I know, I know – there are about 5 billion recipes for mashed cauliflower out there. It seems like every single health conscious blogger out there has their own version. So, why would I share yet another??
Simple – because these are the BEST, That’s why!
I’ve tried several different recipes for mashed cauliflower and they all fell short in one way or another. Sometimes it’s the texture, that messes them up, sometimes it’s the flavor. But regardless, they have all been one sorry substitute for their carb loaded counterpart – mashed potatoes.
So what makes this recipe the BEST you ask?
The extra fat added to the mash helps keep amp up the flavor, and to prevent the texture issues that are typical with other mashed cauliflower I use a technique generally saved for cauliflower pizza crusts … squeezing the extra moisture out of the cauliflower! The result is a fluffy mashed potato substitute that that has held up to the toughest critics I know – my family!
My husband and kids who all take mashed potatoes pretty seriously, gave this recipe two thumbs up, which is all the proof I need that I have a winner.
To make this recipe, start by chopping your cauliflower into chunks. The size isn’t too important. just try to make them as uniform as possible.
Place in a pot of salted, boiling water. Boil for about 4-5 minutes or until fork tender. Drain the water and allow the cauliflower to cool slightly.
Dump it out onto a clean kitchen towel or some cheesecloth and wring out the extra liquid. Don’t be afraid of removing too much liquid. You can always add a little extra water or chicken broth if it seems to dry later on. the first image below is the cauliflower before it has been squeezed and the second is after – So that you can have an idea of about how much it should shrink.
Return the cauliflower to the pot and add in the butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, salt and pepper. Using a potato masher if you prefer a lumpier texture, or a hand mixer for a smoother texture. mix everything until it’s all well integrated. (If your cauliflower is too cool to melt the butter and cream cheese, place it over low heat, stirring constantly until everything has melted.) Taste your mashed cauliflower and add more salt or pepper if needed.
Enjoy! and be sure to let me know what you think! I love getting your feedback!
The BEST Mashed Cauliflower
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start by chopping your cauliflower into chunks. Try to make them as uniform as possible.
- Place the cauliflower in a pot of salted, boiling water. Boil for about 4-5 minutes or until fork tender. Drain the water and allow the cauliflower to cool slightly.
- Dump the cauliflower out onto a clean kitchen towel or some cheesecloth and wring out the extra liquid. Don't be afraid of removing too much liquid. You can always add a little extra water or chicken broth if it seems to dry later on.
- Return the cauliflower to the pot and add in the butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, salt and pepper. Using a potato masher if you prefer a lumpier texture, or a hand mixer for a smoother texture. mix everything until it's all well integrated. (If your cauliflower is too cool to melt the butter and cream cheese, place it over low heat, stirring constantly until everything has melted.) Taste your mashed cauliflower and add more salt or pepper if needed.
Notes
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Thanks for this easy recipe. I steamed my cauliflower instead of boiling it which reduced the amount of water. Followed your recipe and added roasted garlic, to make “garlic mashed cauliflower” instead. Great taste!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! Those are both great ideas!
how long do you steam it?
How much is one serving?
I usually get about 1/2 cup per serving, but that will vary some depending upon the size of your cauliflower and the amount of water you squeeze out. Hope that helps!
Yes it does thank you so much.
In boiling are you losing the nutrients in the cauliflower?
I’m not sure on the amount of nutrient loss of boiling vs any other method of cooking cauliflower, but if you are worried about it you can steam it instead 😊
Delicious! I will make this side dish again. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
So glad that you enjoyed it!!
Can I use milk instead of heavy cream?
Yep! Just be aware that it will increase the carbs quite a bit
Can I use frozen cauliflower instead of fresh?
I haven’t tried it myself, so I can’t say for sure, but I’m pretty sure it would work just fine 🙂
I’m confused… It says cook time is 20 minutes but you only boil it for 4-5 minutes….
I like to be pretty liberal with time estimates because I hate when a recipe takes much longer to make them what is stated in the instructions.
I set the cook time to 20 minutes to include the time it takes to squeeze out the extra liquid and to add mash the cauliflower.
Microwave will also reduce amount of water. Sounds yummy. Can’t wait try this.
This recipe is FANTASTIC! Thank you so much for sharing it!
Can you make this and put in a casserole dish to cook later?
If you mean to prepare the entire dish, then reheat in the oven, I think that would work fine 🙂
Can I freeze the cauliflower after it’s been drained and then thaw to prepare later?
It’s a fine recipe but it’s so much easier to do all this in a food processor. And add garlic!
Thanks Nicole! I agree that it is easier to make in a food processor, but I find that this method yields a fluffier mash. Just a matter of personal preference 🙂