These quick and easy, low carb cauliflower mashed potatoes only have 5 ingredients, 62 calories, 1 SmartPoint and use a secret ingredient to pack them with protein! They’re perfect for a healthy Thanksgiving!
BECAUSE EVERYBODIES DOIN’ IT.
Errr….more like “already done it.”
We’re doin’ the CAULIFLOWER MASHED POTATO DANCE.
The one that you’ve probably done 42 bazillion times because I am pretty sure this DELICIOUS pile of creamy-dreamy, lusciously smooth vegetables that SOMEHOW tastes like carb central got SUPER popular, liiiike, BEFORE I WAS BORN.
More like 2 years ago. But, you know I exaggerate sometimes (a lot.)
B-b-b-BUT you have not seen the way that I do this Healthy comfort food in this teeny tiny little corner of the internet space that we lovingly have called FFF. Well, until right THIS VERY MOMENT in your real dairy free mashed potatoes without milk loving life, that is.
There is this weird part of my inner soul that I was trying to decide if I should tell you about because:
- Potential judgment
- I’m not even sure if I am comfortable acknowledging this inner-person part of me as of yet.
But, in the name of TRU friendship that lasts FOREVER due to HONESTY AND TRUST, I am going THERE.
There’s a part of my inner being that FORGETS about the existence of mashed potatoes.
THERE, I SAID IT.
Scalloped Sweet potatoes? Dream about them things. Sweet potato salad? Give me an IV (been married to a nurse too long) of that goodness. But, when it comes to mashed potatoes, there’s this place in my heart that somehow just gets SKIPPED when thinking of any potato side-dish to make for dinner.
And then, I happen to eat it at some point in my life and it’s like WHOA. How has this not been happening in my EVERYDAY eating because it’s fulfilling ever possible need and desire and LIFE DREAM that I have ever KNOWN.
You understand the feeling.
But then I remember something………
As yum-tastic as the steaming hot plate of carb GLORY tastes rolling around my tongue, it feels MUCH LESS awesome sitting on my waistline.
And this is the part of the story where cauliflower comes in and saves the day.
But, what else is new.
Cauliflower can be rice. It can be cauliflower Alfredo sauce. It can even be BAKED PENNE CARBONARA. Basically, it can do ZERO THINGS WRONG.
Especially when you mash it together in a food processor (unless you want to make Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower) with COTTAGE CHEESE. <– Did you see that one coming? I bet you thought I was gonna throw butter into the mix DIDN’T YOU?
Not saying you shouldn’t though. You know what they say about butter…..
It makes E’RYTHANG BETTER. But, I digress. I know you want to know something.
How do you make healthy mashed cauliflower?
- First you have to cut the cauliflower into florets and boil them in a large pot of salted water until they are fork tender. This takes about 1o minutes.
- Next, you need to drain out as MUCH of the water as you POSSIBLY CAN. Then, wait until the cauliflower chills out a bit or else you’re gonna burn your hands in step 3!
- Once your cauliflower isn’t burning your hands off, and this step is key, you have to ring out ALL the excess moisture. Put your cauliflower into a kitchen towel and use your muscles to get ti ALL OUT. This gives your mashed cauliflower such a creamy, thick texture that mimics potatoes!
- Finally, add it into a food processor, along with other flavoring ingredients (more on that below!) and blend it all until smooth and creamy?
Can you make cauliflower mashed potatoes without a food processor?
YES you can! This also works really well in a blender, which almost everyone has! However, this will NOT work with a potato masher like when making mashed potatoes. The cauliflower mashed potatoes will NOT be creamy.
Alright, you have the how-to, so let’s talk about all the ingredients that make this tasty!
Cottage cheese is the super-secret ingredient that takes the level of creamy goodness of this cauliflower mashed potatoes recipe from here to WAY OVER THERE BEHIND YOUR HEAD. It also happens to add a MEGA dose of protein, so you can basically fill your plate with cauli mash and easy gluten free stuffing, and have your carbs (stuffing) and protein (cauli mashed) requirements MET.
Like we discussed in the paleo sweet potato casserole, T-Day is ALL about the sides. SO permission to eat an entire meal made of them?
YOU’RE DIGGIN IT.
Before you ask. No, the cottage cheese does not make the cauliflower chunky and weird like the actual consistency of cottage cheese. It melts right into it, making it achieve the ultimate level of healthy-but-doesn’t-taste-healthy comforting side dish B-L-I-S-S
On the topic of food bliss: roasted garlic.
Put in mashed potatoes. Slather it on bread (because you have room for extra carbs now. GO YOU) or just slather it on your face and lick it off. Just make sure it’s a regular part of your mouth’s munching because it’s SO FREAKING DELICIOUS.
I can say with GREAT GREAT certainty that you’re going to be sayin’ “NO THNKS” to the “real person” potatoes this T-day.
Believe it baby.
For step-by-step instruction of this recipe, watch my video tutorial below:
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Other Recipes You Might Like:
Keto Low Carb Riced Cauliflower Stuffing
Cauliflower Low Carb Paleo Vegan Stuffing
Low Carb Keto Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 Head of garlic
- 1 tsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 5 Cups Cauliflower cut into florets (1 lb)
- 1/2 Cup Low-fat cottage cheese
- 2 Tbsp Milk of choice I used unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 tsp Salt or to taste
- Generous pinch of pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Slice 1/4 inch of the top of the head of garlic, peeling off the excess papery skin, and trying to keep the head intact.
- Place the garlic onto a piece of tinfoil and drizzle with the oil, rubbing into into the top and sides of the garlic. Close the tinfoil to make a packet around the garlic (remember to put the shiny-side in!) and roast until the center of the garlic is very soft, about 40 minutes.
- While the garlic cooks, bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Once boiling, add in the cauliflower florets, cover and cook until fork tender, about 8-10 minutes.
- Drain the cauliflower and spread onto a thin kitchen towel. Let cool for 5-10 minutes until cool enough to handle.
- Wrap the cauliflower in the kitchen towel and ring out as much excess moisture as you can. Really put some muscle into it, as this gives you thick and creamy cauliflower potatoes, not thin, soupy ones!
- Once you've gotten the moisture out, place the cauliflower into a large food processor, along with all the remaining ingredients. Squeeze the softened garlic cloves out add them into the food processor (*read notes!)
- Blend until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides of the food processor as necessary. You'll need to let it run a few minutes to get the cottage cheese nice and smooth.
- DEVOUR.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
FOR THIS RECIPE, I RECOMMEND:
WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS PER SERVING: SMART POINTS: 1 POINTS+: 2. OLD POINTS: 1
IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, PLEASE REMEMBER TO TAG @FOODFAITHFIT AND #FOODFAITHFITNESS ON INSTAGRAM! I LOVE SEEING YOUR RECIPE RECREATIONS! 
Want more healthy Thanksgiving side ideas?
Sage Kale Pesto with Parmesan Roasted Acorn Squash
Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Curry
Curried Butternut Squash Salad
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Great low-cal mashed potatoes with some modifications. Make it easy on yourself and steam the cauliflower rather than boil it. No squeezing will be necessary and it will not be watery! Take it out and let is sit in the strainer to dry out well. Drain the cottage cheese (I use 3/4 of a cup) and add no more than 3-4 cloves (toes) of garlic in the food processor with the cottage cheese and chop prior to adding the cottage cheese. Go easy on the salt, you can always add more later. We use cottage cheese with chives but you can always add your own. We now like this recipe better than real mashed potatoes.