For me, missing out on mashed potatoes with my dinners was a new kind of torture, so I made it my mission to find something that would hit the spot just right.
Though there were lots of options to choose from, my favorite alternative was loaded cauliflower mash. It’s just as smooth and creamy as the best mashed potatoes, but suits my low-carb diet really well.
You can use loaded cauliflower mash in a large variety of different ways, like on shepherd’s pie, in stuffed mushrooms. Whatever way you would normally use regular mashed potatoes, you can replace it with this cauliflower mash.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that once you’ve tried this incredible loaded cauliflower mash recipe, normal mashed potatoes will almost certainly seem boring to you.
Follow along for my favorite loaded cauliflower mash recipe and how to create remarkable low-carb meals that everyone will love.
Top Tips
Before you get started on any of these recipes, here are a couple top tips for making sure this mash comes out smooth and creamy every time.
Steam Rather Than Boil
If you have the right equipment, you’ll get much better results if you’re able to steam your cauliflower, rather than boil it. You’ll find that it comes out a lot softer, which makes it easier to mash.
Let It Sit
Once your cauliflower has been properly steamed, let them sit for a few minutes in order to release some of the moisture – too much moisture in your cauliflowers will water down your mash, and the last thing anyone wants is a watery mash.
Drain Well
With the same intentions as letting your cauliflower sit, you also want to make sure that you drain them as best you can before you mash them.
I actually pour them out on some paper towels and lightly pat them to get out even more excess water.
Use A Food Processor
In order to get the perfect smooth texture, you should opt to use a food processor to break down your cauliflower, rather than a potato masher.
I’ve always found that using a potato masher, even with actual potatoes, leaves lots of lumps where I’d rather everything be smooth. A food processor will blend out those lumps and keep everything combined.
Ingredients
For this recipe, you’ll need to make sure that you have the following ingredients:
Chopped Cauliflower
Butter
Sour Cream
Bacon Bits
Green Onions
Shredded Cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste
You don’t need to add the butter if you’re trying to keep the calories low, but man, does this recipe taste great when it’s rich and buttery.
Equipment
As well as your ingredients, you’ll want to have the following bits of equipment handy before you start.
Steamer
Colander & paper towels
Food Processor
6-Quart Instant Pot (optional)
Baking Dish
For this recipe, you can either make it in an instant pot (something I highly recommend getting if you want to streamline the cooking process for a whole bunch of recipes), or you can make it just as well in a baking dish in the oven.
Details
Here are the basic details that you need to know in order to make this mash:
Once you’ve mastered this, you’ll be able to start experimenting with it and adding it to different foods. I’ll provide you with a few more suggestions below the recipe.
What You’ll Need
16 oz Fresh or Frozen Cauliflower Florets
1 tbs Melted Butter
3 tbs Sour Cream
½ cup Shredded Cheese
2 tbs Cooked Bacon Bits
1-2 Finely Chopped Green Onions
Salt & Pepper to Taste
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400F
Put your cauliflower in the steamer and bring to a boil. Cook until the cauliflower is tender, which should take about 10 minutes. If you don’t have a steamer, you can add the cauliflower to a saucepan and boil it. Or, you can cook it in a microwave.
Drain and pat dry your cauliflower then transfer it to a food processor along with the melted butter, sour cream, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth.
Transfer the cauliflower into your baking dish, add the cheese and bacon over the top. Roast until the cheese is melted and golden brown all over. This should take about 10-15 minutes. If you’re using an instant pot (see also “10 Superb Keto Instant Pot Recipes Everyone Will Love!“), transfer it into this instead and cook it for a few minutes until golden brown and melted.
Garnish with green onions and serve immediately.
And that’s it! This recipe should only take you half an hour, less if you’re using an instant pot.
Serve with pretty much anything, you’ll definitely want to start having this mash with meals you never even considered having mash with before once you try it.
Other Ways To Serve This Mash
Like I said, this is a very versatile mash and can be enjoyed in a wide variety of ways. For example, you could try these broccoli and cauliflower nuggets, which are perfect for snacking, or for sneaking more veg into your children’s meals.
What about a baked garlic cauliflower mash with cheese crust? Served in individual pots, this crunchy cauliflower bake makes use of the delicious mash you’ve just mastered to create a perfect side dish.
Final Thoughts
Whatever reason you’re going low-carb, this dish is an absolute lifesaver when it comes to quick side dishes you can make that the whole family will love.
Try experimenting with other things to load this mash up with, maybe different cheeses? Whatever makes your heart happy.
Hi, my name is Justin Roberts and I like to live by one major rule in life – health is wealth. And where does all health stem from? The food choices we make.
I grew up in a not-so-wealthy household that often struggled to get food on the table.
The food we did eat was cheap, holding no nutritional value at all. I’m talking frozen foods, carbs, fats, and very little fresh produce.
I am fortunate enough to have made a life for myself where the money for food is no longer an issue, and I have spent the majority of it looking into healthy foods and different diets to try.
The most notable is keto and paleo. I am also interested in only using whole foods wherever possible – call it trauma!
As a professional chef, I now create recipes surrounding these diets every day. My family are my tasters, and I strive to make my recipes as budget-friendly as possible.
I hope that you’ll find some inspiration for healthier meals from my website. I want to create a catalog of recipes that you can come back to time and time again. Enjoy!
