Paleo Refreshing Rice Salad

Bright, zesty, and completely grain-free, this Paleo Refreshing "Rice" Salad is a nutritious twist on a classic favorite. Substituting traditional rice with tender, lightly sautéed cauliflower "rice," this salad is packed with vibrant vegetables like crisp cucumber, juicy grape tomatoes, and sweet red bell pepper. Tangy black olives and fresh parsley add bursts of flavor, while a citrusy dressing made with extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar ties everything together beautifully. With just 25 minutes of prep time, this gluten-free, dairy-free, and Paleo-friendly dish is perfect for a light lunch, a healthy side, or even a make-ahead option for meal prepping. Serve it chilled or enjoy it fresh—it’s as versatile as it is delicious!

Nutriscore Rating: 77/100

Prep Time:25 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 medium head cauliflower
• 1 large red bell pepper
• 1 large cucumber
• 0.5 medium red onion
• 1 cup grape tomatoes
• 0.5 cup black olives
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley
• 0.25 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Start by preparing the cauliflower 'rice'. Remove the leaves from the cauliflower head and chop it into florets. Place the florets into a food processor and pulse until they resemble the size of grains of rice.

Step 2

Transfer the cauliflower 'rice' into a large skillet over medium heat. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the cauliflower is tender but not mushy. Allow it to cool.

Step 3

In the meantime, dice the red bell pepper, cucumber, and red onion finely. Halve the grape tomatoes and slice the black olives.

Step 4

Chop the fresh parsley and set aside.

Step 5

In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, sea salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

Step 6

In a large bowl, combine the cooled cauliflower 'rice', red bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, grape tomatoes, and black olives.

Step 7

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat the ingredients thoroughly.

Step 8

Sprinkle the chopped parsley over the salad and give it one final stir.

Step 9

Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours for a chilled salad. Enjoy your refreshing Paleo-friendly rice salad!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1414.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	917.7

Total Fat 69.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 10.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.7g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3552.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 71.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 19.1g	0%
Total Sugars 33.9g
Protein 16.1g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 290.0mg	0%
Iron 9.6mg	0%
Potassium 2941.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 64.1%

Protein: 6.6%

Carbs: 29.3%