Unfortunately, while this staple grain is versatile and filling, there are also downsides to excessive consumption of rice, obesity and diabetes being two of them.
So, two brave men set out on a mission to show Malaysians a way to enjoy tasty but healthy meals without the need for rice.
At Cauli & Rice, most of the dishes are served with cauliflower rice, a healthier alternative with far fewer calories and more nutrients.
To give the crunchy vegetable the same feel and texture of rice, the cauliflower is first shredded into grain-sized pieces that can easily pass off as rice.
But just because it looks like rice doesn’t mean it tastes as good as rice, right? Well, that’s on you to decide as you pick and choose from the extensive menu.
If you love a kick of spice in your food, give the Spicy Tom Yam Caulirice Bowl a try. Clocking in at 252 calories per bowl, this is a good meal with a spicy and sour kick that will leave you with a singed tongue.
With a serving of plump chicken breasts and crunchy red cabbage, it’s little wonder then that this is considered a bestseller.
However, if you prefer a spicy dish with familiar flavours of home and hearth, you should give the Malaysian Curry Hybrid Bowl a try.
As the “hybrid” label may suggest, this bowl is filled with a mix of caulirice and white rice, giving diners the best of both worlds. With an onsen egg crowning the dish, there are chunks of chicken and mushrooms hidden beneath, waiting to please your palate.
For kids and folks who prefer non-spicy meals, the Tangy Tomato White Rice Bowl is a treat.
Cooked with rice mixed with egg whites, the taste of tomato is infused throughout the dish, giving it a distinct tangy flavour. A kampung fried egg, tofu, broccoli and mushrooms keeps this vegetarian dish exciting and tasteful.
If these rice dishes aren’t capable of sating your voracious appetite, perhaps it’s time to treat yourself to some tantalising M Fried Chicken as well.
There are five flavours to choose from – Superior Soy Garlic, Spicy Red Pepper, Santan Peanut, Rendang, and the bestseller here which is the Signature Lemongrass.
The lemongrass’ citrusy and minty flavour notes sure do make for some addictive fried chicken that is crunchy down to the last bite.
Another snack worth sampling is the strange but tasty Soy Garlic Cauli Nuggets, despite not having a morsel of meat within. Instead, it is chunks of cauliflower fried in a thin batter then coated with Superior Soy Garlic sauce.
While you may be apprehensive to try this, a single bite might just change your mind, as the sweet and chewy cauliflower is a pure delight to savour.
Last but not least on the menu is the humble but refreshing Lemon Chia Seed Jelly, quite the healthy dessert.
With a superfruit and superfood combined into a single treat, this cold dessert is something best enjoyed on a hot Malaysian afternoon.
Speaking to FMT, Cauli & Rice co-founder Kenneth Lai, 34, said that the restaurant hopes to help change Malaysian mindsets regarding healthy food.
“With more people getting used to the idea of cauliflower rice, Cauli & Rice is our way of giving back to the community. We hope to grow this business as we want more people to enjoy the health benefits of cauliflower rice.”
Cauli & Rice (Shah Alam)
Lot L1-05, Level 1
Gamuda Walk
Persiaran Anggerik Vanilla
Kota Kemuning
40460 Shah Alam
Selangor
Cauli & Rice (Damansara Utama)
4B, Jalan SS 21/62
Damansara Utama
47400 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Business hours: 10.30am-8.30pm daily
Website: www.cauliandrice.com
Contact: 011-56307815