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:
Crispy Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast – LOW CARB!
Garlic Chicken Thighs, Sticky Baked Chicken Thighs or juicy Marinated Chicken Breast
Pork Tenderloin with Honey Garlic Sauce or Roast Pork with Crispy Crackling
Steak with Creamy Peppercorn Sauce or Garlic Thyme Butter Basted Steak
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. 🙄
hello !! thank you so much for the inspiration !! please the milk and the cream cheese ?? we use them or not ?? thank you !! kisses !!
You use either or. Milk or cauliflower water. Cream cheese or sour cream. Look at the picture with ingredients.
Delicious! Will definitely cook again!
Very good! Thank you very much 🙂
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
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!
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!
Just loved the cauliflower mash. It elevated the whole meal. Very, very tasty. Thankyou, Nagi.
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,
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’!
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!!
Awww thanks Julie! It’s so nice of you to comment!! N x
Really enjoyed this! Will definitely make this again.
Woo hoo!! I’m glad that you liked it Beth! N x
This is possibly a bit of a newbie question, but should the garlic be processed along with the cooked cauliflower or removed after the boiling process?
Definitely leave it in Anne!! It adds to the flavour! N x
So delicious, didn’t end up needing the mug of water, I may have put a bit more butter in than stated 🤭 but it was so yum I drank it. I could just eat a whole bowl on it’s own for dinner. Thanks Nagi.
I think you and I would get along just fine!! N x
I’ve made cauliflower rice before, but never mash.
It was fantastic thank you. 😊
Yum! Had this under your baked lemon fish – totally delicious. Actually I could just eat a whole bowl of this by itself.
Can you freeze and reheat?
Your pork tenderloin w/garlic and honey was delicious. Served w/ mashed cauliflower, my husband loved it. Five stars. Give Dozer an extra pat on the head.
This was so good with the beef stroganoff which was wonderful itself!
Love this recipe and the first time I’ve seen one similar to mine. The only difference i cook the cauliflower in water with the stock powder as well as garlic.
Yum.
This exceeded my expectations. I had a head of cauliflower that I needed to get rid of. Made these with your drumsticks baked in gravy… perfect, easy dinner.