Faux Mashed potatoes?

[Mom22anddetermined]

I was just curious if anyone has tried the cauliflower mashed potatoes before? I was going to make them, but im a big texture person and since i dont have a food processor i figured if hold off making them until i bought one. Do they taste alot like mashed potatoes?
Thanks!! =)

[WetBanana]

Re: Faux Mashed potatoes?

That would depend on how much butter and salt you add to it, lol. Add some sour cream too. I've done it in the food processor - too smooth, that's like the texture of baby food. And we've hand mashed it - not too bad. You really have to cook down the cauliflower for that though.

I actually did the Mock Spanish Rice the other night where you GRATE the cauliflower - that was DELICIOUS!

[JEC48]

Re: Faux Mashed potatoes?

This is a staple of my diet (more so in winter than in summer). I always use fresh cauliflower (I like to use the bag of fresh). Boil cauliflower and about half of a onion for only about 2 minutes and then turn off and let sit in water for about 15 minutes. I then place in collander and let it sit for awhile with paper towels on top to soak up water. In separate bowl mix extra sharp cheddar, sour cream, cream cheese, salt, pepper, stir in cauliflower and mix well. Bake at 350 until bubbly and brown.

[Sta]

Re: Faux Mashed potatoes?

How do I make this?

[Sd1136]

Re: Faux Mashed potatoes?

I use a masher and I love them.
My kids want them all the time~

[JulieB]

Re: Faux Mashed potatoes?

I made some the other day - in the food processor. The recipe I used called for quite a bit of cream...they turned out like cheese sauce! Next time I would skip the cream altogether.

They did taste good though - mildly cheesy, not precisely like potatoes, but not like cauliflower either.

This is the recipe I used:
Basic Fauxtatoes (substitute for mashed potatoes)
serves 2

2 cups cauliflower, raw (5)
1/2 teaspoon salt (0)
2 ounces grated or shredded cheese (your choice of parmesan, cheddar, etc.) (2)
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper (0.2)
1/2 cup heavy cream (1)
1 tablespoons butter (0)

Put cauliflower in a pot add water. Either steam or boil the cauliflower until very soft. Drain it very well to remove excessive water.

Put the cooked cauliflower into a food processor and process until smooth. Return to the pot. Set over medium low heat and stir the cauliflower to remove as much water as possible. Remove from heat stir in the cheese, pepper, salt, cream and butter until well combined. Serve hot.

Per serving (1/2 of the recipe)
Total Carbs: 6.9 grams
Fiber: 2.5 grams
Net Carbs : 4.4 grams
Cheese allowance: 1 ounce
Cream allowance: 1 tablespoon
Vegetables: 1 cup

[liv]

Re: Faux Mashed potatoes?

"Stir the cauliflower to remove water?" How does that work? It evaporates?
I just steam mine and not too soft - then I use the food processer with a tad of butter and cream - salt and pepper. It is good stuff. Not quite potatoes but good.

[JulieB]

Re: Faux Mashed potatoes?

"Stir the cauliflower to remove water?" How does that work? It evaporates?

Umm...it didn't work It really does make a lovely cheese sauce though...I'm thinking of using pureed cauliflower as a thickener in other things...

[IrishIrish]

Re: Faux Mashed potatoes?

I started making these when I first started Atkins and taking them along with me to family gatherings so I had a few Atkins friendly choices. Now I'm stuck for life. My entire family, siblings and everyone, expect them and while there are always leftover mashed potatoes, there is never any leftover fauxtatoes (mashed cauliflower).

I agree that the food processor makes them a little too runny. I just use a masher and had some cream cheese and a little cream, salt and pepper. Sometimes I also add crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar with some scallions or green onions.

[liv]

Re: Faux Mashed potatoes?

Another and somewhat related cauliflower dish that I really like is this one:http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...-potatoes.html

[sweeten09]

Re: Faux Mashed potatoes?

I add some onion flakes, parsley, salt and pepper, butter, tablespoon of cream and sometimes sour cream. If you microwave the package with some holes punched in and then dump into a bowl and add you flavors, the cauliflower is mushy enough to use a fork to mash it. This is my husbands favorite side dish and makes me feel like I am cheating.

[Sta]

Re: Faux Mashed potatoes?

Thanks!!!! For the recipe!!

I'm gonna try making this tonight

[tankgirlwa]

Re: Faux Mashed potatoes?

The best way I have found to make them ( I made them last night! )

I used a bag of frozen cauliflower (florets only, less stems) and put them in a pot, covered the cauliflower with water and sprinkled a bit of salt in (tsp or so) Bring to a boil until cauliflower can be easily mashed with a fork.

Strain cauliflower well in pasta strainer

While cauliflower is draining in a large bowl add 1-2oz cream cheese, handfull of shredded cheese of your choice ( I like chedder) and a tablespoon or two of butter. ( you can also add sour cream, garlic pwdr, and chives)

Dump the hot cauliflower ontop of ingredients in bowl, they will begin to melt. I use a hand mixer type blender and just "pulse" the cauliflower until it is the texture of grits with large lumps. If you blend TOO much it will become watery and runny and gross.

My picky husband AND daughter eat it this way!

[pagliaccia]

Re: Faux Mashed potatoes?

My tip of advice: the Ziploc steamer bags. They are so convenient! I just grab however much cauliflower I'm using, throw it in the bag, and microwave it for however long the bag says to (it's written on one side). No water, so no draining! They always turn out the perfect texture, too.

[Mom22anddetermined]

Re: Faux Mashed potatoes?

ok im not sure which is better? the bagged or fresh califlower? I bought a head of fresh and tried steaming it in the microwave and it just wouldnt get soft enough to mash. I tried mixing it with a had mixer and it didnt turn out.. i want them to be the consistancy of thick, but smooth mashed potatoes. Should i use a food processor for this?