This tasty treat is ready in just 20 minutes and you can make it in your food processor. You won’t miss the potatoes! Cauliflower is so versatile, and it makes a surprisingly good substitute for potatoes. I use it in quite a few recipes. It has a nearly neutral flavor that readily absorbs fats and seasonings. This cauliflower puree is creamy and so delicious. My husband says he actually prefers it to mashed potatoes, which he finds bland. The addition of garlic and parmesan certainly makes this mash very flavorful.
Ingredients
You’ll only need six ingredients to make mashed cauliflower. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need: Fresh cauliflower: This is not the best recipe for using frozen cauliflower. For the best flavor and texture, fresh is the way to go. One way to make life easy is to buy a bag of pre-washed cauliflower florets. Butter: I use unsalted butter. I love using creamy European butter, but any butter will be good. Minced garlic: Mince it yourself, or use the stuff that comes in a jar. You can also use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder instead of fresh garlic. Grated parmesan: Make sure you use finely grated parmesan, not coarsely shredded. Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you should reduce the amount you use, or the dish could end up too salty.
Instructions
Making mashed cauliflower is truly easy. The detailed instructions are listed in the recipe card below. Here are the basic steps: Steam the cauliflower in the microwave. You can also steam it in a steamer basket on the stovetop or roast it. But the microwave is the easiest and quickest method. In fact, I often serve microwave cauliflower as a side dish! Add the steamed cauliflower to your food processor bowl along with butter, garlic, parmesan, salt, and pepper. Process these tasty ingredients into a wonderfully creamy mash. That’s it! I told you this was an easy recipe. 🙂
Expert tip
If you wonder how to thicken this mash, in my recipe, the parmesan does the trick. While not as thick as mashed potatoes, it’s creamy and lovely. Some recipes add cornstarch. I find it unnecessary. I do recommend draining the cauliflower really well after steaming it. The less water it contains, the thicker it will be.
Frequently asked questions
Variations
I love this recipe as is and almost always make it as written. One way to vary this recipe is to use a fat other than butter - you could try cream cheese if you’d like, for example. Another variation is to use more spices. Try a pinch of onion powder and a pinch of dried thyme.
Serving suggestions
This is a very versatile side dish that you can serve with almost anything. It’s especially good when you make a saucy dish and you want to serve it on something that would absorb the yummy juices. So I often serve it with one of the following saucy dishes:
Pot roastPork stewSloppy JoesBarbecue beef
I also use it to top my low-carb shepherd’s pie. It’s wonderful when topped with roasted garlic! And obviously, you can serve it with any dish that you would traditionally serve with mashed potatoes, such as ribeye roast or beef tenderloin roast.
Storing leftovers
Leftovers keep very well in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. This is one of those dishes that tastes good even after a few days in the fridge. Unlike mashed potatoes, which don’t keep well. Gently reheat the leftovers in the microwave, covered, on 50% power.
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