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An easy creamy cauliflower mash recipe made with just three ingredients and is the best alternative to mashed potatoes! This adaptable recipe is dairy-free and vegan-friendly.
Every time I make cauliflower mash, I’m in shock at how delicious it is. And then when you realize it’s an effortless way to get more vegetables in, it just becomes the obvious choice.
For any skeptics, serve it with steak or braised beef and thank me later.
Ingredients
- Cauliflower – when cooked until soft, it provides the perfect creamy base.
- Butter (dairy-free or regular)- adds flavor and richness, and makes it taste like you’re eating mashed potatoes.
- Milk (dairy-free or regular) – adds creaminess. For dairy-free, I like to use oat or cashew milk.
- Salt & pepper – season to taste.
- Chives (optional) – add a nice pop of color to an otherwise beige dish.
How to Make Cauliflower Mash
Remove the leaves, and cut the cauliflower head into small florets. Wash under cold running water and set aside.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the florets, cook until fork-tender.
Drain the water and add the cauliflower to the bowl of your food processor.
Pulse a few times to break down the cauliflower before adding the butter, milk, and salt. Turn the machine on and process until smooth, occasionally scraping down the sides when needed. Taste & adjust the seasoning if needed.
Substitutions & Variations
Please remember that recipes are just a starting point.
How can you make this cauliflower mash using what you already have? Here are some ideas…
- No fresh cauliflower? – you can use frozen instead. You’ll need about 8 cups.
- No milk? – use veggie or chicken broth instead.
- Add-ins – roasted garlic or garlic powder, swirl in arugula pesto, or add nutritional yeast to give it that umami/cheesy flavor
Check out what goes well with cauliflower for more ideas.
Helpful Tips
Don’t try to make it healthier and omit the butter. It not only helps with texture but also adds a lot of flavor and makes it taste like you’re not eating a bowl of mashed cauliflower (the irony).
For the best results, use a food processor*, not a potato masher. The machine is what gives it that creamy, whipped texture.
*You can also use a blender, just put the liquid in first (this will help to get things moving), but you may need to add a little more milk depending on the power of your machine.
Serve With
Cauliflower Mash Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large head cauliflower
- 3 tbsp butter dairy-free or regular
- 3 tbsp milk dairy-free or regular
- ½ tsp salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
- chives (optional) for garnish
Instructions
- Remove the leaves, and cut the cauliflower head into small florets. Wash under cold running water and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the florets, cook for 8 minutes (they should be fork-tender). Drain the water and add the cauliflower to the bowl of your food processor.
- Pulse a few times to break down the cauliflower before adding the butter, milk, and salt. Turn the machine on and process until smooth, occasionally scraping down the sides when needed. Taste & adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Top with freshly cracked black pepper, chives (optional) and serve warm.
We prepared the cauliflower mash tonight as well as the sweet potatoes. The mash is just delicious too. I did use nutritional yeast as well as quite a lot of salt and pepper. Really tasty!