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. 🙄
Great recipe! I make it all the time with frozen florets. I Cook frozen florets in microwave without lid to evaporate water then drain in colander with paper towels to absorb as much water as possible, pop it in processor with rest of ingredients and always turns out great
Thanks for the tip Dawn! I was wondering if frozen would work 🙂
This was my first go at cauliflower mash, it was so good. I made the cream cheese version, no sour cream on hand. Served with Nagi’s garlic chicken thighs and steamed broccolini w lemon juice. Excellent matches.
I was fascinated that the adult of the house thought I’d made pureed potatoes. I didn’t let on about the cauliflower until after the meal.
Then I looked back at Nagi’s creamy mash potato recipe and compared the nutrient profiles. Cauli not only low carb but also packs in more than double the Vit C!
This is a keeper, thank you. I like that it can be played with texture wise. Next time I’m going to use the sour cream and olive oil just to experiment 🙂
Thanks for the tip about using cream cheese! Didn’t need to use any other liquids (except butter). Also added nutritional yeast and nutmeg, to use on a (your) cottage pie.
Very yummy!!!
ok so great recipe, what I would add is once you boil the cauliflower, empty water (reserve a bit if you need) and put the cauliflower back in empty pot and over a low heat for a minute or two ( whilst you get you food processor , butter etc.. this will reduce much of the moisture and make the mask less “watery”
WOW! As a diabetic, potatoes & pasta are now once a year pleasures. This recipe is a life changer. Simple and delicious.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Divine – even my husband who doesn’t like cauliflower ate this and went back for more.
Frozen cauliflower
Maybe I would steam frozen cauliflower rather than boil as it would become to soggy.
Ohhhh….good point. I have frozen cauliflower as well and was wondering if it would get soggy. But steaming it is a good idea 💡
Im thinking of trying to do this with frozen cauliflower?
I want to try this with frozen cauliflower, does this work?
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.
Made this tonight and liked it. Simple and tasty alternative to mash. I don’t have a food processor but I do have a nutri bullet and it did make it into very soft consistency within 15 seconds. I probably would try either do it 5 or 10 seconds next time on low instead of high or even mash it with the potato masher.
Can you do this with frozen cauliflower?
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!
Another permanent addition – super tasty! I added in extra parmesan and a dollop of cream cheese also just to be super decadent. Thanks Nagi.
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!
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!