Cauliflower Dirty Rice with Andouille Sausage (Paleo)

Last month, I went up to Vermont to cook for a gluten-free retreat hosted by fellow blogger Brittany Angell. There were quite a few grain and dairy-free diners at the retreat, so I used the opportunity to play around with some easy paleo recipes.

One of everyone's favorite dishes ended up being this Cauliflower Dirty "Rice" with Andoille Sausage.

The dish contains absolutely no grains, because the rice is actually made from cauliflower florets that have been ground up into fine little pieces that resemble rice or couscous.

Cooked quickly on the stove, they can then be mixed with any number of herbs, seasonings, or vegetables to create a satisfying savory dish.

It's a great way to enjoy a starchy-like dish if you're following a grain-free or low-carb diet.

This inspiration from this particular dish came from the sausage.

Whenever I'm up in Vermont, I buy a few packages of this delicious local pork sausage in a variety of flavors (generally chorizo and andouille) to use in my recipes. I wanted to feature the spicy andouille in something, and so the dirty rice was conceived!

Real dirty rice is made with chicken liver or giblets, the dark meat giving the rice a dark or "dirty" appearance. For mine, I only used the sausage along with the rest of the New Orleans cooking trinity: peppers, onions, and celery.  (Though I subbed in orange peppers, because I'm not a fan of green ones!)

The vegetables and spicy sausage cook together in a bit of broth, then are mixed with the cauliflower to create a filling savory dish.

(Another bonus is that, unlike real rice, which can be subpar on the second or third day--cauliflower rice reheats beautifully, so you can enjoy it all week long!)

Fun Stuff: Want to join me in Vermont next time? Click here to read about my upcoming culinary retreat this summer--and how YOU can snag a spot!

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Cauliflower Dirty Rice with Andouille Sausage

Recipe by Alejandra Ramos | AlwaysOrderDessert.com

A paleo recipe for cauliflower dirty rice with andouille sausage. A great low-carb and grain-free side dish or main course.

Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 head cauliflower, thick core removed and chopped into florets
• 1/2 Spanish onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 pound smoked andouille sausage, sliced
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne
• 1 tablespoon smoked spanish paprika (sweet)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 bay leaf

Directions

1. Place 1/3 of the cauliflower florets in food processor with blade attached, and pulse until florets are finely ground about the size of cous cous. Pour ground cauliflower into large bowl, and repeat with rest of cauliflower, in batches. Set aside. 

2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over medium heat, and add the onion. Saute until translucent, then add the garlic, celery, and peppers. Saute for 5 minutes, then add the sausage, and continue to cook for about 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the sausage is browned. 

3. Stir in the spices, seasoning, and broth, and add the bay leaf. Reduce heat to low, and let simmer 10 minutes, until the liquid is reduce by 3/4. 

4. While the vegetables simmer, heat the rest of the oil over high heat in a second large skillet and add the cauliflower. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until it is cooked, but still firm (no mushy cauliflower!). 

5. Transfer cooked cauliflower to a large bowl, and add the vegetable and sausage mixture (minus the bay leaf!). Mix well to coat, stir in the parsley, and season with salt and pepper, to taste.