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    Home » Side Dishes » Mashed Cauliflower

    Mashed Cauliflower

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    If you like mashed potatoes, you’ll love this Mashed Cauliflower. This side dish is fluffy and buttery with the slightly sweet and earthy flavor of cauliflower. Plus, it’s a low carb and keto too!

    Cauliflower mash is quick and easy to make too — easier than mashed potatoes (no peeling potatoes here!) and cooks faster too. Save this recipe and serve it anytime you would serve mashed potatoes at holiday dinners and family meals!

    Mashed Cauliflower is a fluffy and buttery side dish and a low carb, keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes. Plus, it’s easier and quicker too! | aheadofthyme.com

    Why You'll Love this Mashed Cauliflower

    • So easy to make. Cauliflower mash is incredibly easy to make. Gather the short list of ingredients and then boil, sauté, and blend your way to cheesy, soft, pillowy clouds of mashed cauliflower. So simple!
    • A great alternative to mashed potatoes. If you’re not a fan of mashed potatoes, this mashed cauliflower is an almost undetectable dupe. In fact, some people prefer mashed cauliflower to the potato version because of the cauliflower's slightly more complex flavor profile.
    • It’s keto-friendly. This cauliflower mash is naturally low-carb and all of the additional ingredients (including the butter, full-fat sour cream, and parmesan cheese) are approved for a ketogenic diet. It’s the perfect keto side dish.
    • Nutritious and high in fiber. In addition to naturally having a little more flavor than a potato, cauliflower is a great source of fiber. It’s also a great way to sneak one more veggie into a picky eater’s diet.
    Mashed Cauliflower is a fluffy and buttery side dish and a low carb, keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes. Plus, it’s easier and quicker too! | aheadofthyme.com

    Ingredient Notes

    To make this easy Cauliflower Mash, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

    • cauliflower - you can use fresh cauliflower or frozen, pre-cut florets for the sake of time and convenience. Whichever you prefer!
    • butter - you can swap the butter for a plant-based butter alternative if you’re lactose intolerant or have a dairy sensitivity.
    • garlic - fresh-minced garlic will always offer the best flavor, but you can use garlic paste or pre-minced garlic if necessary.
    • sour cream - use an unflavored, dairy free greek yogurt or plant-based sour cream is a great lactose-free alternative.
    • parmesan cheese - a vegan parmesan-style cheese alternative or nutritional yeast in place of the parmesan cheese.
    • herbs - soft herbs like parsley, dill, chives, and basil would make beautiful (and delicious) garnishes on this mashed cauliflower.
    • salt and pepper

    You will also need measuring cups and spoons, cooking pot, skillet, and food processor (or blender).

    Mashed Cauliflower is a fluffy and buttery side dish and a low carb, keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes. Plus, it’s easier and quicker too! | aheadofthyme.com

    How to Make the Best Mashed Cauliflower

    1. Cook cauliflower. Bring a large cooking pot of salted water to boil. Add the cauliflower florets and turn the heat down to medium. Cook covered for 15 minutes until cauliflower is soft and tender. When the cauliflower is ready, remove from heat and drain.
    2. Sauté garlic. While the cauliflower is cooking, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the garlic for about 2 minutes until fragrant and soft. Remove from heat and set aside.
    • Mashed Cauliflower is a fluffy and buttery side dish and a low carb, keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes. Plus, it’s easier and quicker too! | aheadofthyme.com
    • Mashed Cauliflower is a fluffy and buttery side dish and a low carb, keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes. Plus, it’s easier and quicker too! | aheadofthyme.com
    1. Mash. In a food processor, add the cooked cauliflower, sautéed garlic with the butter it was cooked in, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Puree on high until smooth, about 1 minute.
    • Mashed Cauliflower is a fluffy and buttery side dish and a low carb, keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes. Plus, it’s easier and quicker too! | aheadofthyme.com
    • Mashed Cauliflower is a fluffy and buttery side dish and a low carb, keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes. Plus, it’s easier and quicker too! | aheadofthyme.com
    1. Serve. Serve hot with a pat of butter and sprinkle some fresh herbs (such as parsley, chives or rosemary) and freshly cracked black pepper on top.

    How to Serve

    Mashed Cauliflower is a delicious low carb keto side dish that pairs well with almost anything you would typically serve mashed potatoes with. Try cauliflower mash with:

    • Ribeye Steak or Garlic Butter Steak Bites
    • Garlic Butter Salmon
    • Creamy Pesto Chicken
    • Instant Pot Turkey Breast
    • Garlic Butter Shrimp
    • Meatloaf
    • Roast Beef
    Mashed Cauliflower is a fluffy and buttery side dish and a low carb, keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes. Plus, it’s easier and quicker too! | aheadofthyme.com

    Storage and Freezing Instructions

    How to Store

    Transfer leftover cauliflower mash into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    How to Reheat

    Reheat mashed cauliflower in the microwave or on the stove over low heat until warmed through. You may have to add a splash of water if it’s thickened up too much when reheating.

    How to Freeze

    Store leftover mashed cauliflower (once cooled to room temperature) in a freezer bag or airtight freezer container for up to 3 months. To store individual servings, freeze in separate smaller containers. You could also freeze in smaller batches on a sheet pan for 2 hours, then transfer the to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

    • How to store: Transfer leftover cauliflower mash into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
    • How to reheat: Reheat mashed cauliflower in the microwave or on the stove over low heat until warmed through. You may have to add a splash of water if it’s thickened up too much when reheating.
    • How to freeze: Store leftover mashed cauliflower (once cooled to room temperature) in a freezer bag or airtight freezer container for up to 3 months. To store individual servings, freeze in separate smaller containers. You could also freeze in smaller batches on a sheet pan for 2 hours, then transfer the to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

    Recipe Tips and Tricks

    • Try a different tool. If you don’t have a food processor handy, you can use a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, a traditional blender, a hand mixer, or a vegetable ricer to make your cauliflower mash. You could even use a potato mashed or fork for a chunkier consistency.
    • Serve with cold butter. If serving with extra pats of butter on top, keep the butter in the fridge up until the very last moment when you’re ready to add it on top or mix it in. This will make sure it melts evenly. If mixing in extra butter, it will ensure it gets distributed evenly through the mashed cauliflower so that every bite is as buttery as you want.
    • Strain excess liquid. If you find that your cauliflower mash is runny or soupy, you can strain the excess liquid out using a fine mesh strainer. Just make sure you do it before adding the other ingredients.

    More Cauliflower Recipes

    • Creamy Garlic Cauliflower Soup
    • Roasted Cauliflower
    • Baked Cauliflower Nuggets
    • Cauliflower Tacos
    • Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites
    • Spinach Feta Quiche with Cauliflower Crust

    Did you make this recipe? I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating below, letting me know what you thought of the recipe. You can also snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

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    Mashed Cauliflower is a fluffy and buttery side dish and a low carb, keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes. Plus, it’s easier and quicker too! | aheadofthyme.com

    Mashed Cauliflower


    • Author: Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings
    • Diet: Gluten Free
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    Description

    Mashed Cauliflower is a fluffy and buttery side dish and a low carb, keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes. Plus, it’s easier and quicker too!


    Ingredients

    • 1 medium head of cauliflower (2 pounds), cut into florets
    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 3 tablespoons sour cream
    • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
    • ¼ teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper (or more to taste)   
    • fresh herbs (optional, for garnish)

    Instructions

    1. Bring a large cooking pot of salted water to boil. Add the cauliflower florets and turn the heat down to medium. Cook covered for 15 minutes until cauliflower is soft and tender. When the cauliflower is ready, remove from heat and drain.
    2. While the cauliflower is cooking, melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Sauté the garlic for about 2 minutes until fragrant and soft. Remove from heat and set aside.
    3. In a food processor, add the cooked cauliflower, sautéed garlic with the butter it was cooked in, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Puree on high until smooth, about 1 minute.
    4. Serve hot and sprinkle some fresh herbs (such as parsley, chives or rosemary) and freshly cracked black pepper on top.

    Notes

    How to store: Transfer leftover cauliflower mash into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    How to reheat: Reheat mashed cauliflower in the microwave or on the stove over low heat until warmed through. You may have to add a splash of water if it’s thickened up too much when reheating.

    How to freeze: Store leftover mashed cauliflower (once cooled to room temperature) in a freezer bag or airtight freezer container for up to 3 months. To store individual servings, freeze in separate smaller containers. You could also freeze in smaller batches on a sheet pan for 2 hours, then transfer the to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Food Processor
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: mashed cauliflower, cauliflower mash, creamy mashed cauliflower, cauliflower side dish

    Did you make this recipe?

    I'd love to see! Tag me @aheadofthyme on Instagram.

    Mashed Cauliflower is a fluffy and buttery side dish and a low carb, keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes. Plus, it’s easier and quicker too! | aheadofthyme.com
    Mashed Cauliflower
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