Remember when quinoa was hailed as the ultimate rice replacement a few years back? Now cauliflower rice has proven such a big hit with health-conscious shoppers, Trader Joe’s has implemented a two-bag limit per customer limit at certain locations.
Just in case you’re wondering what cauliflower rice is, it’s simply a bag of cauliflower that has been pulsed in a food processor until it has been turned into tiny pieces that have a rice-like texture. Simply cook the “rice” in your favorite light oil for three to five minutes, and you’re ready to eat this trendy side dish. Gourmands, Paleo fans, and wholesome eaters have switched to cauliflower rice as a low-carb substitute for traditional rice, but the fact that it’s loaded with vitamins C, K, and B6 is a healthy bonus.
A bag of cauliflower rice retails for $2.49 at Trader Joe’s, and they seem to be having a tough time keeping it on the shelves. The same can’t be said for their slightly less popular riced broccoli, but Trader Joe’s has commented on how the grocery brand creates their own cauliflower rice:
To make the best riced version of these cruciferous veggies, we’ve used primarily stems. Their firmer texture is significantly better for ricing; it retains its crunchiness, and results in a bit more ‘bite’ when cooked. And their flavor is much milder than that of florets, which actually makes it more rice-y. Of course, there are florets in the mix as well, but the stems are in the majority.
I’m not going to compete with other shoppers over any vegetable, much less mulched cauliflower stems, but if my local store puts a limit on Mountain Dew and Skittles, we’ve got a problem.
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