Creamy Mashed Cauliflower is often touted as a low carb alternative to mashed potato, but it’s actually a delicious side dish in its own right that regularly makes an appearance at up market bistros and fine dining restaurants! Serve Cauliflower Mash with everything from your favourite Steak to Roast Chicken, Schnitzel to Sausages with Gravy.
It’s so tasty, you’ll want to eat it straight out of the pot!
Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
Mashed Cauliflower made well is seriously tasty in its own right, not just the low carb cousin of rich, buttery mashed potato. Nowadays, it’s borderline “trendy”. I see it regularly on plates served up by up market bistros and fine dining restaurants!
So here’s how I make Cauliflower Mash taste as good as mashed potato – without using an entire block of butter! ?
How to cook cauliflower to taste like mashed potato
The secret to make cauliflower taste like mashed potato is the flavourings. You can’t just boil up a big pot of cauliflower and mash it!
Here’s what you need. There are options – to make it dairy free, vegan (sour cream/cream cheese is optional), and also what you’ve got on hand or your personal preferences.
TIP: Make sure the cauliflower is cooked until soft, to ensure it purees smooth. Getting hard little rice-like bits in your cauliflower mash is not very pleasant!
Creamy – or chunky!
Make your Cauliflower Mash smooth and creamy, as I have done, or chunkier if that’s your preference. My preference is smooth because it makes it seem richer and hence more like mashed potato. If it’s chunky, you get juicy bits of cauliflower – which sort of reminds you that you’re eating cauliflower instead of creamy mashed potato!
What to serve with Cauliflower Mashed Potato
Serve Cauliflower Mashed Potato with anything that you’d ordinarily serve with mashed potato – and devour without guilt! Here are a few ideas:
- Meatloaf!
- Crispy Pan Fried Fish
- Crispy Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast – LOW CARB!
- Garlic Chicken Thighs, Sticky Baked Chicken Thighs or juicy Marinated Chicken Breast
- Marinated Pork Chops, French Onion Smothered Chops,
- Pork Tenderloin with Honey Garlic Sauce or Roast Pork with Crispy Crackling
- Steak with Creamy Peppercorn Sauce or Garlic Thyme Butter Basted Steak
- Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy
And that’s just the tip fo the iceberg. Have a browse of my Dinner recipes for more ideas!
~ Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 kg / 2lb cauliflower florets (Note 1)
- 2 garlic cloves , peeled, whole
- 2 tbsp (30g) unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup (25g) parmesan cheese , shredded
- 1/4 cup (55g) sour cream , optional
- 1 - 3 tbsp cooking water
- Salt and pepper , to taste
Garnishes (optional):
- Melted butter, parsley, pepper
Instructions
- Cut the larger florets in half or quarter so they're all about the same size.
- Add cauliflower and garlic into a large pot of boiling water and cook for 10 minutes until very soft.
- Scoop out a mug of cooking water.
- Drain well, then transfer to food processor.
- Add remaining ingredients, starting with no water, blitz until smooth. (Use handheld blender stick if you don't have food processor)
- Use reserved cooking water to adjust consistency to taste and help puree smooth.
- Adjust salt and pepper to taste
- Transfer to serving bowl, drizzle with melted butter and garnish with parsley if desired.
- Serve as a side with anything that you'd usually serve with mashed potato!
Recipe Notes:
- Butter - sub with extra virgin or ordinary olive oil
- Parmesan - 1/4 to 1/2 tsp Vegeta or vegetable stock powder (for "umami" flavour that parmesan provides)
- Sour Cream - 60g / 2oz cream cheese
- Cooking water - milk (any dairy or dairy free)
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Sweet little puppy golden retriever, recent addition to the gang of Golden Retrievers that Dozer runs with! I thought I’d try her on for size…. and I think she looks great on me!
Also thought Dozer might get a little jealous….but…
….. no. There was no sign of jealousy at all. ?
Hi Nagi, I’m preparing dinner for a weekend away and wanting to know if the mashed cauliflower would keep (refrigerated) for a day and a half please? I’m so pleased I found this recipe 🙂
Hi Lyn! It will be fine 🙂 See the storage note at the bottom of the recipe – you’ll find it on almost all my recipes (and if you don’t, tell me and I’ll update the recipe! N x)
Thank you Nagi, Yes, you have it in your notes. My apologies.
Hi Nagi. This looks delicious but I’m wondering what to do without a food processor? Perhaps a stick blender or potato ricer for the cauliflower and then stir in all the extra ingredients? Cheers. Brian.
Stick blender will work a treat Brian! Cauliflower is so soft it will blend super smooth. Will add that tip in the recipe! N x
Thanks so much Nagi. I’ll be making this tomorrow night with the slow cooker beef stroganoff 👍🏻
Thank you for all of your yummy recipes. This recipe takes cauliflower mash to another level, I have learnt so much about cooking because of your fun and creative blog. Kind Regard, Louise
That’s great to hear Louise!!
I’ve made cauliflower mash before using nothing but cooked cauliflower and olive oil. I thought it was good until I tried this recipe. Amazing! So creamy, tasty and buttery. Yum! 😋
This Cauliflower Mash was FANTASTIC! I made it along with the Pork Tenderloin w/ Honey Garlic Sauce and the Amazing crispy Parmesan garlic roasted Brussels Sprouts also from your site — everything together was spectacular and so simple to put together! You’ve got a new Canadian fan, Nagi!!
Hi Nagi, is there a dairy free substitute for the sour cream?
Hi Zubie, I haven’t tried with a dairy free substitutes sorry!
The cauliflower mash was really easy to make and it tasted nice but …..
(so sorry) I have to be honest – I still prefer good ol’ fashioned mashed potato !
Oh Maria – Me too, me too!! BUT this is a really tasty low carb alternative!! N xx
I have made other recipes for mashed cauliflower before and my family turned up their noses. But tonight I made your recipe to serve with your recipe for chicken with creamy sun dried tomato sauce. It was a huge hit! I subbed in yogurt for the sour cream, because that’s what I had. I used chicken stock powder for the parm. I couldn’t believe that I would enjoy this as much as mashed potatoes, but I did! I cooked the cauliflower and cloves of garlic for 5 minutes in the instant. It was such a fast and delicious meal. You are my dinner hero!
Good heavens girl!! You have outdone yourself with this!! Sooo good!
Thanks so much Anne!
This cauliflower cream is divine. Being a carb addict I didn’t think this cauliflower cream would be a substitute for mashed potato, OMG it’s delicious. When I make it again I may substitute sour cream with Greek yoghurt but loath to “fiddle” with perfection.
I’m so glad you loved it Colleen!!
I never would’ve believed it… this is just like mashed potatoes!!! Especially because of the “add-in” flavors. We love it! Thank you for sharing 🙂
I’m so glad you loved it Karie!!
I made this as well as a potato mash (just in case… and I make a mean mashed potato!). Your cauliflower mash won.
Wahoo! (Don’t get me wrong, I love mashed potato too!!)
Hi Nagi! I’m embracing a low carb lifestyle these days, so I gave this recipe a try. Wow! So delicious! I also found its great cold spread on a low carb flax seed bread that I force myself to eat. Ha! Also, your butter chicken is legendary in our household. Thanks for all the great recipes!
That’s a great idea Tami, I’ll have to give it a go!
Tastes delicious. I served with my bolognese sauce for a low carb italian night. A little too thin to stand up to the sauce, but I’m sure it would be great standing alone as a side.
HI Nagi, this is so tasty, the 2nd time I made this I used it as the Cheese sauce in a vegetarian lasagna, turn out awesome, Thanks your fantastic.
That’s a terrific idea Shane!!
Tried this absolutely smashing of a mash today ! Few of them who tried did not know it was cauliflower !!! Hoping to try more of your recipes : )
Wahoo! You’re converted now!
I made this with chicken stuffed asparagus for my family tonight. It is probably the first time in my husbands life that he has asked me if there is any more cauliflower. It was just so good. Thank you Nagi
PS dozer is super cute
YESSSS!! That’s great Mel!
Just bought one for 1.90, it’s on menu for next two days. We are having Artic blast for two days, strong winds, snow and thunder. Love the little puppy, am JELOUS with Dozer. Be good.
Hi Nagi ..I am on holiday in Strabourg known as “Petite France” the cauliflower mash with have been great with my dinner last night..what an adorable little puppy..not sure if DOZER was jealous or NOT from the picture of him in the water he looks just a tad whimsy😄
Hi Nagi… I’m so glad I found your website. I’m moving house right now but planning the house-warming party! Your recipes look fabulous and your site is Very Professional! Top marks to you.
My cat Luke is very keen for me to try them out… SOON!
I have a nice kitchen at the new house… just have to unpack before I can get at it!
Cheers for now Nagi…
Chris. Lowood QLD
She does look great on you!! And Dozer needs a little sister…really! 😀