If you like mashed potatoes, you’ll enjoy Creamy Garlic Mashed CAULIFLOWER! Seasoned with garlic & onions, this healthy side dish is amazing!
We love mashed potatoes! However, sometimes you feel the need to eat a bit healthier variety of foods! This creamy garlic mashed cauliflower is a fantastic way to enjoy a side dish that looks and tastes like mashed potatoes, without the additional calories.
Cauliflower florets are boiled (or steamed), then cooked with sautéed onions. This mixture is then pureed, and lightly browned garlic cloves are added to the party, for extra flavor. Once pureed until smooth (in a food processor or blender), this healthy veggie side dish is ready to serve! It doesn’t take too much effort, and tastes wonderful. Here’s how to make it:
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Preparing The Cauliflower
Okay… first thing you will need to do is prepare the cauliflower! Unwrap the cauliflower, and begin by removing the leafy green leaves around the bottom of the cauliflower. Then turn the cauliflower upside down and very carefully cut out the core, and discard it.
Cut and separate the cauliflower into florets, removing/discarding some of the longer thick, hard stems. Bring a large pan of water to a boil. Place the florets into the pan of boiling water and continue to cook until tender (approx. 5-6 minutes). Drain the cauliflower, once done. NOTE: You can also steam the cauliflower, if you prefer.
Putting It Together
While the cauliflower cooks, melt 2 teaspoons of butter in a large skillet, and sauté the chopped onions for 3-4 minutes. When done, add the cooked cauliflower florets to the onions in the skillet. Cook the onions and cauliflower on medium-low heat for about 7-8 minutes, stirring often.
Once they are finished cooking, transfer the onion/cauliflower mixture to a food processor or blender, and process until it becomes somewhat smooth. Scrape down the sides of the processor, as needed during processing.
Finishing The Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
Melt a teaspoon of butter in a skillet on low heat. Add the chopped garlic. Cook and stir this ONLY until the garlic is just beginning to turn brown (about a minute). Don’t let the garlic get too browned or burn, or it will become bitter. Remove this from the heat as soon as it is done.
Add the cooked garlic, and the remaining Tablespoon of butter to the pureed cauliflower, and continue processing until the mixture is fully smooth. Scrape down the sides as it is processed. It should be similar in texture to mashed potatoes, once done. Season to taste with a couple pinches of salt, if desired.
Time To Serve The Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower!
Once the cauliflower is completely mixed and is very smooth (like mashed potatoes in texture), remove from the food processor (or blender). Transfer the hot creamy garlic mashed cauliflower to a serving dish, and add a few chives for garnish, if desired. Dish it up, and dig in while it’s hot! This mashed cauliflower recipe makes four servings, and I really think you will enjoy it.
Our favorite way to have it is served alongside meatloaf and other veggies (shown below). It looks so much like mashed potatoes it will fool your eyes, but is a bit healthier, in the long run. YUM.
I truly hope you enjoy this delicious veggie side dish! It pairs very well with beef, pork and chicken dishes, and it’s flavorful, creamy texture will surprise those to whom you serve it. Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you will come back for more family-friendly recipes soon! Take care, and have a GREAT day!
Looking For More VEGETABLE SIDE DISH Recipes?
You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have lots of delicious veggie recipes to choose from, including:
- Cauliflower Mushroom Skillet
- Orange Glazed Carrots
- Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries
- Loaded Grilled Cauliflower
- Southwestern Skillet Corn
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Recipe Adapted From: The book “New Life Promise- Food Meets Faith, Total Trifecta Of Weight Loss”, by Isabel D. Price, published 2019, page 87
If you like mashed potatoes, you'll enjoy Creamy Garlic Mashed CAULIFLOWER! Seasoned with garlic & onions, this healthy side dish is amazing!
- 1 medium cauliflower
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 medium yellow onion , chopped
- 3 medium garlic cloves , finely chopped
- ⅙ teaspoon salt , or more- season to taste
- chives (optional for garnish)
Unwrap cauliflower; remove green leaves. Turn cauliflower upside down; carefully cut out the core. Cut/separate cauliflower into florets, removing/discarding thick, hard stems. Bring large pan of water to a boil. Place florets into boiling water; cook until tender (approx. 5-6 minutes). Drain once done. *You can also steam the cauliflower, if you prefer.
While cauliflower cooks, melt 2 teaspoons of butter in large skillet. Sauté chopped onions for 3-4 minutes. When done, add cooked cauliflower to onions in skillet. Cook on medium-low heat for 7-8 minutes, stirring often. Transfer onion/cauliflower mixture to food processor or blender. Process until mixture becomes fairly smooth.
Melt a teaspoon of butter in skillet on low heat. Add chopped garlic. Cook and stir ONLY until garlic begins to turn brown (about a minute). Don't let garlic get too browned or burn, or it will become bitter. Remove from the heat when done. Add cooked garlic and remaining Tablespoon of butter to pureed cauliflower. Continue processing until fully smooth. Scrape down sides, if necessary. Finished texture should be similar to mashed potatoes, once done. Season with salt, to taste.
Once cauliflower is smooth (like mashed potatoes in texture), remove from food processor. Transfer to serving dish; add a few chives to the top for garnish, if desired. Serve hot, and enjoy!
Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!