Mashed Cauliflower
Cauliflower mashed potatoes are creamy and delicious! This healthy side dish recipe is a satisfying alternative to mashed potatoes. Recipe yields 4 cups, enough for 8 ½-cup servings.
Ingredients
- 1 large or 2 small heads of cauliflower, core removed and cut into florets 1 to 2 inches in size (2 pounds florets)
- 1 small-to-medium russet potato (about 7 ounces), peeled and diced into ½-inch cubes (optional)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons butter, plus more for serving
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon fine salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional garnishes: Chopped fresh chives, pat of butter and flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Steam the cauliflower and optional potato: Fill a large pot with 1 inch of water. Cover the pot and bring it to an active boil over medium heat. Add the cauliflower and potato (if using), cover, and steam them over medium heat for 11 to 13 minutes, until they are so tender that they fall apart when poked with a fork.
- Carefully remove the steamer basket from the water and let the veggies cool for 5 minutes or until cool enough to handle.
- Place the warm potato and cauliflower in the bowl of a food processor with the cream cheese, butter, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and several twists of black pepper. Process until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. (Or mash them in a bowl with a large fork for a chunky consistency.)
- Taste and blend in another pinch of salt for more overall flavor, or more pepper for contrast. Serve warm with a few pats of melted butter on top, plus a sprinkle of fresh chives and flaky salt, if desired. Leftover mashed cauliflower keep in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 4 days.
Notes
Recipe created with reference to Lucille’s Mashed Potatoes, Feel Good Foodie and Well Plated.
Make it dairy free/vegan: While I haven’t tried, you could substitute vegan sour cream for the cream cheese and vegan butter, such as Miyoko’s Creamery.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.