Beef Burrito Bowl with Cauliflower Rice (Low Lectin)

Who doesn’t like a big bowl of yummy Tex-Mex? I love it and I have been planning for a while to make one and introduce my parents to these Texas flavors. If you are new here, we spent five years in Texas (where CreativeInMyKitchen was born) and came back to Europe in the spring of 2020 (temporarily). We are in Romania now, when I type this and make a lectin-free Tex-Mex meal here presents a few challenges, but not many. Like not finding cilantro at every corner. Or not finding cauliflower rice in stores. But the reaction of my dad and husband when they ate this lectin-light beef burrito bowl with cauliflower rice made it all worth it.

A multi-layer dish

Let’s start with a very important remark: while this burrito bowl recipe doesn’t require fancy ingredients or fancy cooking techniques, it does require a little bit of planning and organization in the kitchen. For me, that’s quite a big deal, as I tend to be spontaneous when it comes to cooking and eating and I’m the first to admit it, a little messy. If I made it, you can too. And you will not have to take notes and pictures at every step, so that’s a plus :).

That’s why I recommend reading this entire post and the recipe first and making a plan for it. The best is to make some of these layers in advance. Like pressure cooking and even preparing the beans. It’s easier to buy the cauliflower rice already made, but if you live in a place where that’s not an option, you will have to count the time of making the rice from scratch. That’s why I didn’t add preparation and cooking time to the recipe as there are so many variables to count for.

One thing I can say, the result is all worth it. And this is the kind of meal that everyone will love (compliant or non-compliant).

De-lectinize and prepare the beans

To reduce the lectin content in black beans, they have to be soaked and pressure cooked. I recommend preparing them in advance so you don’t have to make everything on the same day. Plus, you will have to soak the beans overnight so you will have to start one day in advance. Four cups of cooked beans weigh about 660 grams. So, these are the steps:

1. Soak the beans overnight, changing water 3, 4 times.
2. Pressure cook the beans in freshwater (no salt) for 22 minutes.
3. Let the pressure release naturally.
4. Drain the beans and discard the water.
5. Sautee the onions and garlic, add the pressure cooked beans and 1 cup of water, salt and pepper and simmer on low heat, adding more water if necessary, until a creamy consistency is achieved (about 30-40 minutes).
6. Add freshly chopped cilantro or parsley (my first choice for this dish would be cilantro but not everyone has access to fresh cilantro).

If you use beans, this will be a phase 3 plant paradox recipe, hence the name, lectin-light. If you are still in phase 2, skip the beans and add more of the rest to your bowl. More about reintroducing beans if you follow the plant paradox program here: Reintroducing Beans. Three Easy and Delicious Recipes.

Also, if you want to hear from Dr. Gundry himself about beans and how he integrates them into his diet, I recommend reading this interview: A Day in the Life of Dr. Steven Gundry.

Make the cauliflower rice

This step can be skipped if you buy the cauliflower rice already made. Where I am now, in Romania, cauliflower rice is not a thing and not something you would find in stores. So I have to make it at home. Some people make it look complicated, but I promise, it’s easy. Again, if you choose the homemade version, I recommend making the rice in advance. But careful, it doesn’t store well in the fridge so it has to be used relatively fast. Freezing is a better option.

These are the steps:

1. Wash a head of cauliflower, cut in small florets (including the stems) and let dry on a towel.
2. Process the cauliflower in batches (for one medium cauliflower, two batches, or fill half of the bowl of your food processor) until it resembles the texture of rice.
3. Sautee the cauliflower rice in a little bit of extra virgin olive oil, stirring often, for no longer than 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper.
4. That’s all. From one medium cauliflower, you will get about 8 cups of cauliflower rice, which is enough for about 5, 6 servings. One cup cauliflower rice is about 120 grams or 4.2 oz.

Prepare the meat for the lectin-light beef burrito bowl

I recommend using flank steak or skirt steak for this one, 100% grass-fed, of course. Spices and aromatics are really important for a burrito bowl. You will use red onion, garlic, black pepper, salt, paprika, turmeric, cumin, coriander (I only had seeds but you can use powder if you have), oregano (Mexican oregano is great but if you don’t have, normal oregano is fine). To make it easier, feel free to use an Adobo spice mix or a taco seasoning spice mix. Just be careful when reading the label so there are no non-compliant ingredients in it.

The meat will be cooked in a pressure cooker. First sauteed with the spices, then add 1/2 cup of water and pressure cook for 20 minutes. Let the pressure release and add 1 teaspoon of tapioca or arrowroot mixed with a little bit of cold water. Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens.

The avocado dressing

This is super simple and can also be made a few hours in advance. Just add 2 ripe avocados to a blender, salt, pepper, lime juice, cilantro if you have or like, about 1/2 cup water. Blend until all creamy and add more water if you want it thinner. Adjust the taste to your preference with more salt, pepper, or lime juice. I was so excited to eat this beef burrito bowl that I forgot to take a picture of the making of the dressing :).

Serving a beef burrito bowl with cauliflower rice

I recommend adding everything to separate serving plates and having everyone make their own bowl at the table. I like to start with a layer of cabbage, continue with cauliflower rice, the beans, the meat and the dressing. Or, for those who don’t like mixing the food, add them separately. Top with cilantro, spring onions (or red onions), red Tabasco, or even a dollop of organic sour cream if you eat dairy.

Enjoy the lectin-light beef burrito bowl with cauliflower rice and please let me know if you make it.