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    Home » Side Dishes

    Mashed Cauliflower with Roasted Garlic

    Published: Nov 8, 2018 · Modified: Mar 28, 2021 by Dara · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · Leave a Comment

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    Mashed cauliflower is the way to go if you're cutting your carbs over the holidays. Parmesan cheese and roasted garlic add boatloads of flavor to this healthy side dish.
    Mashed cauliflower is the way to go if you are cutting your carbs. Parmesan cheese and roasted garlic add boatloads of flavor to this healthy side dish. 84 calories and 2 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP #lowcarb #cauliflower #keto

    Mashed Cauliflower Recipe with Roasted Garlic

    Whether you're looking for an easy weeknight side dish or a low-carb, keto-friendly holiday side, mashed cauliflower does the trick. I started with this vegan mashed cauliflower and potato recipe a few years ago, which is also a great option for the holidays, and went full-on cauliflower this year. A healthy side dish in 20 minutes flat!

    While mashed cauliflower on its own has the tendency to be a little bland, the addition of Parmesan cheese and roasted garlic boosts the flavor tenfold. Seasoning well with salt is a must, too!

    Looking for a light Thanksgiving side dish? This mashed cauliflower recipe, complete with Parmesan and roasted garlic, is the way to go if you are cutting back on carbs. 84 calories and 2 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP #weightwatchers #Thanksgiving #healthy

    How do you make mashed cauliflower?

    • Start by cutting a head of cauliflower into florets. You don't need to be too precise about the size.
    • Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. But not just any water...well-salted water! This is your first opportunity to add flavor to the cauliflower.
    • Cook the cauliflower in the boiling water until very tender when pierced with a fork.
    • The most important part...DRAIN! Drain, drain, drain! The drier the cauliflower is, the better. It does tend to retain a fair bit of water, so give the colander a shake to release any excess liquid.
    • Food processor, hand mixer, fork, potato masher...any of these will do to mash the cauliflower. I opt for a good old-fashioned potato masher because it really doesn't take much effort to mash the lumps out of the cauliflower. Mash it with the roasted garlic, butter, Parmesan cheese and salt, then stir in the parsley.

    Mashed cauliflower, roasted garlic, butter and parsley in a glass bowl.

    How do you roast garlic?

    • You have a couple of options here. If you prefer not to roast the garlic yourself, check out the olive bar in any well-stocked grocery store. They typically sell roasted garlic by weight. This garlic tends to be firmer than what you get when you roast your own, so mince it before adding to the cauliflower.
    • If you want to roast the garlic at home, I have you covered. Check out my tutorial on How to Roast Garlic. It is VERY easy! And bonus...any extra cloves can be added to salad dressings or pasta dishes, or be served on a charcuterie board with some crusty bread.

    Can cauliflower mashed potatoes be made ahead of time?

    • Yes! Let the mashed cauliflower cool to room temperature, the transfer  to an airtight container. Refrigerate.
    • Before serving, reheat the cauliflower - I prefer to heat it gently in a small saucepan - and serve.

    Garlic mashed cauliflower with Parmesan cheese is a fantastic healthy side dish option. Plus, it can be made in about 20 minutes. 84 calories and 2 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP #sidedish #healthy #recipe

    Other healthy holiday side dishes:

    Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Pistachios, Cranberries & Parmesan {Cookin' Canuck}
    Easy Green Beans with Prosciutto & Pistachios {Cookin' Canuck}
    Roasted Green Beans with Mushrooms, Balsamic & Parmesan {Kalyn's Kitchen}
    Low Carb & Gluten Free Turkey Stuffing {I Breathe I'm Hungry}

    Mashed cauliflower is the way to go if you are cutting your carbs. Parmesan cheese and roasted garlic add boatloads of flavor to this healthy side dish. 84 calories and 2 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP #lowcarb #cauliflower #keto

    Mashed Cauliflower with Roasted Garlic

    Mashed cauliflower is the way to go if you are cutting your carbs. Parmesan cheese and roasted garlic add boatloads of flavor to this healthy side dish.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dishes
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 2 Cups
    Calories: 84.1kcal
    Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ pound cauliflower florets about 7 cups
    • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
    • 1 ½ teaspoons unsalted butter
    • 4 cloves roasted garlic
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
    • 1 tablespoon minced flat-leaf parsley
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    Instructions

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the cauliflower florets and cook until the cauliflower is tender when pierced with a fork, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the cauliflower very well, shaking the colander to get rid of extra water.
    • Transfer the cauliflower to a large bowl and mash with a potato masher or the back of a fork.
    • Add the Parmesan cheese, butter, roasted garlic and salt, and mash until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning.
    • Stir in the parsley. Serve.

    Notes

    Weight Watchers Points: 2 (Freestyle SmartPoints), 2 (Points+)

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/2 cup | Calories: 84.1kcal | Carbohydrates: 10.3g | Protein: 5.8g | Fat: 3.3g | Saturated Fat: 1.9g | Cholesterol: 7.8mg | Sodium: 266.8mg | Fiber: 4.5g | Sugar: 3.4g
    Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

    Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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      Hi there! Welcome to Cookin' Canuck.

      I'm Dara, a Canadian living in the U.S. and sharing my favorite healthy recipes. My cooking motto is that healthy eating never needs to be boring!

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