieces.
• Place into a food processor and pulse until the broccoli is broken up into tiny rice-sized pieces. This should yield about 2 cups of “riced” broccoli. Stop there and use your broccoli rice in any recipe that calls for broccoli rice or cauliflower rice.
• To make Cilantro-Lime Broccoli Rice, heat a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat and brush with olive oil. Add the riced broccoli, the scallions, garlic, cilantro stems, salt, and several grinds of pepper. Cook and stir for 1 minute, until lightly warmed but still bright green. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cumin, lime zest, and a squeeze of lime juice. Stir in the brown rice, if using. Season to taste and serve.

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