Easy Vegan Spanish Rice Bowl with Taco Spice Roasted Cauliflower. Everyday Meal with everyday ingredients. Make into burrito or wraps. Vegan Glutenfree Nutfree Soyfree Recipe. 30 Mins, Easily made Oilfree.
When you have limited things in the fridge but want a fantastic flavorful meal, this Spanish Rice Bowl checks all the points.
It uses everyday ingredients, is quick, flexible and has so much flavor! Make the simple Spanish rice, Roast up the veggies, load a bowl with toppings of choice such as salsa and avocado and done. Add beans for a hearty meal. I generally use my own Taco blend so that I can adjust the flavor to preference. Use any taco seasoning or chili blend of choice.
Although the title being used is Spanish rice, it is basically mexican rice. Spanish rice (from spanish cuisine is slightly different with saffron and other ingredients). Mexican rice is also called spanish rice at times. Mexican rice also has many variations and recipes. This is my interpretation of the tomato based rice dish and I ended up choosing Spanish rice as that is a more popular search term. 
More Easy Bowls from the blog..
- Peanut Butter Roasted Cauliflower Bowl. GF
- Curried Kidney Bean Bowl with quinoa, zucchini, mango salsa GF
- Shawarma Chickpeas, Sweet Potato Buddha Bowl GF
- Quinoa Cauliflower Bowl with almond Sriracha sauce GF
- Chili Garlic Tofu Bowl with Vermicelli. GF
More Tacos from the blog
- Mango BBQ Soyur/jackfruit Tacos.
- Berbere Spiced Jackfruit Tacos
- Chipotle Shredded Butternut Tacos
- Jackfruit Meatballs Tacos
- Mushroom Barbacoa Tacos
Recipe Card
Vegan Spanish Rice Bowl with Taco Spice Roasted Cauliflower
Ingredients
Spanish Rice
- 1 cup (200 g) white rice such as basmati, or use short grain washed, drained, then soaked in water for 15 mins
- 1 (1) tomato
- 1/4 cup (40 g) chopped onion
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder blend or taco seasoning (see Recipe notes)
- 1 tbsp pickled jalapeno
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) salt
- 1 3/4 cup (437.5 ml) water
- 1/4 cup (65 g) chunky salsa
- 2 tbsp cilantro
Roasted Cauliflower
- 1 small head of cauliflower chopped into florets
- 2 tsp oil or aquafaba
- 1 tbsp or more taco spice /seasoning blend
- 1/2 tsp (0.5) garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) salt
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) oregano
To Serve:
- Salsa of choice
- Guacamole
- Lime juice
Instructions
- Spanish Rice: Blend the tomato, onion, cumin, chili powder, jalapeno, garlic powder until smooth and set aside.
- Drain the rice and combine with 1 3/4 cup water in a saucepan.(You can roast the drained rice in 1 tsp oil for a few mins until it starts to turn golden before adding water). Add the pureed tomato mixture, 1/2 tsp salt and mix in. (at this point you can also add some chopped bell pepper).
- Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 16 to 18 minutes or until the rice is cooked through. Mix in about 1/4 cup chunky salsa and the chopped cilantro and fluff. Taste and adjust salt, flavor(add more chili powder or taco seasoning, more salsa if needed).
- Roasted Cauliflower: Drizzle oil over the cauliflower florets. Mix in well (I use my hands to rub the oil all over). You can also add other veggies to the mix such as broccoli, zucchini, sweet potato, rutabaga. Increase the spices and salt accordingly.
- Mix the spices and salt in a small bowl then sprinkle all over. Toss to coat. Distribute the Cauliflower on a parchment lined baking sheet or baking dish.
- Bake at 425 degrees F (220 deg C) for 25 mins or until the veggies are cooked through.
- Serve the spanish rice with the roasted cauliflower/veggies, sprinkle of lime juice, some salsa and guacamole/avocado. For a hearty meal, add beans of choice. I also like a dash of black pepper over the bowl. The mix can also be made into burritos with some lettuce and refried beans.
Notes
1 tsp each of oregano and parsley, 1/2 tsp cayenne (optional, add less to pref), a good pinch of all spice or cinnamon. Brown Rice: Use 2.5 cups water for brown rice, add a bit more of the spices and herbs. Bring to boil over medium heat, then reduce to medium-low, cover and cook for 45 mins or until the rice is cooked through. Let the rice sit covered for another 5 mins, before fluffing and adding salsa. Nutrition is 1 of 3 serves
Nutrition
Sylvia
This is absolutely deliciousā¦. Thank you so much!!
Vegan Richa Support
thank you!
Dawn
Is that a 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder for the roasted cauliflower? Thanks!
Vegan Richa Support
Yes, the 1/2 tsp is for the cauliflower. The first mentioned garlic in the Spanish rice instructions refers to the garlic included in the taco seasoning blend.
Enjoy!
Sam
Hi Richa! Can we make this in a rice cooker? I usually use about 3/4 cup of water for each cup of rice.
Vegan Richa Support
I don’t see why not
Travis B
Quick & easy & delicious! Perfect for weeknight meals where you don’t want to do a lot of active cooking time š
Sina
We had this for dinner last night. It was great! My husband usually doesnāt like cauliflower but he liked this. š
Sona
This recipe looks great! One question, is the 2 tbsp of cilantro, dried cilantro or fresh?
Thanks.
Richa
fresh
Sona
Thanks!
Arto Bokchoi.
Hi. Is it possible to do with the brown rice? Thank you so much for all your recipes!
Richa
yes, make sure to adjust the recipe for it (double the water and cook for 30 mins or longer).
Arto Bokchoi.
Lovely! Thank you so much for your response!
Dawn
Would black beans go well with this?
Richa
yes. mix some of the taco spice with the beans ans saute for a few mins to heat up and for flavor
Dawn
Thank you!!!
Rani Dhaschainey
Hi, the rice looks delicious. I wonder if this could be done with quinoa instead? Have you tried it?
Richa
yes quinoa should work fine, you’ll need a bit less water. Bring it to a good boil, then cover and simmer on low for 15 mins
Emisha
Hello! Wonder if Rice part can be made in the Instant Pot?
Richa
Sure. 2 mins high pressure and then natural release for 10 mins then quick release for basmati or long grain white rice
Andrea
Spanish and mexican are two completely different things. Spanish from Spain, Mexican from Mexico.
Catherine
So delicious! I will use this recipe to make Spanish Rice from now on. I used roasted cauliflower and carrots with the rice. It is so good and I will make again soon. Thanks for the recipe!
Richa
awesome
Sarah
Looks great! How do you think this would be with brown rice?
Valerie
I really liked the flavor of this rice but I seem to be missing the boat when it comes to cooking times. I cooked the rice at medium low for 16 minutes and it was still quite firm with much water left over. When I tried to bring the rice to a boil and then cook at medium low for 16 minute the rice was overdone and mushy. Do you have any suggestions?
Richa
The times are generally right for white basmati (some brands will still differ as their basmati is thicker rice than it should be). They might differ bu a few mins here and therefor different types and brands of rice. I would say check at the 14-15 min mark and continue to cook based on how it is. If it is still firm then check after another 3 to 4 mins. if its just about done then fluff and cover for a minute, then add in the salsa
Carl
Cool
Laura
thank you!
Ahmed Faisal
This looks so nice, even though am not a fan of rice. But looking of this I want to eat the whole thing.
The pictures are so good and the recipe is very easy to understand. Can’t wait to look all the tasty recipes on the blog. Keep up the good work.
Cassie Thuvan Tran
Yum, I had paella last night! So yummy, but this looks even better! I love the roasted cauliflower. It looks so perfectly crisp and flavorful!
Laura
This looks amazing! Could I make the rice in my Instant Pot instead?
Richa
Sure. i havent tried it. Rice is a bit tricky to make in the instant pot, over cooking or burn issues coz of the less liquid etc. But if you have nailed down the time for the type of rice you usually make, then use it. Use a bit less liquid that listed.
Heidi C.
I grew up eating a version of Spanish Rice and had kind of forgotten about it. This is a great reminder and a much healthier version. Thanks!
Nancy
Oh my goodness this looks absolutely delicious! I confess Iām a ābuy the little box of āSpanish Riceā processed food junkie. I try for the most part to do a WFPB diet, but havenāt tried to make Spanish Rice on my own. Cannot wait to make this! Thanks!
Richa
its super easy and flexible. use whichever ingredients you have.