Name: Hemp Seed Cauliflower Rice Pilaf
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1/2 head of cauliflower ((2 cups cauliflower rice)); 1/2 cup hemp seeds; 4 pitted dates (chopped - I used Deglet*); 1/2 teaspoon turmeric; 1/2 teaspoon cumin; 1/2 cup low sodium vegetable broth; 1/4 cup sliced almonds; Salt and pepper

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This sweet and savory Hemp Seed Cauliflower Rice Pilaf is a healthy low carb alternative to rice.

One of my favorite ways to get more vegetables into my diet is to make healthy swaps. With this Hemp Seed Cauliflower Rice Pilaf, I swapped out the rice for cauliflower rice.

I actually think it looks more like quinoa than rice, so much so that when I was eating it, I kept thinking that I was eating quinoa. The fact that there's hemp seeds in this pilaf probably added to that fact because they both have a nutty flavor.

This cauliflower rice pilaf with hemp seeds is sweet with chopped dates, and savory with turmeric and cumin. I first made this recipe when I was eating a vegan keto diet because of its low carb content. If you are eating a keto diet, you may want to add less dates, which I actually did when I was eating low carb.

I used Deglet dates because they seem to have the least amount of carbs of all the dates that I looked up. You could also omit them, but I personally like the sweet and savory balance of flavors.

I love recipes that are versatile, and this cauliflower rice happens to be just that. I added this pilaf to a salad with a blackberry ginger balsamic vinegar. I also added it to a vegan curry salad because they both have similar spices.

With the holidays around the corner, I wanted to post this recipe now because this would make a great side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Since it has almonds and hemp seeds, it contains a bit of protein - something I appreciate as a vegan. I have often filled up on side dishes at holiday get-togethers.

I gravitate towards ethnic cuisines in general, and that holds true for the holidays as well. I've been known to eat vegan sushi, falafel, or lasagna, on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

This cauliflower pilaf is right up my alley for ethnic cuisine. It reminds me of a Mediterranean dish since it contains dates, sliced almonds, and spices.

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Recipe

This cauliflower rice with hemp seeds and dates is healthy and satisfying. Easily made into keto rice by using less dates or omitting them altogether.

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5 from 3 votes