Cauliflower that fools mashed potatoes? What does that even mean? People like to substitute cauliflower for all kinds of things. Its a panacea for the kitchen! Need gluten free crust? Cauliflower. Need a vegan substitute for chicken wings? Cauliflower to the rescue. People swear you can’t tell the difference. I call bullshit. That’s just hype to get someone to try something new that they will probably like, but it’s too far outside their comfort zone to ever experience. Trust me, I can tell the difference between a boneless chicken wing and a piece of cauliflower fried and dredged in buffalo sauce. I believe you can too.
Its Delicious
We are often turned off by these ridiculous comparisons, as if the pale cruciferous vegetable can’t stand up on its own. It’s delicious! Its incredibly versatile and I’ve learned a lot more about it and what you can do with it, cuz its cheap too! Where cost effective meets delicious and useful is my jam.
At the beginning of this calendar year, I agreed to try to cut back on my carb intake, especially late in the day. That meant dinners with no rice, no gratin or dauphinoise, no pasta, and no mashed potatoes. We had to find a substitute. With reluctance I decided to try a “mashed” cauliflower.
Better than mashed potatoes?
The first thing we have to address here is that asking whether pureed cauliflower (because let’s be real, that’s what it is) makes a better mashed potatoes is a ridiculous question. Nothing is better at being mashed potatoes than mashed potatoes. If you want to compare mashed potatoes, then you should ask “Are instant mashed potatoes a good substitute for freshly made, or should you just toss them in the trash bin?”
A worthy addition to the plate
Roasted and pureed cauliflower, prepared with care and the addition of dairy and seasoning, is delicious. It is a phenomenal bed upon which to place a thick slice of Sexy Ass Meatloaf and cover it with a beautiful mushroom bordelaise. Try it out. You might actually like it! I know I did.
Cauliflower “Mash”
Equipment
- 1 Chefs Knife
- 1 food processor
- 1 oven
Ingredients
- 1 Head Cauliflower
- 1 Tbsp Neutral Oil
- 2-4 Tbsp Butter
- 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream
- Taste Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°
- Trim the green leaves off the cauliflower and discard. Cut the cauliflower into 1" pieces and toss with oil
- Line a sheet tray with aluminum foil and arrange cauliflower bits evenly across the surface.
- Season with salt and pepper and roast at 400° for 20-25 minutes.
- When the cauliflower is soft and starts to brown, transfer it to the food processor, add chunks of butter, and puree.
- With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in cream until you reach the consistency that you prefer.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.