You can’t have enough of so many side dishes, and it is impossible to have enough easy recipes. That’s why I started playing with mashed cauliflower. With the popularity of keto diets, mashed cauliflower has been a popular alternative to mashed potatoes. However, I love so many things about mashed cauliflower other than the carb count. It’s flexible and easy to make. It can be flavored with almost anything and makes a great side dish to any meal. This Garlic Herb, Mashed Cauliflower, is what I love and not what it pretends to be.
WHAT IS MASHED CAULIFLOWER LIKE?
It doesn’t taste like mashed potatoes. Ha! Cauliflower has a neutral flavor that allows for many different seasonings and herbs to be added without becoming too overpowering. The flavor is light, but it still has that cruciferous aroma. If you understand what I am referring to, Mashed potatoes have a different texture. Mashed cauliflower is lighter and more delicate than mashed potatoes. To give your mashed cauliflower body and weight, it is important to add some fat. It will help you to satisfy your taste buds and make it feel more substantial.
WHAT CAN YOU ADD to MASHED CAULIFLOWER
To flavor my mashed cauliflower, I used a flavorful garlic and herb seasoning mix. But, you can also experiment with Cajun seasoning or Everything Bagel Seasoning, ranch, barbecue seasoning, Montreal steak seasoning… or any other flavor.
It is important to add enough fat to your mashed cauliflower to prevent them from tasting too dry or thin. Cream cheese is extra thick, which helps thicken the consistency. Also, you can try Parmesan cheese or cheddar cheese.
CAN FROZEN CAULIFLOWER BE USED?
This works great with frozen cauliflower. Frozen cauliflower is a great option because it has already been chopped and partially cooked, making mashed cauliflower even quicker. Even better, frozen cauliflower can be kept on hand to make mashed cauliflower whenever and wherever you like, without worrying about it getting spoiled in your fridge. 😉
According to their package instructions, you can use frozen cauliflower by boiling the florets in water. Once they are tender, you can then follow the recipe below.
Do I have to use a food processor?
Nope! No! If you don’t have a potato masher, you can still use it. However, the cauliflower is more fibrous, so the results may not be as smooth.
GARLIC HERB MASHED CAULIFLOWER
Garlic Herb Mashed Cauliflower makes a delicious side dish that pairs well with many of your main dishes.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
INGREDIENTS
- 1 head cauliflower (2.39)
- 2 Tbsp butter ($0.14)
- 2 oz. cream cheese ($0.20)
GARLIC HERB SEASONING
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley ($0.10)
- 1/2 tsp dried Oregano ($0.05).
- 1/2 tsp dried Basil ($0.05)
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder ($0.02)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder ($0.02)
- 1/2 tsp salt ($0.02)
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper ($0.02)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Cut the stem and leaves off the cauliflower.
- Cover the cauliflower florets with water and place them in a large saucepan. Turn the heat up to high and cover the pot with a lid. Bring the pot to a boil. Once the cauliflower florets are very tender, continue boiling them for about 10 minutes. The cooked cauliflower should be strained into a colander.
- Prepare the garlic herb seasoning while the cauliflower boils. In a bowl, combine the dried parsley and dried Oregano with the onion powder, garlic powder and salt.
- In a food processor, add the cooked and drained cauliflower. Pulse the cauliflower into small pieces. Add the butter, cream cheese and garlic herb seasoning. Blend until smooth. Adjust the seasonings and salt to your taste.
NUTRITION
Serving Size: 0.75 Cup Calories: 155.65 Kcal Carbohydrates are 11.78 G Protein: 5.1g Fat: 11.23g Sodium 479.13 mg Fiber 4.45 g