Homemade Cauliflower Mash Recipe

Easy Homemade Cauliflower Mash Recipe Overview

Mashed cauliflower with butter, parmesan, and garlic tastes amazing. It makes a perfect low carb meal since it is a very low carb recipe and the added oil/butter/nut options you have to add make this a homemade mashed cauliflower recipe that is a great side for almost any protein. What better way to get your veggies in, as well as satisfy that starch craving… without the starch!

Kitchen Tools For This Easy Homemade Cauliflower Mash Recipe:

Cauliflower Mash Recipe Ingredients & Shopping List

How to Prepare This Cauliflower Mash Recipe

1. Wash the cauliflower, trim outer leaves and cut into chunks.

   

   Chop the Cauliflower Florets.

2. Steam the cauliflower in a steam basket, covered for about 14 minutes or until very tender. If you don’t have a steamer, you can fill a saucepan with a cup or two of water with the cauliflower, bring to a boil and cover. Don’t let the water all vent out or the cauliflower will burn on the bottom.

   

   Steam The Cauliflower Florets So They Soften.

3. OR you can use this alternative: Place the cauliflower florets in a microwave-safe bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of water to the bottom of the bowl, cover with a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for about 10 minutes, until very tender.

4. While the cauliflower is steaming, place the butter, garlic, parmesan, salt, and pepper in your food processor’s bowl.

   

   Blending Cauliflower Mashed Recipe.

5. When the cauliflower is cooked, drain the hot water and let it steam for a few minutes. Then transfer it to the food processor or mixing bowl if mashing with a mixer or by hand. TIP: To make cauliflower mash without a food processor use a blender or manual potato masher.

   

   Blend Until Texture is Smooth.

6. Mix until very smooth and serve immediately.

Variations on how to prepare this cauliflower mash recipe: This is a great classic low carb cauliflower mash recipe, but you can switch the butter for another healthy fat like olive oil or blend some roasted almonds with the cauliflower.
If you’re not worried about the vegan aspect – don’t judge me – I’ve actually used bacon drippings and found nirvana. You can add herbs, even a bit of heavy cream.
For more flavor, when cooking the cauliflower, you can use chicken stock instead of water.

Common Questions About This Mashed Cauliflower Recipe:

Can I use frozen cauliflower? You could, but frozen cauliflower does what most frozen veggies do, that is loose freshness and taste. Plus, I find the ice crystals that inevitably form in the bag taste like dust and make the results soggy. If you do use frozen, thaw completely, rinse and dry before using.

Does this homemade cauliflower mash recipe taste like mash cauliflower? No, it is cauliflower after all. It is closer than you might think though. Homemade cauliflower mash can be just as creamy, perhaps not as starchy sometimes. It is a great low carb substitute to mashed potatoes.

Do you prepare homemade cauliflower mash ahead of time? Yes. You could make it a few hours or a day ahead, refrigerate it, then reheat it in the microwave.

How to make low carb cauliflower mashed taste better? This one is somewhat subjective. To make this taste more like regular mashed potatoes you can add some instant mashed potatoes as you are mixing. This will change your flavor profile.

How to make turn this into a creamy homemade cauliflower mash recipe? To make a creamy homemade cauliflower mash recipe you can add cream or more butter. This is individual preference but you can adjust quantities to taste.

How to make delicious cauliflower mash thicker? In order to make this easy cauliflower mash recipe yield a thicker, more starchy final menu item you can add more cauliflower to the original recipe until this densifies to taste. Alternatively, you can simmer down the water on medium heat. As the water evaporates the cauliflower rice will be thicker.

Kitchen Equipment Questions:

How can I make homemade cauliflower mash without a food processor? Alternatives to preparing easy homemade cauliflower mash recipe without a food processor are immersion blenders, blenders or manual potato mashers. For the creamiest possible mash, the food processor is the best bet. If you only have an ordinary scraper you can also make cauliflower rice.

Nutritional Value Questions:

Is cauliflower mash paleo? You can make this cauliflower mash recipe paleo by removing the butter. Some paleo diets allow olive oil so that could be a great substitute.