By:Nagi
114 Comments
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 appearanceat 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 Thighsorjuicy 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
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
Author: Nagi
Prep: 15 minutes mins
Cook: 10 minutes mins
Total: 25 minutes mins
Sides
Western
4.96 from 42 votes
Servings6
Tap or hover to scale
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)
- 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:
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 & alternativesto 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
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.
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, I'm Nagi!
I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!
Read More
Free Recipe eBooks
Join my free email list to receive THREE free cookbooks!
Related Posts
Spicy maple roast carrots with crispy chickpeas and yogurt sauce
How I cook frozen peas – Garlic Buttered Peas
More Side Dishes
Reader Interactions
Leave a Comment
114 Comments
Wanda says
Divine – even my husband who doesn’t like cauliflower ate this and went back for more.Reply
- Joseph Gregory says
Frozen cauliflowerReply
- Joseph Gregory says
Im thinking of trying to do this with frozen cauliflower?Reply
- Joseph Gregory says
I want to try this with frozen cauliflower, does this work?Reply
- Sha says
Loved this, added a little butter milk as I didn’t have sour cream or cream cheese, turned out great and a thumbs up from hubby. Topped it with the healthy crusty fish.Reply
- Joseph Gregory says
Can you do this with frozen cauliflower?Reply
- Vika says
YUM! Love it! I added my previously boiled new potatoes that has some olive oil , garlic and sweet paprika…and it made mash even tastier!Reply
- Nichole says
Another permanent addition – super tasty! I added in extra parmesan and a dollop of cream cheese also just to be super decadent. Thanks Nagi.Reply
- April says
This recipe is serious good! I love that is is lighter than mashed potatoes. I made it to go with the amazing Baked Fish with Lemon Cream Sauce. Simply divine!Reply
- Calliope says
hello !! thank you so much for the inspiration !! please the milk and the cream cheese ?? we use them or not ?? thank you !! kisses !!
Reply
- Manjit Saundh says
You use either or. Milk or cauliflower water. Cream cheese or sour cream. Look at the picture with ingredients.
Reply
- Lorraine Parker says
Delicious! Will definitely cook again!Reply
- Jenna says
Very good! Thank you very much 🙂Reply
- Ann says
Great Cauliflower mash – so much better for me than potato. I thought it would be hard to tear myself away from yummy mashed potato, but your recipe made it happen! Thanks…Ann
Reply
- Anna says
Just made this for lunches for the week. Some roast veggies are in the oven and it all smells heavenly ☺️ Another top notch recipe Nagi, thank you!Reply
- Lynn says
Made this cauliflower mash last night for the first time, as trying to lower my carbs. It was a bit runnier that I expected, but absolutely delicious. Husband and daughter also loved it. Very creamy and smooth with a slight hint of tartness from the parmesan and the garlic. Will definitely make again and recommend to others!Reply
- Helen Hart says
Just loved the cauliflower mash. It elevated the whole meal. Very, very tasty. Thankyou, Nagi.
Reply
- Nicolasmithston says
Another great, simple recipe. I prefer it to mash potato, it’s lighter and fresher (but still naughty tasting). My partner who is a big British spud head was sceptical, but was totally won over. With bangers and onion gravy it was the perfect combo. Thanks again Nagi, you rock,
Reply
- Sheryl says
Yet another delicious recipe! Made this to go with the slow roasted pork belly and hubbie was very impressed. Wants me to make it again to go with ‘anything’!Reply
- Julie says
Making this tonight. Love all the recipe’s I’ve tried from you! Thank you for doing what you do! Recipetineats is my go-to when I want to know it’s going to be delicious!!
Reply
- Nagi says
Awww thanks Julie! It’s so nice of you to comment!! N x
Reply
- Beth says
Really enjoyed this! Will definitely make this again.Reply
- Nagi says
Woo hoo!! I’m glad that you liked it Beth! N x
Reply
