Mashed Cauliflower

Okay, without knowing there had already been posts here about mashed cauliflower .. I experimented with making this at home after having them at Ruby Tuesday's (obviously it was good since I wanted to attempt making them myself!!)

Anyway .. I admit, I was rushed trying to get dinner done .. but I had a really hard time getting the mixture smooth .. the taste was good .. but the texture not quite right.

The cauliflower was definitely well cooked .. I tried using both a hand mixer as well as a potato masher .. and just couldn't get it right.

Any ideas???

I would hate to have to break out the food processor to make this .. I never use it (we don't have much counter space) .. and I could see where I might not want to go through the hassle of making the recipe if that's the only way to get a smooth mixture. Otherwise, I guess lumpy isn't so bad!

I made it in the blender on a slow setting.

What about one of those hand wand type blenders. I am not sure what they are called but the electric mixer/blender stick I think braun makes it.

PS can you share the reciepe ???

I made mine very similar to mashed potatoes ..

Steam the cauliflower very well .. so that it is very, very soft .. blot dry.

Add pats of butter to preference.

Warm milk, and slowly add .. making sure mixture does not become to soggy.

(I sprinkled in a bit of paprika, and Mrs. Dash garlic & herb)

I used a potato masher .. then switched off to a hand mixer .. and kept going back and forth between the two gadgets .. but the mixture never came out as smooth as I would have liked. I guess next time I will have to break out the food processor!

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Posted by Kel

Just wanted to add .. that when I steam the cauliflower .. I use a pot with a steamer bin .. in the pot, I use low sodium Cambell's Chicken Broth instead of water .. and put the cauliflower in the steamer bin, then cover and steam.

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For how long?

Can you use a potato ricer? It's not a masher although I can't really describe what it is but I know it is used to make mashed potatoes.

I've done this before too (south beach diet) but I use fat free half and half and I can't believe it's not Butter and I also use Mrs. Dash seasoning. It was lumpy but it was good.

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Posted by Maribelle7777

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Posted by Kel

Just wanted to add .. that when I steam the cauliflower .. I use a pot with a steamer bin .. in the pot, I use low sodium Cambell's Chicken Broth instead of water .. and put the cauliflower in the steamer bin, then cover and steam.

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For how long?

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Until it is very soft .. so that it breaks apart very easily with a fork. Not really sure how long it took .. 1/2 hour maybe??? I was in a rush, so I wasn't paying attention to that. I broke the cauliflower head up into small pieces .. so they would cook faster and more evenly.

Okay .. so I tried this again on a night when I had more time .. and I broke out the food processor .. it was it's maiden voyage!!

Anyway .. big .. big difference!!! Okay, so I didn't really read the manual .. and believe it or not, had never used a food processor before .. so, I just keep gradually hitting puree .. until it was the smooth consistency I wanted.

And this was definitely more like it!!

The method this time:
1 head of cauliflower
1 medium onion
Steam in a veggie basket over chicken broth, about 1/2 hour or until very tender

Remove from steam and place on paper towel to drain as much water away as possible.

Into the processor, I added:
the steamed cauliflower & onion
3 pats of butter
2 teaspoons of sour cream
pepper
Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb
Emeril's Essence (Original)

To get the mashed cauliflower nice and hot again, I put it into a pot, and stirred continuously.

I love this. stuff...I mash it, then out in a casserole dish, top with cheddar ( lots of it) and bacon on top.....in oven for like 10 minutes.....
Add sour cream and creem cheese to mash the Cauliflower