Trying to eat healthier? Try swapping your traditional mashed potatoes for this easy mashed cauliflower recipe! It's just as easy (if not easier) than making mashed potatoes, and much better for you.
Lately, it feels like I've been eating a lot of junk food and meals that leave me feeling heavy after eating. I haven't regretted them—they were delicious—but I've been looking to make lighter meals. Nolan and I have been eating a lot of salad for lunches and simple proteins with vegetables for dinner in an effort to combat our richer meals.
When I was in middle school (and probably high high school, too), my parents were on a serious low carb kick! We had a lot of pork loin with steamed, buttered veggies for dinner. Every. Night. Except for the rare occasion my dad broke out the pasta. Those nights were always so exciting! But, I really didn't mind the other nights since they switched up the protein and vegetables often enough to keep it interesting. In fact, the mashed cauliflower they used to make instead of potatoes from those dinners is what inspired this dish. I always loved this side the most! It was a good day when I saw that cauliflower head come out of the fridge. I've made some little tweaks, but it's the same concept. Cut out the carbs!
The number one trick to being healthy is making food you ACTUALLY want to eat! This recipe is no exception. While I'm not trying to pass this mashed cauliflower off as some kind of cure-all-diet-food, it's certainly better than mashed potatoes; its inspirational counterpart. I'm also not trying to pass this off as tasting better than mashed potatoes, because we all know potatoes are a superior vegetable. Sadly, potatoes mixed with all these unhealthy fats and dairy can really pack on the calories. Enter mashed cauliflower! Try it out next time you're thinking of making mashed potatoes, you wont be dissapointed.
I don't think any food is better off without garlic, so I went ahead and threw that in along with a little cream cheese to make it silky, and some feta for a nice tang. I think the food processor is the best tool for this dish. It really helps get out any lumps and bumps from the mash. Although, you can definitely use a potato masher if that's all you have. I would recommend melting the butter and cream cheese before adding it to the cauliflower if you're going to be mashing it by hand. It also gives the cauliflower more texture when you use a potato masher instead of a food processor.
Before I get to the recipe, Chloe gives it a 7.5. She likes it, but it's just not potatoes. But that's the whole point! She just doesn't get it.
Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
1 large head of cauliflower with the individual crowns cut off the main stem, or 1 lb of pre-cut cauliflower crowns
2 Tbsp cream cheese
2 oz feta cheese, crumbled
2 Tbsp butter, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Start by steaming your cauliflower in a large pot with some water, or in the bag you bought it in, if steamable. If steaming in a large pot of water, let it steam for 10-15 minutes so the cauliflower gets really soft.
Place the cream cheese, feta, 1 Tbsp butter, and garlic into a food processor along with your hot and steamy cauliflower. Blend for 30 seconds on high or until you have a smooth consistency and don’t have any lumps of cheese or cauliflower.
Season your mash with salt and pepper to taste.
Move your mashed cauliflower to a bowl and add the reserved tablespoon of butter to the top. Let the butter melt into the cauliflower and serve warm.
Enjoy!
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