Home » Side Dishes » Easy Mashed Cauliflower
Published: December 29, 2011Updated: March 11, 2022Author: Jenn Laughlin
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This easy mashed cauliflower gives mashed potatoes a run for it’s money! This healthy vegetarian side dish is creamy, flavorful, and gloriously gluten-free.
This month will forever be known as the December I ate my weight in cauliflower, and loved every second of it.
Rarely do I ever need to test a potential recipe 5 times before blogging it, but when it came to this one, I couldn’t stop making it!!!We love this easy mashed cauliflower and I’m so super excited to share it with y’all today.
Instead of making it the same way each time, I changed a few small things in each batch and can honestly say I loved every. single. one.My favorite version is posted below and I can totally vouch for substitutions with coconut milk, butter, and even greek yogurt. They all work marvelously!
It is also absolutely AMAZING over roasted spaghetti squash — by far my favorite way to eat it! I add a little of my favorite spaghetti sauce to the plate and stir it all together.
If you’re a little behind on your own personal love affair with cauliflower, give this cruciferous wonder another chance! Despite its plain, colorless facade, cauliflower is a nutrient powerhouse! It’s a good source of vitamin C, magnesium, b6, and fiber. Sign me up!
Easy Mashed Cauliflower
The easy peasy recipe below makes approx. 2.5 cups of tasty mashed cauliflower.
Feel free to double the recipe if you’re serving a crowd for the holidays. It’s oh so delicious and the leftovers are great the next day too!
Enjoy!
Easy Mashed Cauliflower
This easy mashed cauliflower gives mashed potatoes a run for it’s money! It’s creamy, buttery, and gloriously gluten-free.
5 from 22 votes
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Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Vegetarian
Keyword: Easy Mashed Cauliflower
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Jenn Laughlin – Peas and Crayons
Ingredients
- 1 head of cauliflower
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt, plus extra to taste
- ½ cup of half and half
- ⅛ tsp white pepper (black pepper will work too!)
- parsley and paprika for topping, dried or fresh
Instructions
Cut + separate into large florets. Blanch for 15 minutes in shallow, boiling water. (just enough to cover the tops) I’m in the habit of seasoning the water with some freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of kosher salt — feel free to follow suit! To maintain texture and avoid watery cauliflower, toss strained cauliflower into an ice bath immediately after blanching. Allow to cool and strain, placing cauliflower in either a pot or directly into your food processor. [see note below]
Side Note: If you’re making this for yourself and/or other adults, you can easily skip the food processor and simply mash the cauliflower with a masher or fork just like you would with potatoes. Break out the processor if you’re making this for texturally-challened or picky children to give the cauliflower a smooth, whipped consistency. Since making it with the processor the first time, I now just fork-mash the cauli and call it a day.
Choose your mashing method [above] and heat on medium-low on the stove top in a small pot or pan. Add 1/2 cup of half and half, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp onion powder, and 1/2 tsp salt. Next add your white pepper. Stir to incorporate and taste. Adjust seasonings as needed. I always add extra garlic powder and a little extra salt + pepper.
Garnish with chopped chives or dried parsley + paprika and serve steaming hot aside your favorite meal or atop a bed of roasted spaghetti squash.
Notes
Feel free to add some freshly grated parmesan cheese!
You can also use fresh sautéed garlic here or even roasted garlic in place of the garlic powder – so good!
Nutrition facts below are estimated with an online nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed and enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 47kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 311mg, Potassium: 119mg, Vitamin A: 105IU, Vitamin C: 13.2mg, Calcium: 38mg, Iron: 0.1mg
Did you make this recipe?I want to see! Tag @peasandcrayons on Instagram and Facebook!
If you get a chance to try this easy mashed cauliflower, let me know!
ou can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Need a dairy free mashed cauliflower?
For a vegan and dairy-free version of this marvelous mashed cauliflower, use canned or refrigerated coconut milk instead of the dairy! It’s really good!
You can also use canned coconut cream (so thick and creamy!) if you’d like. To make up for the lack of dairy, you can add a little extra flavor with a drizzle of olive oil or a teeny bit of earth balance if desired. Fresh herbs make a tasty addition to. Adjust seasoning to taste and feel free to add in extras like nutritional yeast and additional fresh herbs.
Go Greek!
If you’re a fan of sour cream and chive mashed potatoes, add a little plain greek yogurt and freshly chopped green onions to the recipe or even as a later addition to jazz up leftovers.
The key to making veggies delicious is to cater them to your own personal tastes.
Think about what you like best about a dish. Do you prefer dishes that are garlicky? Buttery? Creamy? Chunky? Take what you like about food and use that knowledge to enhance everything you make. Take a favorite veg-centric meal or side and make it a different way every. single. time. You’ll be surprised to see what you end up loving!
Towards the end of each veggie experiment, taste your result. Take the time to figure out what flavor you want to highlight. I always add more garlic and sneak in a dash of paprika +/or cayenne pepper to nearly all my dishes because I adore the flavor. You may want a little extra salt and pepper, or perhaps some chives or parsley. add a sprinkle at a time and taste until its your idea of foodie perfection.
crazy for cauliflower?
- Chopped Cauliflower Broccoli Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing
- Broccoli Cauliflower Brussels Sprout Gratin
- Chimichurri Cauliflower Steaks
- Instant Pot Butternut Cauliflower Soup
- Mexican Cauliflower Rice
If you get a chance to try this easy mashed cauliflower recipe, let me know!
Leave some love in the comment form below or tag your photos with @peasandcrayons on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creation! I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
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About The Author:
Jenn Laughlin
Hi! I’m Jenn and I’m here to help you eat your veggies! It'll be fun, painless, and pretty darn delicious as I teach you to plan your meals around fresh, seasonal produce with a little help from healthy freezer and pantry staples.
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