Cauliflower Mash
on Jan 21, 2022, Updated Jun 04, 2024
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This is the best, easiest,🧄 garlicky Cauliflower Mash you will ever have. If you are not a lover of cauliflower, I KNOW I can change your mind with this recipe. This is one of the simplest recipes you’ll ever come across and it’s absolutely delicious. If you’ve tried making cauliflower mash before but find that it can be watery, I have a foolproof method that will never steer you wrong.
Why You’ll Love Cauliflower Mash
I promise, this recipe will be your new favorite side dish. Cauliflower is a low-carb veg, and once you make it like this, you won’t miss the mashed potatoes! The cauliflower is so creamy, smooth, accompanied by the delicious flavor from the 🧄 garlic. This dish comes together really ⏲️ quickly and uses minimal ingredients. Whether you serve it as a weeknight side or with your holiday turkey, it’s a winner!
How to Prepare Cauliflower Mash
💧Begin by washing and breaking up your cauliflower into florets.
🧂 Now, in a pot on the stove, boil water and salt it.
⏲️ Once it comes to a boil, add in the cauliflower and cook until fork-tender (about 10 to 15 minutes).
🔥 Now, drain the water and transfer the cauliflower into a pan on the stove over medium-high heat.
♨️ Mash the cauliflower down (without touching the pan as you don’t want to damage your non-stick pans) and let that water evaporate completely as you stir. This will take about 5 to 6 minutes.
🧄 Next, add the cauliflower to a food processor along with a little bit of salt, butter, 1/4 of a garlic clove ( or garlic powder ) and optionally any cream cheese you love.
🌀 Process on high until creamy and enjoy!
Nonna’s Tip ♨️
The trick to the perfect cauliflower mash is to drain it really well and then let any remaining water evaporate in a pan on medium heat for 5-6 minutes before mashing. If you don’t do this step, you definitely can have a very watery mash.
Variations and Substitutions for Cauliflower Mash
- Feel free to use a plant-based butter or any plant-based cream cheese that you love. Everyone tells me that Kite-Hill is delicious.
- You are more than welcome to also use 🥣 sour cream or ghee as well.
- You can definitely mash this cauliflower by hand, but using a 🌀 food processor is going to give you the creamiest texture. You can also use a ricer if you have one.
- Add in additional herbs and spices that you love such as black pepper, paprika, 🌿 thyme, rosemary, or nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
Similar Recipes
Whole Roasted Cauliflower
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Baked Cauliflower Dish
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Creamy Cauliflower
45 mins
Cauliflower Nachos
50 mins
Best Served With
- As a side dish with a roast chicken or turkey, or my delicious Roasted Leg of Lamb.
- This is the perfect side to a juicy 🥩 steak or ribs.
- Cauliflower Mash is light enough to work really well as a side dish for a beautiful piece of 🐟 fish, such as my Branzino.
Common Questions
Yes, you can, but keep in mind it will hold more water so you will probably have to steam it in the pan for a bit longer to evaporate all the moisture.
Yes, you can certainly substitute the butter and cream cheese with non-dairy alternatives. You can also use olive oil or coconut oil instead of butter.
Yes, you can customize the seasoning to your taste. Options include black pepper, paprika, thyme, rosemary, or nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
While a food processor provides the creamiest texture, you can also use a potato masher, immersion blender, ricer or hand mixer instead. The texture may not be as smooth, but it will still be delicious!
Cauliflower Mash
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 small head cauliflower, about 6 cups of florets
- 1 teaspoon salt, to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon cream cheese
- 1/4-1/2 clove garlic, or garlic powder (you can also use roasted garlic for a milder flavor)
Instructions
- Wash and break up your cauliflower into florets. Boil water on the stove and salt it.
- Once it comes to a boil you can add in the cauliflower and let it go until it’s fork tender. Mine usually takes around 10-15 minutes.
- Drain out the water and transfer it into a pan on the stove on medium-high heat.
- Mash it down without touching the pan as you don’t want to damage your non-stick pans and let that water evaporate completely as you stir. This will take about 5 to 6 minutes.
- You can now add it to a food processor with a little bit of extra salt, touch of butter, 1/4 of a garlic clove (or garlic powder) and optionally any cream cheese you love.
- Process on high until creamy and enjoy. Can be refrigerated and re-heated up to 3-4 days.
My Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Woul i be able to
do this with frozeb cauliflower rice?
Hi Pina! I have not tried with frozen cauliflower rice, but it should work.
Great alternative to potatoes! Loved these so much!
Super delicious and easy! My husband said he wouldn’t know it was cauliflower if I hadn’t told him.
soooooo happy