Creamed Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes with cream, butter and seasonings is a healthy and tasty alternative to your favorite mashed potatoes.

That we need to eat healthier food is something that most of us can agree on. I am always searching for recipes that have tons of flavor, and are low calorie or low carb. With Creamed Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes, I hit pay dirt!  Even the kids love this recipe and unless I tell them otherwise (and why would I do that?)they think it is mashed potatoes. Who knew that a vegetable that started out so …ahem…unattractive could become something so amazing!

Making creamed cauliflower mashed potatoes couldn’t be easier. If you can boil water you can make this dish. All you do is boil the cauliflower until tender, add all the other ingredients with the cauliflower in a food processor and pulse until smooth. That’s it!

Pro Tips for making the Best Creamed Cauliflower or Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

My first few tries at making cauliflower mashed potatoes were not so good. It was either grainy and had the texture of sand or too thin and spread all over the plate. Not the whipped, delicious mashed potato substitute I was hoping for. After some trial and error, I figured out how to make them perfect. I’m excited to share what I learned with you!

Get Rid Of The Stems

• Cut the stems off as close to the floret as you can. The stems will not soften and mash, leading to the grainy texture I mentioned. Save them for another use. Cauliflower stems are especially good in stir fry.

Cook The Cauliflower Until Very Soft

• This stage is must softer than the tender-soft we are used to. The cauliflower should crush easily between your fingers. That is how you will be able to whip it up into a smooth and creamy dish.

Remove As Much Water As You Can

• I don’t squeeze the water from my cauliflower. What I do is let it sit in the colander for a few minutes to drain and let the steam evaporate. Then I shake out any excess liquid. You can pat the cauliflower dry if it still has moisture on it.

Add The Cream In Increments

• Start by adding 1/2 of the cream to the cauliflower before processing. Add more cream a tablespoon at a time until the mashed cauliflower is as thick and fluffy as you desire.

*TIP – for smooth and creamy cauliflower, you’ll want to break out the food processor. The blades will cut the stringy cooked stems and they’ll become smooth just like the florets. Or use a blender to do the same thing. A hand mixer is not recommended.

Creamed Cauliflower is one of those sides that compliments just about anything.  It is a great alternative to rice when served with stir-fry vegetables or chicken. Or  serve it with fried chicken and gravy. I know, I know we are going for healthy here.

Cauliflower Promotes Good Health

One of the goals of your healthy eating goals is probably to heal the body thru eating good food. Low carb and gluten-free food are part of that, as well as eating rich, nutrient packed food to maintain basic health, strong bones and muscle.

Cauliflower is one of those must-eat foods because it packs a wallop of healthy benefits into each serving. As a bonus – it also has only 25 calories and 2.9 net carbs per cup!

Cauliflower contains about 75% of the Vitamin C needed each day, as well as 20% of the Vitamin K. You need these to keep your bones healthy. It also can help lower blood pressure, boost your immune system, prevent stomach disorders, help with respiratory issues and reduce the risk of cancer. If you don’t already eat cauliflower, you definitely want to think about adding this superfood to your diet. 

Looking for more delicious vegetable side dish recipes? Check out some of my collection here:

• Quinoa Vegetable Medley – with a splash of tangy Balsamic
• Basil Corn Cakes – top with Maple Bacon Butter
• Honey Dill Glazed Carrots – sweet and savory side
• Parmesan Chive Corn on the Cob – bursting with buttery flavor
• Honey Glazed Butternut Squash Recipe – star of the table
• Orzo with Snap Peas and Peanuts – protein and fiber rich

We actually prefer this dish to real mashed potatoes. I probably should not tell you this…but my sons put gravy on them! They say it tastes the same.  Part of how I get that great flavor is to add  little onion powder, nutmeg and seasoned salt to the mix.

If you made this recipe, please leave a comment and rating. I would appreciate the chance to troubleshoot any issues you might have had before you leave the rating!