Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

[julirama723]

Hey all...

For Thanksgiving, I'd like to make mashed fauxtatoes, but can't decide whether to use turnips or cauliflower. Which has better texture (i.e. more like potatoes), which has better flavor? I made mashed turnips and thought they were OK--that "turnip" taste still remained somewhat...is cauliflower any better?

What's your vote? Cauliflower or turnips?

[boonie stomper]

Re: Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

There really isn't any question, IMHO....

I don't care for turnips. Others seem to have agreed before cauliflower is better, too. Plus, it's closer to the color of taters.

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ght=fauxtatoes

[2big4mysize]

Re: Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

if and only if you can get the very young mild turnips then they are good but just one in your pot that has the strong turnip taste and the whole bowl will taste like it.

the cauliflower does still have a mild cauliflower taste but most folk wolfing down dinner ( those high carbers) will not notice it.

[jcapulet]

Re: Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

Turnips are ok, but I much prefer cauliflower for faux potatoes (having tried both). For some reason, the turnip verison ended up tasting more like mashed squash than mashed taters.

Speaking of cauliflower...I went to Harris Teeter on the weekend and they didn't have ANY frozen cauliflower. What kind of store does not have that?! I checked the produce section for fresh cauliflower and it looked nasty. My last chance is Safeway, on the way home today.

[julirama723]

Re: Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

Thanks guys! I'll go with the cauliflower!

[Jasmain]

Re: Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

Why not try one this time and one the next time? If you like both, even if one tastes more potato'ish, variety is good! Maybe those turnips will have their own great taste with the other ingredients!

[ValidRouge]

Re: Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

I've tried to mash turnips twice, and they tasted bitter to me both times.

I use cauliflower all the time. Make sure you cook it so that its very soft for making mashed fauxtatos. I put butter and cream cheese in mine. Yum Yum.

[MustLose80]

Re: Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

I don't know if you can have them, but rutabagas for me, hands down, with butter, salt, pepper and cream. I love cauliflower, but I hate it as a fauxtato, for some reason it really turns me off. I think I will try it with the cream cheese like VR suggested, though.

I love celeriac, so i was going to try a combination of turnip and celeriac and chayote and if they are not creamy, but grainy, I will add the cream cheese. Who knows I may end up throwing it out, but I am going to try. Happy Thanksgiving everyone

[higgies]

Re: Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

I do the cauliflower. I love it if done right. It's really good in the food processor with sour cream, cheddar cheese, garlic, salt, pepper, and some chives. To make it even better, make it like a twice baked potato and you can add it in a little dish and bake it for a few minutes in the oven to crisp the top a bit.

[Babs]

Re: Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

We bought them today, and we're trying the turnips this time, just because we haven't yet. I'll boil them in chicken broth like I read here. We liked the cauliflower ''potatoes'' too, so it seemed to be the hardest decision for the meal. Now twice baked sounds good.

[julirama723]

Re: Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

Oooh higgies, you need to be my personal chef...that sounds delish.

[winter]

Re: Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

I'm sitting here with a bowl of faux potatoes made with cauliflower, my first time to try it. I added a little cream cheese, butter, salt and pepper, and chives.

I LOVE this! I'm not going to miss mashed potatoes one bit when I can have this. These are wonderful.

[julirama723]

Re: Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

Man I must be horrible with these substitute foods because I thought mine tasted like **** (censored by me, you can insert your favorite 4-letter word). I even watched Kent's youtube cooking video on how to make them...maybe I cooked them too long? They were very slimy, and too liquid-y. I didn't even add the heavy cream, they were already so mushy...

I'm so sad. I thought I'd have a replacement for mashed potatoes...<crying into her potato bin>

[winter]

Re: Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

Mine weren't slimy at all. I used frozen cauliflower and cooked it in the microwave for about 6 minutes, until it was really soft. I just tossed it in the food processor with 2 oz cream cheese and about a Tbsp of butter. Oh I did make sure I drained all the liquid left in the bowl after microwaving it before I put it in the processor.

Oh I hope you can try it again. It's so exciting to know we are still going to be able to have some comfort food!

[higgies]

Re: Turnips or Cauliflower? What makes better fauxtatoes?

Yeah, you want to cook it for only about 3/4 of the normal time I've found and that keeps it pretty firm. Then when you put it in the food processor, don't make it like a cream...I like mine kind of chunky.

Try it again...I'm sure they'll be better!