Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic Recipe
This Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes recipe offers a creamy, low-carb alternative to traditional mashed potatoes made by roasting garlic and blending it with tender cauliflower florets, cottage cheese, and almond milk. The result is a rich, smooth, and flavorful side dish perfect for those seeking a healthy and comforting alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Calorie
Ingredients
Scale
Roasted Garlic
- 1 head of garlic
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
Main Ingredients
- 5 cups cauliflower (1 pound, cut into florets)
- 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
- 2 tablespoons milk of choice (unsweetened almond milk recommended)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- Generous pinch of freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400℉ (200℃) to prepare for roasting the garlic.
- Prepare garlic: Slice the top off the head of garlic, remove excess papery skin while keeping the head intact to roast evenly.
- Roast garlic: Place the garlic head on a piece of aluminum foil, shiny side up. Rub the head with olive oil, then close the foil to form a packet. Roast in the oven for about 40 minutes until the garlic is very soft at the center.
- Boil water: While the garlic roasts, bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Cook cauliflower: Add the cauliflower florets to the boiling water, cover, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until fork-tender.
- Drain cauliflower: Drain the cooked cauliflower and spread it onto a clean kitchen towel to cool for 5 to 10 minutes until it is safe to handle.
- Squeeze moisture: Wrap the cauliflower in the towel and firmly squeeze out as much moisture as possible. This step is crucial for achieving a thick and creamy mash rather than a watery texture.
- Combine ingredients: Place the squeezed cauliflower into a large food processor. Squeeze half of the softened garlic cloves from the roasted head into it, then add cottage cheese, almond milk, salt, and pepper.
- Blend until smooth: Process all ingredients until the mash is smooth and creamy, pausing occasionally to scrape down the sides to ensure even blending. This may take a few minutes to fully smooth the cottage cheese.
- Season and serve: Taste your cauliflower mash and adjust seasoning with additional garlic, salt, or pepper if desired. Serve warm as a delicious, healthy side dish.
Notes
- Removing excess moisture from the cooked cauliflower is essential to avoid a watery mash.
- Roasting the garlic brings out a sweet, mellow flavor that enhances the dish.
- You can substitute the almond milk with any milk of your choice, including dairy or other plant-based options.
- For a creamier consistency, add a little more cottage cheese or milk as needed.
- This dish is a great low-carb and gluten-free alternative to traditional mashed potatoes.
Keywords: cauliflower mash, mashed cauliflower, low-carb side dish, healthy mashed potatoes alternative, roasted garlic mashed cauliflower
