Mexican Broccoli Rice

This healthy Mexican Broccoli Rice is a one-pan meal that is naturally gluten-free, grain-free, Whole30, Plant-Based, and Keto-Friendly. One of the tastiest side dishes that will be a perfect addition to your table.

The goodness of Broccoli is not hidden from us. right? But, kids don’t love broccoli. And, it’s a real struggle to get them to like broccoli. But, when you think smart, you get smart ideas. This Mexican Broccoli rice is an easy way to add that healthy touch to your weeknight meals.

Whether it is a Taco Tuesday or a boring Friday, this Mexican Broccoli Rice will add so much more nutrition to your plate.

Healthy Broccoli Rice Recipe

I just love Mexican food. The flavors of Cumin and Chili is something that I just cannot ignore. I love Jalapenos. In fact, Mexican food feels so much more real and authentic to me.

This healthy Mexican Broccoli Rice has just the right amount of spice that will prevent this recipe from landing amongst the category of boring and bland food.

And, it has just the right amount of zing to it thanks to lime juice.

But, what makes this broccoli rice recipe stand out is nothing but the spices. I just love the combination of ground cumin and smoked paprika. That smell, that taste, and just the right amount of heat to spice it up!

If you are struggling to find ways to include healthy veggies in your diet, then try this. The Mexican flavors will compel you to lick off your plate!

Garnished with a dollop of Greek Yogurt, Freshly Chopped Cilantro, and chopped Jalapenos, this Low carb, and keto-friendly side dish is totally gonna be your staple.

How to Make Mexican Broccoli Rice?

This Mexican Broccoli rice has a nutty taste with a perfect balance of spices. Basically, it is the spices, that prevent this from going bitter in taste.

To get the best flavors make broccoli rice from scratch at home. Start with a fresh head of broccoli. And go ahead and add as many flavors as you want. When talking about Mexican food, you cannot do it without cumin, paprika, jalapeno, garlic, tomato paste, freshly chopped cilantro, and that zingy zesty lime juice.

One of the easiest side dishes that you can make in less than 30-minutes. The best part about this is that you can customize it the way you want.

• Take a fresh head of broccoli and divide the florets into bite-sized pieces. If you can cut them into smaller pieces then that’s even better.
• Now place these florets into a food processor and pulse it until the florets have been finely processed. You might need to pulse it 20-30 times or until it achieves a texture that is extremely fine and sort of like rice.
• But, one thing you got to take care of is to not blend this. Remember you have to pulse this but not blend this into something mushy.
• Once your broccoli rice is ready, place it in a bowl and keep it aside.
• In the meantime, chop the onion and add to a pan with some oil. Allow the onions to turn translucent. Sautee the onions until soft and slightly brown around the edges.
• Now add minced garlic, minced jalapenos, and sautee until fragrant.
• Add tomato paste, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and salt. Sautee this until the tomato is cooked completely.
• Add broccoli rice and mix well. Cover cook until the rawness of broccoli goes away.
• Once done, take it off the heat and season with fresh lime juice and freshly chopped cilantro.

Top Tip about the Recipe – The best way to ensure that your broccoli rice is cooked is to simply taste it. When you take a bite it will be chewy but firm enough. Make sure that it doesn’t turn soggy or mushy.

Can I Use Frozen Broccoli Rice?

Well, absolutely yes! But make sure you defrost it completely and then dry it out thoroughly before you use it for the recipe. Frozen Broccoli rice cooks faster than fresh broccoli rice. So you might want to keep a close eye on the texture of your broccoli while it is cooking.

Is this Mexican Broccoli Rice Spicy?

Well, NO. Absolutely no. It’s just ground cumin and smoked paprika in the name of spices. Yes, there are few jalapenos to help it balance the taste but if you want you can totally skip jalapenos. Or you can de-seed them before adding them to your recipe.

If you feel you need more spices, then add some more smoked paprika. Or throw caution to the air and add one teaspoon of cayenne pepper.

Top Tips for Making this Recipe effectively

• When using fresh broccoli heads, make sure you process them in batches.
• Do not blend the broccoli. Rather pulse them until they look fine.
• Make sure you use a large skillet. A larger skillet leaves room for your broccoli rice to cook effectively.
• Make sure the rice is not overcooked. So, begin your tasting after 2-3 minutes of the cover cook. Remember that overcooking will turn it soggy and mushy and we don’t want that.

What To Serve with Mexican Broccoli Rice?

You can use this Mexican Broccoli rice as a side dish for so many parties.

• You can serve this alongside tacos. Mexican flavors of taco pairs well with Mexican Broccoli rice.
• You can also serve this with Burrito Bowls.

However, my favorite way to enjoy this is to have it for work lunches. These days, while working at home, I quickly make this Mexican broccoli rice and finish it off in an instant. Just gives me all the nutrition that I need to go through the rest of the day.

If you are making this recipe, then please leave a rating below. Also, make sure you take a snap and share it on Instagram with #at350f also tag me @at350f.