The Best Mashed Cauliflower Recipe! (2024)

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Not to brag, but this is literally The Best Mashed Cauliflower recipe of all time! With steamed cauliflower, garlic and onion powder, butter, and chives… It’s a delicious and healthy alternative to regular mashed potatoes. AND it’s low-carb, keto, paleo, and gluten-free.

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Jump to:
  • How healthy is cauliflower?
  • How to make Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes:
  • Tips For Success:
  • Leftovers and Storing
  • The Best Mashed Cauliflower

Happy New Year my friends!!!

For me, there is something so refreshing about a New Year. It’s like a clean slate, a fresh start, and hitting the reset button!

All the decorations and clutter have been put away. The decadent holiday food is behind us for another year. The parties and festivities have come to an end so we can get back to our routines.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not a humbug, I do enjoy the holidays! But at some point I’m just craving salads and a good sweat session at the gym.

What about you? Are you excited about 2020?

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Have you taken the time to set any new goals or make some resolutions?

Like saving money, working out, eating healthier, or losing weight?

If you did set a goal to eat healthier - I’m so your girl! I believe you can eat things that are good for you, and still thoroughly enjoy them.

Which leads me to today’s recipe… The Best Mashed Cauliflower – everrr!

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You may have noticed cauliflower seems to be a healthy food trend these days. You’ve got cauliflower rice, cauliflower pizza crust, roasted cauliflower, cauliflower crackers, buffalo cauliflower, cauliflower soup,and of course cauliflower mashed potatoes aka mashed cauliflower.

How healthy is cauliflower?

  1. Cauliflower is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. It contains almost every vitamin and mineral you need.
  2. 1 cup of cauliflower has 25 calories, 2 grams of protein, plus vitamin c, vitamin k, B6 and many more vitamins.
  3. Cauliflower has great fiber content (3 grams of fiber in 1 cup) which helps with digestion, keeps you satiated for a long time, and helps protect the lining of your stomach.
  4. 1 cup of cauliflower only has 5 grams of carbohydrates so it’s a good option for people following a low glycemic diet due to health conditions like diabetes, or those pursuing a low-carb/keto diet. I mean lifestyle.😊

So you can see why this pale veggie is so popular and such a great alternative to other higher carb foods.

And if all that wasn’t enough - it’s absolutely delicious! Especially when it’s turned into cauliflower mashed “potatoes”!

Get excited people!!! You're gonna love this mashed cauliflower recipe!

How to make Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes:

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Start by washing the head of cauliflower. Then remove the leaves and the hard stem and break or cut it into florets. Add a steamer insert to a large soup pot. Then add 2 cups of water, cover, and bring the water to a boil over high heat.

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Next, add the cauliflower. Steam the cauliflower for 15 minutes for 1-2 heads, or until fork tender (extend to 17 minutes if you are using 3 heads).

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Remove the cauliflower from the pot and let it cool enough to handle. You can discard any of the steaming liquid that is left. Wrap the steamed cauliflower florets in a thin cotton kitchen towel.

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Give the cauliflower 5 good squeezes over the kitchen sink to remove some of the liquid. This will help the finished product have a texture that is more like real mashed potatoes.

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Add the cauliflower to a food processor then pulse and puree until nice and smooth. Then add the melted butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder and blend until well combined. You may need to stop and scrape the sides and bottom of the food processor to make sure everything is well incorporated.

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Stir in some chopped chives and top with a thin slice of butter… Mmmmm, it’s so good!

Tips For Success:

  • Keep in mind that cauliflower is full of water. One cup of cauliflower produces more than ¼ cup of water!
  • If you prefer a thinner consistency for your mashed cauliflower, then there’s no need to squeeze any water out of the cauliflower.
  • And one more thing I should mention… the towel you use to squeeze the water out of the cauliflower should be rinsed out by hand really well. It will have a very strong sulfurous scent and should be rinsed before you wash it in the washing machine. Trust me I learned the hard way. Lol
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Leftovers and Storing

You can store the mashed cauliflower in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Just reheat it in the microwave.

This is truly The Best Mashed Cauliflower Recipe of all time! It’s garlicy, buttery and so smooth with a hint of natural sweetness.

I can’t wait for you to try this healthy yumminess!!

Yield: 8 servings

The Best Mashed Cauliflower

The Best Mashed Cauliflower Recipe! (11)

With steamed cauliflower, garlic and onion powder, butter and chives… low-carb, keto, paleo and gluten-free.

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time20 minutes

Total Time30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2½ pounds Cauliflower (3 heads)
  • 2 cups water
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter (2 melted and 1 for garnish), (Use Ghee or clarified butter if following a paleo diet)
  • 1¼ teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon chopped chives

Instructions

  1. Wash the head of cauliflower. Then remove the leaves and the hard stem and break or cut it into florets.
  2. Add a steamer insert to a large soup pot. Then add 2 cups of water, cover, and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the cauliflower and steam until fork tender (13-15 for 1-2 heads, or 17 minutes if you are using 3 heads).
  3. Remove the cauliflower from the pot and let it cool enough to handle. You can discard any of the steaming liquid that is left.
  4. Add the steamed cauliflower florets to a thin cotton kitchen towel and give it 5 good squeezes to remove some of the liquid. This will make the texture more like real mashed potatoes.
  5. Add the cauliflower to a food processor then pulse and puree until nice and smooth.
  6. Next, add the melted butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder and blend until well combined. You may need to stop and scrape the sides and bottom of the food processor to make sure everything is well incorporated.
  7. Stir in the chopped chives and add a slice of butter on top.

Notes

You can also store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave.

Nutrition Information

Yield

8

Serving Size

5 ounces

Amount Per ServingCalories 72Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 11mgSodium 388mgCarbohydrates 6gNet Carbohydrates 3gFiber 3gSugar 3gProtein 3g

This nutrition card uses an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. This estimate is not a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Robin

    Can I use frozen riced cauliflower? Also I don’t have a food processor so will a mixer work? Thanks 😊

    Reply

    • holly

      Hello Robin, I haven't tried using frozen cauliflower but I'm sure it would work! Also a blender or a mixer should work just fine!

      Reply

      • Kathy Coats

        Cam I use a potatoe masher

        Reply

        • holly

          Hi Kathy, you could definitely give it a try. It might be as smooth as it would be if you used a food processor. Let me know how it goes.

          Reply

  2. Renee

    This recipe is very delicious, my husband loved it!

    Reply

    • Bryan

      Hi Renee, so glad to hear that! Thanks for sharing your comment! 🙂 - H&B

      Reply

  3. Rebecca DeKryger Maddox

    Dear Holly, Just to let you know that your dishes are delicious and attractive. You have often given me inspiration when planning a meal! Thank you and please keep it up! Your new look is gorgeous, and best wishes to you! Sincerely, Becky.

    Reply

    • holly

      Hi Becky, thanks so much for reaching out - your support and kind words spur me on to keep doing what I do! I love hearing that my recipes and photos give you inspiration. Happy New Year and stay tuned for more deliciousness!!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

The Best Mashed Cauliflower Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Why is mashed cauliflower good for you? ›

It's just as creamy and delicious as mashed potatoes, but has half the calories and one-third of the carbs. Cauliflower is a healthy eater's best friend. Especially when you're looking for a healthy way to indulge in “carby” things like bread, rice, pizza and potatoes.

Is mashed cauliflower any good? ›

Sure, it's not quite the same as the sour cream-laden potatoes Jack enjoyed as a kid, but it's still really darn good. This mashed cauliflower has a light and fluffy texture, with a rich, nutty flavor from roasted garlic and a little butter.

Why is my cauliflower mash watery? ›

If your mashed cauliflower is too watery: Try adding in more cooked cauliflower to offset the liquid. You can also place the pot over medium-low heat and try to cook off some of the excess liquid. Stir frequently to prevent the mash from burning.

What happens to your body when you eat cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower is high in fiber and water. Both are important for preventing constipation, maintaining a healthy digestive tract, and lowering the risk of colon cancer. Studies have shown that dietary fiber may also help regulate the immune system and inflammation.

How many times a week should you eat cauliflower? ›

At a minimum, include cruciferous vegetables as part of your diet 2-3 times per week, and make the serving size at least 1-1/2 cups. Even better from a health standpoint, enjoy cauliflower and other vegetables from the cruciferous vegetable group 4-5 times per week, and increase your serving size to 2 cups.

What do you add to cauliflower to thicken mash? ›

You can add a litle softened cream cheese to the pot in the final step and stir until melted. Or you can add a keto thickener like glucomannan or xanthan gum. Be sure to whisk it in well when the mashed cauliflower is hot. You don't need more than about ¼ teaspoon per head of cauliflower.

What is the most nutritious way to eat cauliflower? ›

5 Healthy Ways to Cook with Cauliflower
  • Roasted Cauliflower and Kale Soup. Soup is a quintessential comfort food, especially when it's rich and creamy and full of flavor. ...
  • Cauliflower Steaks with Caper-Anchovy-Garlic Sauce. ...
  • Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • Whole Roasted Cauliflower. ...
  • Cauliflower Tabbouleh.
Feb 20, 2018

Does mashed cauliflower taste like potatoes? ›

Cauliflower is a fairly bland vegetable and so it easily replaces the classic mashed potato. It's not as starchy but it has a similar thick consistency. The added garlic powder and cheese makes this such a tasty side everyone will love!

How to make cauliflower puree Gordon Ramsay? ›

Remove the cauliflower stalks and cut them into small pieces. Heat the butter and milk in a pan and stew the cauliflower in it until softened. Add the cream and return to a high temperature. Immediately strain and liquidise the cauliflower then season and pass through a fine chinois.

Why is my cauliflower mash grainy? ›

Recipe Tips and Tricks

When you're cooking your cauliflower florets, make sure they're fork-tender before removing them from the pot. If the cauliflower isn't cooked long enough, it can make your mashed cauliflower grainy.

How do you squeeze moisture out of cauliflower? ›

Once the riced cauliflower has been cooked (or thawed), transfer it to a clean, thin dishtowel. Wrap up the steamed rice in the dishtowel, twist it up, then SQUEEZE all the excess moisture out! (Be careful if your cauliflower is still hot-- let it cool before handling.)

What can I use to squeeze water out of cauliflower? ›

One additional step I like is to press any excess moisture from the rice by transferring the cauliflower rice to a large paper towel or absorbent dish towel and squeeze/press to remove any remaining water. This ensures no excess moisture remains, which can make your dish soggy.

Why is my cauliflower fluffy? ›

Fuzziness is caused by the lengthening of the leafy floral bracts of the bud or flower giving the surface of the curd a velvety or hairy appearance. It frequently develops around the edges of the curd before appearing on other portions.

Why is cauliflower better for you than potatoes? ›

Nutritionally, cauliflower is lighter in calories and carbs than potatoes and is more nutrient-dense. That's why it's popular among the low carb and weight loss communities.

What are the benefits of mashed cauliflower vs potatoes? ›

Nutritionally, cauliflower is a great source of vitamin C, delivering 100% of your daily recommended amount in one cup (raw). One cup also provides one-quarter of your recommended vitamin K. Swap the cruciferous veggie for mashed potatoes, and you'll get more immune-boosting vitamin C and bone-strengthening vitamin K.

References

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