I don’t consider myself a trendsetter or even really trendy. However, I’m here to tell you that I was making my Simply Delicious Mashed Cauliflower before it was the trendy thing to do and well before it was the healthy, low-carb, Keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes. A trendsetter? Maybe! Regardless, my Simply Delicious Mashed Cauliflower will become a side dish staple in your house in no time and soon you’ll join the trendy, trendsetting club with me.
There are a lot of recipes for mashed cauliflower that include cream cheese, parmesan, butter, and many other ingredients. I’m sure they’re great, but I’ve simplified it even further (and made it healthier) by making cauliflower the star ingredient and using kitchen staples for flavoring and easy prep, which means Simply Delicious Mashed Cauliflower can be made in a pinch any day of the week in a matter of minutes.
How to Make Simply Delicious Mashed Cauliflower
First things first, start by heating a large pot of water and bringing it to a boil.
Meanwhile, prepare the cauliflower by slicing it down the middle, removing the stem, and chopping it into medium-sized florets. The goal is less about the size of the florets, but rather to ensure they are all similar in size so they cook evenly.
Once the water is boiling, add a full tablespoon of coarse sea salt, then add the cauliflower florets. Adding the salt to the boiling water will ensure the cauliflower is seasoned while it’s cooking. Boil the florets for about 10 minutes, or until they are fork-tender.
Meanwhile, chop the garlic and onions (which don’t need to be perfect, since they’ll be blended), and saute them over medium heat in olive oil. Season generously with salt and pepper. Once the onions and garlic are fragrant and translucent, turn off the heat and set them aside in a small bowl. This will take about five minutes.
Once the cauliflower is fork-tender, drain it completely and add the florets back to the hot pot they were boiled in. Combine the florets with the onions and garlic mixture, heavy cream, butter, salt, and pepper. Give it a big stir to evenly distribute everything.
At this point, you might be thinking, “How is this possibly enough liquid to blend?” It’s a reasonable question! I’ve found repeatedly that less is more with Simply Delicious Mashed Cauliflower. Surprisingly the cauliflower florets hold a fairly significant amount of water from the boiling process, which means that when you start blending the mixture, some of that will release and combine with the heavy cream and butter to make a very smooth mixture and silky texture.
Using an immersion blender, pulse the mixture and blend until very smooth, or the texture you desire. We like ours with a few calculated chunks of cauliflower, but if you’re not into that, keep blending and mixing until it’s silky smooth! Taste and season with salt and pepper to your liking.
At this point, you can also add some fresh herbs or even a few red pepper flakes, depending on your preferences. We love this with thyme and basil, but fresh parsley is also great. You could also add a bit of Chili Crisp seasoning which would give it a punchy, spicy, Asian flare, too.
What to Serve with Simply Delicious Mashed Cauliflower
Mashed cauliflower is a great replacement or alternative or in-addition-to side for any dish you’d typically serve with mashed potatoes. In our house, we love to have Simply Delicious Mashed Cauliflower with meatloaf and have found that it makes a great base for meatballs or even roasted chicken.
You can’t go wrong with Simply Delicious Mashed Cauliflower! It’s an easy-to-make, adaptable, family favorite.
Simply Delicious Mashed Cauliflower
Equipment
- Immersion Blender Alternative: Regular blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 1 Large head cauliflower
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 2 tsp Salt This is an approximate measurement to be adjusted based on your taste.
- 1 tsp Pepper This is an approximate measurement to be adjusted based on your taste.
- 2 tbsp Coarse Sea Salt If you do not have coarse sea salt, use 1 tbsp regular salt.
- 1/2 C Onion, Chopped Any onion or onion variety will work.
- 1 tbsp Garlic, Chopped
- 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes Optional
- 1 tbsp Fresh Herbs Optional
Recommended: Thyme or Basil
- 1/4 C Heavy Cream Plant-based or milk alternative will also work.
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Chop the cauliflower into medium-sized florets by slicing the head of cauliflower down the middle, removing the steam, then separating the florets.
- Chop the onion and garlic, sauteeing them in an a small pan over medium heat with two tablespoons of olive oil. This will take about 5 minutes until they are very fragrant and slighly translucent. Set aside.
- Add the florets to the boiling water, adding the two tablespoons of coarse sea salt to flavor the water. Boil for about 10 minutes or until the florets are fork-tender.
- Once the florets are fork-tender, drain them, then add them straigh back into the hot pot.
- Add the heavy cream, butter, onions, and garlic to the florets.
- Using an immersion blender pulse and blend the mixture until fully combined and smooth to your desired texture.
- Taste the mixture, seasoning with salt and pepper as you desire.
- Add in the fresh herbs, red pepper flakes, or other seasonings if using.
