Creamy Mashed Cauliflower

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

Author: Nagi

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Total: 25 mins

Sides

Western

4.92 from 12 votes

Servings6

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Recipe VIDEO above. So tasty in its own right, you won't just make it as a low carb alternative to mashed potato! See Note 1 for SUBS & alternatives!

Ingredients

• 1 kg / 2lb cauliflower florets (Note 1)1 kg / 2lb cauliflower florets (Note 1)
• 2 garlic cloves , peeled, whole2 garlic cloves , peeled, whole
• 2 tbsp (30g) unsalted butter2 tbsp (30g) unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup (25g) parmesan cheese , shredded1/4 cup (25g) parmesan cheese , shredded
• 1/4 cup (55g) sour cream , optional1/4 cup (55g) sour cream , optional
• 1 - 3 tbsp cooking water1 - 3 tbsp cooking water
• Salt and pepper , to tasteSalt and pepper , to taste

Garnishes (optional):

• Melted butter, parsley, pepperMelted 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:

1. Cauliflower - 1 very large head, or 1.5 average heads. About 8 heaped cups of florets. Cut / break florets off (see video for how I do it).

2. Subs & alternatives to make it dairy free, to your taste, what you have:

• 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)

3. Storage - Keeps for 3 to 5 days in the fridge, and also freezes fine! Thaw then reheat in the microwave - or even gently on the stove.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 111cal (6%)Carbohydrates: 9g (3%)Protein: 4g (8%)Fat: 7g (11%)Saturated Fat: 4g (25%)Cholesterol: 17mg (6%)Sodium: 125mg (5%)Potassium: 511mg (15%)Fiber: 3g (13%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 210IU (4%)Vitamin C: 80.7mg (98%)Calcium: 98mg (10%)Iron: 0.7mg (4%)

Keywords: Cauliflower Mash, Cauliflower Mashed Potato, Mashed Cauliflower

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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. ?