The Best Low Carb Cauliflower Mash — Recipe — Diet Doctor (2024)

The Best Low Carb Cauliflower Mash — Recipe — Diet Doctor (1)

Light and fluffy. Creamy. Buttery. This true low carb classic is smooth textured and delicious. Goes with just about everything, and tastes a lot like mashed potatoes. So bliss out!

December 26 2015 recipe by Anne Aobadia, photo by Emma Shevtzoff, nutritional review by Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE in Recipes, Side dish

Light and fluffy. Creamy. Buttery. This true low carb classic is smooth textured and delicious. Goes with just about everything, and tastes a lot like mashed potatoes. So bliss out!

USMetric

4 servingservings

Ingredients

  • 1 lb 450 g cauliflower
  • ¾ cup (2 oz.) 180 ml (60 g) shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 2 oz. 55 g butter
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

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The Best Low Carb Cauliflower Mash — Recipe — Diet Doctor (5)

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Making low carb simple

Instructions

Instructions are for 4 servings. Please modify as needed.

  1. Chop the cauliflower into florets.

  2. Bring a pot of lightly salted water to boil over high heat. Add the cauliflower and boil for a couple of minutes – just enough so the florets are tender but retain a somewhat firm texture. Strain the cauliflower in a colander, and discard the water.

  3. Add the cauliflower to a food processor along with the Parmesan cheese and butter. Pulse until a smooth and creamy consistency is reached. You can also use an immersion blender. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Tips!

Although there are colorful varieties of cauliflower available, stick to white for the best results. You can also use pre-packaged “riced” cauliflower for this recipe.

Add the zest and juice of half a lemon for a refreshing take on this dish, which goes especially well with fish. Sprinkle with fresh parsley or chives before serving.

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What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!

1 2

79 comments

  1. 51

    Reply to comment #20 by MB

    Una

    September 23 2018

    I am on my own too but I have just made 9 portions as that is the weight of my cauliflower - I don't but cauliflower in Britain in an expensive plastic bag but as one fresh vegetable. Don't usually make such quantities but it is hard in Britain to buy a cauliflower for just one or two!!!

  2. Reply to comment #35 by Vanessa

    Una

    September 23 2018

    Theres enough protein in my fillet steak and salmon!

  3. 53

    Reply to comment #32 by Kaleb

    Una

    September 23 2018

    Come on, don't be a whimp!!! It tastes like mashed potatoes!!

  4. 54

    Reply to comment #27 by Helen

    Una

    September 23 2018

    Who cares! That's not an issue. Keeping starchy carbs off the menu lowers that.for most of us.

    What about cholesterol, does the cream and cheese etc affect that? Love the site it's great!

  5. 55

    Reply to comment #5 by Emma

    Una

    September 23 2018

    Yes, its not totally fool-proof as far as shopping goes! I found I was throwing stuff away off that list as I simply couldn't get through three fat meals a day!

  6. 56

    Reply to comment #17 by Mel

    Una

    September 23 2018

    So much fat so it freezes well😂

  7. 57

    mona

    September 26 2018

    the recipe of 20 grams is very confusing and the number of grams on the vegetables is confusing and then it says 100 grams is 3 and a half oz so when it says 20 grams how can you measure the vegetable? forget about left overs its confusing!

  8. 58

    Lise

    October 15 2018

    Explosive diarrhea here after this 👀😨

  9. 59

    Reply to comment #2 by Joy

    Braken

    October 16 2018

    Do you put beans in food processor!?

  10. 60

    Jeff

    November 1 2018

    For me this would be one serving. OMD

  11. 61

    Dorothy

    December 15 2018

    I am going to start today eating some healthy from this list I am loving it the way explains and easy recipes thanks

  12. Tabitha

    January 21 2019

    I skipped the lemon juice and olive oil and it was delicious!!

  13. 63

    Dawanna Brown

    January 22 2019

    Can you just use butter and milk?

    Reply: #64

  14. 64

    Reply to comment #63 by Dawanna Brown

    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    January 23 2019

    There is no need to use milk. That just adds carbs in the form of lactose/milk sugar.

  15. 65

    Karen

    February 1 2019

    I made this today ,being completely sceptical.
    Omg it was amazing didn't even taste like cauliflower.

  16. 66

    Elizabeth

    February 3 2019

    We cauliflower. The easiest way to do this is steam gently in a little bit of water until just tender so it does not become water logged. Drain well and throw it into a food processor, if you have one. Pulse it until it breaks down (5-6 times) stop and add cheese. We like mild cheddar and parmesan or romano. Pulse until smooth. Delicious!

  17. 67

    sal

    February 6 2019

    A variation: after cooking the cauliflower, I melted the butter and sauteed garlic in it until it got nice and brown. Then I added the cauliflower and mashed from there. The garlic had a really great nutty flavour. The lemon juice was a really nice touch to the entire dish.

  18. 68

    Sal

    February 6 2019

    To add: I also left my cauliflower grainy, if you will. Not fully pulverized smooth; left with texture and something to chew on!

  19. 69

    Clare

    February 20 2019

    This was great!

  20. 70

    Honeymay

    February 25 2019

    Cream cheese is even better than the parmesan cheese.

  21. 71

    Sofie

    March 19 2019

    I actually don't like it with parm, taste too strong in my opinion. Next time i'm going to try it with a different kind of cheese! But.. the idea of this is awesome!!! Just make your own recipe 😋

  22. 72

    Jan

    April 11 2019

    This is a keeper! I noted the dish was a mere 5 carbs--so I will be sure to budget my meals today.
    A wonderful replacement for mashed potatoes and the cheesy-buttery flavor is over the top! I will try cream cheese for
    comparison next time around As for one saying a cauliflower is too much; there are only two of us---so why not buy a bag
    of florets----No fuss or muss plus it is less and will not go to waste.

  23. 73

    Jan

    April 11 2019

    One more thing: I have a pan w/ an insert steamer basket, so it is great; no need to
    be draining off water when done. I also left the cauli slightly grainy---but I think it is
    preference. Also--a side note but lately when my hubby leaves for work--I plan our
    dinner for the night and get started early in the morning. (FInd I am too spent at the
    end of a busy day plus I have all the cooking utensils washed and put away. Also
    popped some keto rolls into the oven, so one less thing there too. (They are also
    over the top and only 2 carbs--But sometimes I only eat half.

  24. 74

    Rosemary

    October 15 2019

    This was such a surprise...and totally moreish though. I've found my go to side dish from now on. :)

  25. 75

    Julie

    October 18 2019

    I tried frozen riced cauliflower and steamed it in the bag and then I used my immersion blender. It was gross, I threw it out. Cauliflower is much better when you don’t know you’re eating it.

  26. 76

    J

    January 12 2020

    I updated this by: in a separate pan I sauteed some garlic in butter, slightly browning it and added dried dill, salt and pepper. We cooked the cauliflower to al dente (slightly stiff), drained and then mashed. I added 1 cup sour cream, the garlic and dill, and mixed. Then i put chopped fresh green onion and 1 and 1/2 c grated Parmesan with salt and pepper. Delicious!

  27. 77

    Zelda Blom

    May 7 2020

    I have high acid levels. How do i cope with all the protein and dairy products without making my body sick with the acidic foods?

  28. 78

    sarai

    May 20 2020

    Not a fan. It tasted so horribly that I had to discard it. Please stop saying, "tastes like mashed potatoes." I have taste buds. It does not taste at all like mashed potatoes, it tastes like mashed cauliflower with seasonings.

  29. 79

    ANDREW

    January 23 2021

    Good tasty mash that's quick and easy to make. Before adding the cauli to the food processor I whizzed up a spring onion (scallion) quite finely just to add a little decorative interest to the mash. We served it with one of the DD sausage casserole recipes and it was the perfect accompaniment. Thanks.

    Reply: #80

  30. 80

    Reply to comment #79 by ANDREW

    Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor

    January 24 2021

    Good tasty mash that's quick and easy to make. Before adding the cauli to the food processor I whizzed up a spring onion (scallion) quite finely just to add a little decorative interest to the mash. We served it with one of the DD sausage casserole recipes and it was the perfect accompaniment. Thanks.

    So glad you love it!

  31. 81

    L. Devine

    January 3 2023

    ohw much lemon juice and zest does this call for? It's not listed in the recipe?

    Reply: #82

  32. 82

    Reply to comment #81 by L. Devine

    Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor

    January 4 2023

    ohw much lemon juice and zest does this call for? It's not listed in the recipe?

    The zest and juice of half a lemon will work well!

1 2

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The Best Low Carb Cauliflower Mash — Recipe — Diet Doctor (2024)

FAQs

How many carbs are in 2 cups of mashed cauliflower? ›

Mashed Cauliflower Nutrition (per cup of mash): Calories: 57, Fat: 0g, Carbohydrates: 11g, Fiber: 4g, Protein: 4g. Recipe Notes: One head of cauliflower makes roughly 2 cups of mash, which only serves about 2 in my household.

What do you add to cauliflower to thicken mash? ›

You can add a litle softened cream cheese to the pot in the final step and stir until melted. Or you can add a keto thickener like glucomannan or xanthan gum. Be sure to whisk it in well when the mashed cauliflower is hot. You don't need more than about ¼ teaspoon per head of cauliflower.

How many carbs are in cauliflower on keto diet? ›

Cauliflower has a similar nutrition profile to broccoli. It's also a great cruciferous veggie to choose when you're on keto, says Dixon, as it has 1.5 grams of net carbs per half a cup.

Why is my cauliflower mash watery? ›

If you find that that the cauliflower you make is watery it's because you are not drying it out properly on the stove after it's boiled. The trick to the perfect cauliflower mash is to drain it really well and let that water evaporate in a pan on medium heat for 5-6 minutes before it's mashed.

How many carbs are in 1 cup of Mashed Cauliflower? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
107Calories
7gFat
10gCarbs
5gProtein

How many net carbs in 1 cup of cooked cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, 1 cup (1" pieces)
Protein (g)1.14
Carbohydrate, by difference (g)2.55
Energy (kcal)14.26
Sugars, total (g)0.87
Fiber, total dietary (g)1.67
34 more rows

Why is my cauliflower mash grainy? ›

Cook the Cauliflower Until Tender.

When you're cooking your cauliflower florets, make sure they're fork-tender before removing them from the pot. If the cauliflower isn't cooked long enough, it can make your mashed cauliflower grainy.

Why is mashed cauliflower better than potatoes? ›

Nutritionally, cauliflower is lighter in calories and carbs than potatoes and is more nutrient-dense. That's why it's popular among the low carb and weight loss communities.

Can I eat unlimited cauliflower keto? ›

The Harvard School of Public Health recommends that people eat no more than 50 grams of carbohydrates per day while on a keto diet. You can eat up to 900 grams of cauliflower per day when on a ketogenic diet because 100 grams of it only contains 5 grams of carbohydrates.

What is the lowest carb vegetable? ›

List of the best low carb vegetables
  • Iceberg lettuce. Perhaps one of the most popular — though least nutritious — vegetables, iceberg lettuce has only 2.97 g of carbohydrate per 100 g. ...
  • White mushrooms. Mushrooms contain only 3.26 g of carbs per 100 g. ...
  • Spinach. ...
  • Broccoli. ...
  • Zucchini. ...
  • Cauliflower. ...
  • Asparagus. ...
  • Radishes.

Can you eat cauliflower on a no carb diet? ›

Cauliflower is another vegetable that's low in carbs, but also very high in vitamins and phytochemicals,” Fear says. Add chopped cauliflower to your salads, or top with paprika and garlic powder and roast in the oven. Riced cauliflower also makes a great low-carb replacement for traditional rice.

Why is my cauliflower puree bitter? ›

All the vegetables form the Brassica family have a bitter component to their flavour. Brassica is the family that includes cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. You can actually remove quite a lot of it by leeching it out in to the water, or by using salt.

How long to boil cauliflower? ›

Cooked cauliflower florets keep their shape best when steamed (5-10 mins) – remember to place them upright in the steamer. It can also be boiled (takes 5-10 mins for florets; around 10 mins for a whole cauliflower). For both cooking methods, test regularly with the tip of a knife to make sure they don't overcook.

Why does cauliflower turn yellow when boiled? ›

The colour of the vegetable will be whiter if little acid such as lime juice or vinegar is added during cooking. If the water in which cauliflower is cooked is slightly alkaline, it will have a distinctly yellow colour to it. They turn yellow or orange in the presence of alkali.

Is cooked cauliflower high in carbs? ›

Cauliflower is fat-free and cholesterol-free. And it's low in sodium. A one-cup serving contains only 25 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrates and 2 grams of dietary fiber.

Is cauliflower high carb? ›

Cauliflower has a mild taste and is often used as a substitute for higher carb foods like potato and rice. One cup (107 g) of raw cauliflower contains 5 g of carbs, 2g of which are fiber.

How many calories and carbs are in 2 cups of cauliflower rice? ›

Riced cauliflower benefits

One cup of cauliflower rice has: 25 calories. 2 grams of protein. 4 grams of carbohydrates.

Does cauliflower have more carbs than rice? ›

Both of these factors may reduce your calorie intake ( 4 ). In addition, cauliflower rice is low in carbs. It provides only 3 grams of net carbs per cup (107 grams) — 18 times fewer carbs than the same quantity of rice ( 1 , 2 , 3 ).

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