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Korean Cauliflower Fried Rice

Closeup of Korean Cauliflower Fried Rice on a black plate garnished with spring onion.
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Korean Cauliflower Fried Rice is quick and easy to make and full of BIG and BOLD flavors! Ground chicken, cauliflower rice, fragrant aromatics, scrambled eggs and veggies get tossed with spicy-smoky gochujang and other Korean-style seasonings! It’s ready in 30 minutes, high in protein, filling and DELICIOUS!

Ingredients

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For the Gochujang Chicken:

  • 1 TSP Peanut Oil (or any neutral oil with a high smoke point), for cooking
  • 260 grams / 9 ounces Lean Ground Chicken
  • ¼ + ⅛ TSP Kosher Salt, to taste
  • ⅛ TSP ground Black Pepper
  • ½ TBSP Low Sodium Light Soy Sauce
  • ½ TBSP Gochujang (Korean chili pepper paste – note 1)
  • ¼ TSP Sesame Oil

For the Korean Cauliflower Fried Rice:

  • 50 grams / ¼ medium Yellow Onion – finely chopped
  • 20 grams / 1 medium Spring Onion (Scallion/Green Onion) – finely chopped, white and light green parts separated from the dark green parts
  • 8 grams / ≈ 1 TBLS minced Ginger
  • 25 grams / 4-5 Garlic cloves – minced
  • 35 grams / 9-10 fresh Red Chilies (Thai Bird’s Eye or any other small hot red chilies – note 2*), to taste – finely chopped
  • 100 grams / 1 heaped cup Coleslaw Salad Mix (red and green cabbage and carrots – note 3)
  • 100 grams / ⅔ cup Frozen Shelled Edamame, thawed
  • 2 large Eggs – lightly beaten
  • 226 grams / 8-ounce bag frozen Riced Cauliflower (about 2 cups) – thawed and drained if using frozen (note 4)
  • ½ TBSP Peanut Oil
  • ⅛ TSP ground Black Pepper, to taste
  • ¼ TSP ground Kosher Salt, to taste
  • 1 TBSP Low Sodium Light Soy Sauce
  • 30 grams / 1 TBLS Gochujang
  • 1 TSP Distilled White Vinegar
  • ½ TSP granulated Sugar-Free Sweetener (I used Wholesome Zero Sugar – note 5)
  • ¼ TSP Gochugaru (Korean hot pepper powder – note 6), to taste
  • ½ TSP Sesame Oil
  • To Serve: Toasted white or black sesame seeds, reserved chopped spring onion

Instructions

Prep:

  1. Prepare the fresh ingredients: Chop the yellow onion, spring onion (separating the white and light green parts from the dark green parts), ginger, garlic, and fresh red chilies as indicated in the ‘ingredients’ section. Measure out the slaw mix and shelled edamame. Thaw the frozen shelled edamame. Crack the eggs into a bowl and lightly beat.
  2. Prepare the frozen cauliflower rice: Squeeze the cauliflower rice bag gently to break apart pieces and evenly distribute the riced cauliflower. Be careful not to puncture the bag. Thaw the cauliflower rice in the microwave in its bag according to package instructions. Usually this involves microwaving the bag for 3-6 minutes on high but time may vary depending on the wattage of your microwave. Allow the bag to cool for 1 minute then carefully remove from the microwave. Use caution as the bag will be HOT. Cut the bag open and pour the thawed cauliflower rice into a bowl. Spoon out and discard any excess water. (It’s okay if the cauliflower rice is a little wet at this point as high heat will help cook off the excess liquid.)

For the Korean Cauliflower Fried Rice:

  1. Cook the gochujang chicken: Heat 1 teaspoon peanut oil in a large nonstick wok or heavy bottomed deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground chicken and season with the (¼ + ⅛ TSP) kosher salt and (⅛ TSP) ground black pepper. Cook for 2 minutes, breaking the clumps until no longer pink. Add (½ TBSP) low sodium light soy sauce, (½ TBSP) gochujang and (¼ TSP) sesame oil. Mix well to combine until the meat is coated well in the sauces and cooked. Switch off the heat and transfer to a clean bowl.
  2. Stir-fry the aromatics: Heat the remaining (½ TBLS) peanut oil in the wok over high heat. Add the yellow onion, spring onion white and light green parts and ginger. Stir-fry for 30 seconds until the onion starts to soften. Add the garlic and chilies and stir-fry for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add the veggies: Add the tri-color coleslaw salad mix and edamame. Season with ¼ TSP each of kosher salt and ground black pepper and stir-fry for 30 seconds until slightly softened.
  4. Cook the eggs: Push everything to the side of the wok and pour in the eggs. Allow to set for 15-20 seconds, then break up into pieces and toss to combine with everything else.
  5. Add the gochujang chicken: Add the cooked gochujang ground chicken and stir-fry for 30 seconds until combined with everything.
  6. Add the cauliflower rice and seasonings: Add the cauliflower rice, (1 TBSP) low sodium light soy sauce, (1 TBSP) gochujang, (1 TSP) distilled white vinegar, (½ TSP) sugar-free sweetener and (¼ TSP) gochugaru. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes, flattening the mixture occasionally with your spatula and pausing before stir-frying again, until the grains are coated well in the sauce and cauliflower rice is no longer mushy or wet.
  7. Toss through the spring onion: Drizzle (½ TSP) sesame oil over the fried cauliflower rice and toss through the spring onion dark green parts (reserve some for garnish). Switch off the heat.
  8. To Serve: Divide evenly onto plates or in bowls. Garnish with toasted white or black sesame seeds and the reserved spring onion dark green parts. Serve immediately.

Equipment

Notes

  1. Gochujang. This is a fermented Korean red chili pepper paste that comes in small tubs. It’s loaded with umami and has a spicy-sweet and smoky flavor. I use an extra spicy gochujang from Chung Jung One brand in my home, but a regular spice level gochujang works too. These days, you can find gochujang in the Asian section of most mainstream supermarkets that are well-stocked with international ingredients. If not, try an Asian or Korean supermarket or purchase it online.
  2. Fresh Red Chilies. I used Thai Bird’s Eye chilies which are quite spicy. Feel free to use any type of red chilies you love. Omit to make this dish milder or adjust the quantity to taste based on your heat level preference.
  3. Frozen Cauliflower Rice. I used store-bought frozen cauliflower rice which can be found in the freezer section of most mainstream supermarkets. It’s convenient, less messy and using it still yields a delicious and great textured cauliflower fried rice. You’re welcome to make the cauliflower rice yourself by pulsing fresh cauliflower florets in a food processor if you prefer.
  4. Granulated Sugar-Free Sweetener. I add a pinch of Wholesome Zero Sugar to balance out the spicy flavors. It’s a sugar-free and calorie-free erythritol based sweetener. Use any other sugar-free sweeteners made from stevia, monk fruit, etc. Or use regular granulated white sugar or pure maple syrup, coconut sugar, or honey or if you prefer.
  5. Gochugaru. This is a hot Korean pepper powder and can be found in Asian and Korean supermarkets as well as online. Use more or less to taste or leave it out for a milder flavor. Substitute with chili powder if unavailable.
  6. Meal prep option. Double the ingredients by clicking the ‘2x’ button at the top of the recipe card and cook the cauliflower fried rice in two batches to make 4 servings. You can enjoy it for an easy lunch or dinner during the week.
  7. Storing and reheating leftovers. Store in airtight sealed container(s) in the fridge and reheat on high in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until hot throughout.
  8. See ‘Variations’ section in the post above if you’d like to customize this Korean cauliflower fried rice.

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