Mix and match your way to a healthy, tasty lunch with this Mexican Cauliflower Rice Salad—a Tex-Mex-inspired favorite lunchbox recipe.
Formula for a Perfect Lunch
It's easy to get in a lunchtime rut, eating the same few foods over and over because they're easy and you have them on hand. Having a mix-and-match lunch system can help you break out of that rut, allowing you to have a variety of easy lunch options that don't compromise on flavor or quality. Here's my basic formula:
Grain base + protein and veggie filling + dressing or salsa + toppings = one incredibly healthy and delicious lunch!
You can use just about any grain for the base—rice, quinoa, millet, or even a "faux" grain like cauliflower rice. Canned beans or lentils and a combination of your favorite raw, steamed, grilled or roasted veggies, will work for the filling and toppings can vary from day-to-day based on what you have in the fridge or pantry—nuts, seeds, chopped fresh herbs, etc. Yesterday's hummus makes for a great addition to a Mediterranean themed bowl, and that ¼ jar of marinara that has been hanging out in your fridge is great in bowls with white rice, cannellini beans, marinated artichoke hearts and a sprinkle of basil and pine nuts. Toss lentils with a simple red wine vinaigrette one day and use the rest with a tahini dressing the next. The possibilities are endless!
About the Recipe
This Mexican Cauliflower Rice Salad is a perfect example of a typical lunch bowl I make. I prepare the cauliflower rice and red onion relish on Sunday evening and keep them in the fridge for the first three lunches during the week. The cauliflower rice takes the place of a grain, on which I layer beans, corn, roasted red peppers and salsa. If you follow the recipe, you'll have enough ingredients to make 3 servings of this particular salad, or you can prepare the cauliflower rice base and switch things up with different toppings for each serving. This salad is great warm, but it is equally delicious straight out of the fridge for a completely hassle-free lunch.
Ingredients
For the onion relish:
- ½ cup chopped red onion
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- juice of 1 large lime
For the salad:
- 1 batch cauliflower rice
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
- 1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup frozen corn kernels thawed (or kernels from 1 ear fresh corn)
- 1 roasted red bell pepper chopped
Garnishes:
- 1 cup salsa verde
- 3 tbsp roasted pepitas
- ¾ cup chopped cilantro
- sliced avocado or guacamole
Instructions
Make the onion relish:
- In a small bowl, combine the onion, cilantro and lime juice. Set aside to marinate at room temperature for 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Assemble the salad:
- In a large bowl, season the cauliflower rice to taste with kosher salt and pepper, then, if packing ahead for lunches, divide between 3 portable containers with airtight lids. Divide beans, corn kernels, and roasted red peppers among each of the containers, then top each portion with ⅓ of the salsa verde, cilantro, pepitas, and onion relish. Seal and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When packing lunch, include guacamole or a small avocado to eat on the side.
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This looks amazing. I love reading your blog. I always come away inspired to make a salad!
Millie | Add A Little says
Looks amazing! What a colourful and tasty lunch!
Tina Muir says
ooooh this sounds wonderful! I love this kind of meal, and as you mentioned, with salsa on top, it becomes deliciously tasty. I tried that for the first time yesterday, and was shocked. So much so that I think I may have salsa as my dressing more often, especially the pineapple salsa I had from Tjs.
Thanks for this, this would be a great recovery meal for me, with chicago closing in, I need to make sure my body is ready!
Leslie says
That bowl looks great. I love all of the colors! My boyfriend and I have been wanting to add more cauliflower to out diet. Have you tried it in a crust? I'm wondering how that would taste and I really want to try it.
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
This is my kind of lunch! So delicious!
Joanne says
Big bowls of salad like this are some of my favorite meals! I love your formula. It's pretty similar to what I tend to follow when salad-making as well!
Amanda says
The was so good! I am not a huge fan of cauliflower, but it was so tasty and the texture was really good!
Micky says
Hi,
The very delicious recipe I must say. Looks very fresh and healthy.
Thanks