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Home Side Dishes

Creamy Mashed Cauliflower

By:Nagi
Published:27 May '19Updated:20 Jan '21
111 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

Creamy Mashed Cauliflower is often touted as a low carb alternative to mashed potato, but it’s actually a delicious side dish in its own right that regularly makes an appearance at up market bistros and fine dining restaurants! Serve Cauliflower Mash with everything from your favourite Steak to Roast Chicken, Schnitzel to Sausages with Gravy.

It’s so tasty, you’ll want to eat it straight out of the pot!

Rustic brown bowl of Creamy Cauliflower Mash topped with a drizzle of butter

Creamy Mashed Cauliflower

Mashed Cauliflower made well is seriously tasty in its own right, not just the low carb cousin of rich, buttery mashed potato. Nowadays, it’s borderline “trendy”. I see it regularly on plates served up by up market bistros and fine dining restaurants!

So here’s how I make Cauliflower Mash taste as good as mashed potato – without using an entire block of butter! 😂


How to cook cauliflower to taste like mashed potato

The secret to make cauliflower taste like mashed potato is the flavourings. You can’t just boil up a big pot of cauliflower and mash it!

Here’s what you need. There are options – to make it dairy free, vegan (sour cream/cream cheese is optional), and also what you’ve got on hand or your personal preferences.

Ingredients in Creamy Mashed Cauliflower

TIP: Make sure the cauliflower is cooked until soft, to ensure it purees smooth. Getting hard little rice-like bits in your cauliflower mash is not very pleasant!

How to make Creamy Mashed Cauliflower

Creamy – or chunky!

Make your Cauliflower Mash smooth and creamy, as I have done, or chunkier if that’s your preference. My preference is smooth because it makes it seem richer and hence more like mashed potato. If it’s chunky, you get juicy bits of cauliflower – which sort of reminds you that you’re eating cauliflower instead of creamy mashed potato!

Close up of spoon scooping up buttery Cauliflower Mash

What to serve with Cauliflower Mashed Potato

Serve Cauliflower Mashed Potato with anything that you’d ordinarily serve with mashed potato – and devour without guilt! Here are a few ideas:

  • Meatloaf!

  • Crispy Pan Fried Fish

  • Crispy Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast – LOW CARB!

  • Garlic Chicken Thighs, Sticky Baked Chicken Thighs or juicy Marinated Chicken Breast

  • Marinated Pork Chops, French Onion Smothered Chops,

  • Pork Tenderloin with Honey Garlic Sauce or Roast Pork with Crispy Crackling

  • Steak with Creamy Peppercorn Sauce or Garlic Thyme Butter Basted Steak

  • Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

And that’s just the tip fo the iceberg. Have a browse of my Dinner recipes for more ideas!

~ Nagi x

Cauliflower Mashed Potato in a rustic bowl drizzled with melted butter, ready to be served.

Watch how to make it

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Rustic brown bowl of Creamy Cauliflower Mash topped with a drizzle of butter

Creamy Mashed Cauliflower

Author: Nagi
Prep: 15 minutes mins
Cook: 10 minutes mins
Total: 25 minutes mins
Sides
Western
4.95 from 39 votes
Servings6
Tap or hover to scale
Print
  • 179
Recipe VIDEO above. So tasty in its own right, you won't just make it as a low carb alternative to mashed potato! See Note 1 for SUBS & alternatives!

Ingredients

  • 1 kg / 2lb cauliflower florets (Note 1)
  • 2 garlic cloves , peeled, whole
  • 2 tbsp (30g) unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup (25g) parmesan cheese , shredded
  • 1/4 cup (55g) sour cream , optional
  • 1 - 3 tbsp cooking water
  • Salt and pepper , to taste

Garnishes (optional):

  • Melted butter, parsley, pepper

Instructions

  • Cut the larger florets in half or quarter so they're all about the same size.
  • Add cauliflower and garlic into a large pot of boiling water and cook for 10 minutes until very soft.
  • Scoop out a mug of cooking water.
  • Drain well, then transfer to food processor.
  • Add remaining ingredients, starting with no water, blitz until smooth. (Use handheld blender stick if you don't have food processor) 
  • Use reserved cooking water to adjust consistency to taste and help puree smooth.
  • Adjust salt and pepper to taste
  • Transfer to serving bowl, drizzle with melted butter and garnish with parsley if desired.
  • Serve as a side with anything that you'd usually serve with mashed potato!

Recipe Notes:

1. Cauliflower - 1 very large head, or 1.5 average heads. About 8 heaped cups of florets. Cut / break florets off (see video for how I do it).
2. Subs & alternatives to make it dairy free, to your taste, what you have:
  • Butter - sub with extra virgin or ordinary olive oil
  • Parmesan - 1/4 to 1/2 tsp Vegeta or vegetable stock powder (for "umami" flavour that parmesan provides)
  • Sour Cream - 60g / 2oz cream cheese
  • Cooking water - milk (any dairy or dairy free)
3. Storage - Keeps for 3 to 5 days in the fridge, and also freezes fine! Thaw then reheat in the microwave - or even gently on the stove.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 111cal (6%)Carbohydrates: 9g (3%)Protein: 4g (8%)Fat: 7g (11%)Saturated Fat: 4g (25%)Cholesterol: 17mg (6%)Sodium: 125mg (5%)Potassium: 511mg (15%)Fiber: 3g (13%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 210IU (4%)Vitamin C: 80.7mg (98%)Calcium: 98mg (10%)Iron: 0.7mg (4%)
Keywords: Cauliflower Mash, Cauliflower Mashed Potato, Mashed Cauliflower
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

Life of Dozer

Sweet little puppy golden retriever, recent addition to the gang of Golden Retrievers that Dozer runs with! I thought I’d try her on for size…. and I think she looks great on me!

Also thought Dozer might get a little jealous….but…

Nagi Golden Retriever puppy Bayview May 2019

….. no. There was no sign of jealousy at all. 🙄

Dozer May 2019 bayview

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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111 Comments

  1. Joseph Gregory says

    November 21, 2023 at 8:29 pm

    5 stars
    Im thinking of trying to do this with frozen cauliflower?

    Reply
  2. Joseph Gregory says

    November 10, 2023 at 12:27 pm

    5 stars
    I want to try this with frozen cauliflower, does this work?

    Reply
  3. Joseph Gregory says

    October 19, 2023 at 5:03 pm

    5 stars
    Can you do this with frozen cauliflower?

    Reply
  4. Vika says

    July 25, 2023 at 3:30 pm

    5 stars
    YUM! Love it! I added my previously boiled new potatoes that has some olive oil , garlic and sweet paprika…and it made mash even tastier!

    Reply
  5. Nichole says

    June 14, 2023 at 10:41 am

    5 stars
    Another permanent addition – super tasty! I added in extra parmesan and a dollop of cream cheese also just to be super decadent. Thanks Nagi.

    Reply
  6. April says

    April 2, 2023 at 10:41 am

    5 stars
    This recipe is serious good! I love that is is lighter than mashed potatoes. I made it to go with the amazing Baked Fish with Lemon Cream Sauce. Simply divine!

    Reply
  7. Calliope says

    December 16, 2022 at 7:38 pm

    hello !! thank you so much for the inspiration !! please the milk and the cream cheese ?? we use them or not ?? thank you !! kisses !!

    Reply
    • Manjit Saundh says

      August 1, 2023 at 12:24 pm

      You use either or. Milk or cauliflower water. Cream cheese or sour cream. Look at the picture with ingredients.

      Reply
  8. Lorraine Parker says

    November 16, 2022 at 3:32 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! Will definitely cook again!

    Reply
  9. Jenna says

    September 30, 2022 at 6:09 am

    5 stars
    Very good! Thank you very much 🙂

    Reply
  10. Ann says

    September 4, 2022 at 11:13 pm

    Great Cauliflower mash – so much better for me than potato. I thought it would be hard to tear myself away from yummy mashed potato, but your recipe made it happen! Thanks…Ann

    Reply
  11. Anna says

    August 28, 2022 at 12:20 pm

    5 stars
    Just made this for lunches for the week. Some roast veggies are in the oven and it all smells heavenly ☺️ Another top notch recipe Nagi, thank you!

    Reply
  12. Lynn says

    July 22, 2022 at 6:48 am

    5 stars
    Made this cauliflower mash last night for the first time, as trying to lower my carbs. It was a bit runnier that I expected, but absolutely delicious. Husband and daughter also loved it. Very creamy and smooth with a slight hint of tartness from the parmesan and the garlic. Will definitely make again and recommend to others!

    Reply
  13. Helen Hart says

    June 25, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    Just loved the cauliflower mash. It elevated the whole meal. Very, very tasty. Thankyou, Nagi.

    Reply
  14. Nicolasmithston says

    June 13, 2022 at 8:37 pm

    Another great, simple recipe. I prefer it to mash potato, it’s lighter and fresher (but still naughty tasting). My partner who is a big British spud head was sceptical, but was totally won over. With bangers and onion gravy it was the perfect combo. Thanks again Nagi, you rock,

    Reply
  15. Sheryl says

    June 3, 2022 at 10:08 am

    5 stars
    Yet another delicious recipe! Made this to go with the slow roasted pork belly and hubbie was very impressed. Wants me to make it again to go with ‘anything’!

    Reply
  16. Julie says

    May 23, 2022 at 7:21 am

    Making this tonight. Love all the recipe’s I’ve tried from you! Thank you for doing what you do! Recipetineats is my go-to when I want to know it’s going to be delicious!!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 23, 2022 at 2:07 pm

      Awww thanks Julie! It’s so nice of you to comment!! N x

      Reply
  17. Beth says

    May 13, 2022 at 9:45 am

    5 stars
    Really enjoyed this! Will definitely make this again.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 13, 2022 at 5:34 pm

      Woo hoo!! I’m glad that you liked it Beth! N x

      Reply
  18. Anne says

    April 14, 2022 at 12:51 am

    This is possibly a bit of a newbie question, but should the garlic be processed along with the cooked cauliflower or removed after the boiling process?

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      April 14, 2022 at 12:53 pm

      Definitely leave it in Anne!! It adds to the flavour! N x

      Reply
  19. Julzy says

    February 13, 2022 at 4:23 pm

    5 stars
    So delicious, didn’t end up needing the mug of water, I may have put a bit more butter in than stated 🤭 but it was so yum I drank it. I could just eat a whole bowl on it’s own for dinner. Thanks Nagi.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      February 14, 2022 at 12:39 pm

      I think you and I would get along just fine!! N x

      Reply
  20. Suzanne Knight says

    January 31, 2022 at 3:52 am

    5 stars
    I’ve made cauliflower rice before, but never mash.
    It was fantastic thank you. 😊

    Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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