Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice — Whole30 & Gluten-Free Recipe

Kimchi cauliflower fried rice is a flavorful, one-bowl, Whole30-friendly weeknight meal packed with umami. It’s a low-carb way to use up leftovers.

An overhead shot of a bowl of Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice

Table of Contents

  • A healthy one skillet dish!
  • Ingredients
  • How to make Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice
  • How to save leftovers
  • More cauliflower fried rice recipes
  • PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD
  • Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe

A healthy one skillet dish!

If you’ve been meaning to add more fermented foods to your meals, this one-pan kimchi cauliflower fried rice is a delicious place to start. The kimchi brings deep, savory flavor to the dish and pairs beautifully with chicken (or other leftover cooked meat) and riced cauliflower. It’s quick, satisfying, and adaptable to Whole30 when you use a sugar-free, additive-free kimchi.

Although cooking kimchi will reduce its probiotic benefits, the cooked dish remains rich and umami-forward. Save some raw kimchi to serve on the side so you can enjoy both the flavor and the live cultures.

Ingredients

  • Kimchi: about 1 cup, store-bought or homemade
  • Eggs: 3 large
  • Kosher salt
  • Avocado oil (or cooking fat of choice), 3 tablespoons, divided
  • Small onion: ½, finely chopped
  • Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
  • Cubed cooked chicken or leftover cooked meat, about 2 cups
  • Riced cauliflower: 1 small head riced (or 16 ounces frozen riced cauliflower)
  • Kimchi juice: 2 tablespoons (liquid from the kimchi jar)
  • Coconut aminos: 2 tablespoons
  • Toasted sesame oil: 1 teaspoon
  • Scallions: 2, sliced on the diagonal
  • Toasted nori sheet: cut into strips for garnish
  • Toasted sesame seeds: 1 tablespoon, for garnish

How to make Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice

Chop the kimchi into bite-sized pieces. Store-bought works fine; if you prefer, make your own for full control over ingredients.

Someone chopping kimchi on a cutting board.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Whisk the eggs with ½ teaspoon of kosher salt. Add 1 tablespoon of avocado oil to the hot pan and pour in the eggs, tilting the skillet to form an even omelet. Cook 1–2 minutes until set, flip to finish cooking, then transfer the omelet to a cutting board and slice into thin strips.

Stirring eggs in a bowl and pouring the eggs into a pan.

Return the skillet to medium heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Sauté the chopped onion with a pinch of salt for 2–3 minutes until softened, then add the minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.

Someone adding onions into a pan and stir frying them.

Add the chopped kimchi and raise the heat to medium-high. Stir-fry for about 5 minutes until parts of the kimchi begin to brown. Stir in the cubed chicken and cook 1 minute to heat through.

Kimchi on fried onions in a pan.

Add the riced cauliflower and mix well to combine. Pour in the kimchi juice and coconut aminos, stirring to distribute the flavors. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 3–5 minutes until the cauliflower is tender but not mushy.

Cauliflower rice added into the pan with fried kimchi, chicken, and onions.

Taste and adjust seasoning with salt if needed. Remove from heat and stir in toasted sesame oil. Fold in the egg strips and sliced scallions, then divide the fried rice among serving bowls.

Someone adding sliced green onions to a pan.

Garnish with nori strips and toasted sesame seeds before serving.

Someone adding slices of seaweed in a bowl with paleo kimchi cauliflower fried rice.

How to save leftovers

Store leftover kimchi cauliflower fried rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through.

More cauliflower fried rice recipes

  • Asian Cauliflower Fried Rice
  • Simple Cauliflower Fried Rice
  • Mexi-Cauli Rice
  • Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice
  • Golden Cauliflower Fried Rice

Looking for more recipe ideas? Check the Recipe Index or refer to the author’s cookbooks for additional inspiration.


PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD

Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice

Kimchi fried cauliflower rice is a delicious, one-bowl, Whole30-friendly weeknight meal that’s packed with umami. It’s a great way to use up leftovers.
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Servings 4 servings
Author Michelle Tam
Kimchi Fried Cauliflower Rice by Michelle Tam

Ingredients

  • 1 cup kimchi
  • 3 large eggs
  • Kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons avocado oil, divided
  • ½ small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cups cubed cooked chicken or leftover cooked meat
  • 1 small cauliflower head, riced (or 16 oz riced cauliflower)
  • 2 tablespoons kimchi juice
  • 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 2 scallions, sliced on the diagonal
  • 1 toasted nori sheet, cut into strips for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

  • Chop the kimchi into bite-sized pieces.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Whisk eggs with ½ teaspoon salt. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the hot pan, pour in the eggs, and cook into an omelet. Flip to finish cooking, then slice into thin strips.
  • Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the skillet. Sauté the onion with a pinch of salt 2–3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  • Add chopped kimchi and increase heat to medium-high. Stir-fry 5 minutes until parts brown.
  • Stir in cubed chicken and cook 1 minute to warm through.
  • Add riced cauliflower, kimchi juice, and coconut aminos. Mix well.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 3–5 minutes until tender but not mushy.
  • Taste and adjust salt. Remove from heat and stir in toasted sesame oil.
  • Fold in egg strips and scallions. Serve topped with nori strips and sesame seeds. Store leftovers in the fridge up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Notes

Choose a kimchi that contains no added sugar or unwanted additives for a Whole30-friendly dish. Use white kimchi if you prefer less heat.

Nutrition

Calories: 347 kcal |
Carbohydrates: 13 g |
Protein: 30 g |
Fat: 19 g |
Fiber: 3 g |
Sugar: 4 g

Nutrition information is an approximation.

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