I feel like cauliflowers are underrated.  But they shouldn’t be!  They are so delicious and versatile!

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Obviously, if you cover cauliflower in cheese, it’s going to be tasty…

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{Recipe Here}

 

… But there are other awesome ways to eat cauliflower!  My personal favorite is to mash up the veggie, just like mashed potatoes.

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I first read about this little veggie ‘trick’ in the South Beach Diet book (remember that? Oh man, 2002).

 

It’s super simple:

 

Steam a head of cauliflower until soft.

Drain thoroughly.

Add some butter (I used Earth Balance), salt, and pepper.

Mash just like you would mash potatoes.

 

There are fun ways to mix up this basic recipe.  You can add the steamed cauliflower to REAL mashed potatoes to lighten them up.  You can add softened carrots or parsnips to the mash.  You can even mix the mashed cauliflower with an egg and either flour or almond meal, form pancakes, and fry it up like latkes.  YUM.  That’s my personal favorite. 🙂

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What veggie do you believe is highly underrated? How do you prepare it?

{ 16 comments }

 

  • Jay Jay January 15, 2014, 5:21 pm

    Cauliflower is underrated but you definitely don’t have to drench it in cheese for it to taste good. Just a simple roast with olive oil and salt in the oven at 400 for 30-40 minutes changes the taste. You can roast chickpeas at the same time and make a great salad with those ingredients as well. I found an awesome salad recipe in GPaltrow’s newest cook book.

    Any cruciferous veggies are underrated. A little more research and open-mindedness would help people realize the taste doesn’t need to be covered up.

  • Breanne January 15, 2014, 5:30 pm

    I love cauliflower mash! Yum! My friend did hers with coconut milk last week and no butter – still delicious and even lighter. 🙂

  • MJ January 15, 2014, 5:50 pm

    One way you can improve the taste and texture of mashed cauliflower is cooking it slowly in a mix of milk and water. Cut the cauliflower in small pieces and sautee it with of a bit diced onions and garlic. Then add a bit water and milk and simmer until the liquid has evaporated and the cauliflower is very soft. Then add a bit of butter and salt and mash it. Delicious!

    I love cauliflower!

  • Maria January 15, 2014, 5:54 pm

    FYI: You’re Home page is stuck on the Dec 28 post.

  • Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs January 15, 2014, 6:01 pm

    I love cauliflower! Though I’ve never had it mashed before — definitely trying it soon! 🙂

  • Elsa January 15, 2014, 6:17 pm

    I made cauliflower pilaf last week (out of a paleo cookbook) and it was amazing and you can have it instead of rice.
    To make: break cauliflower into florets and put in food processor; pulse until cauliflower is rice shaped/sized; sautee in a pan for a couple minutes until soft. We also had some currants & pine nuts in it too.

  • Elizabeth @ Positive Change January 15, 2014, 7:14 pm

    I love cauliflower! I love your recipe as well, can’t wait to try this! I have to say zucchini is always underrated! I feel most people use it for bread and cookies when it is super yummy plain and roasted!

  • Ashley @ Saving Money in your Twenties January 16, 2014, 8:33 am

    I’ve always seen cauliflower mash on menus at restaurants but have never attempted it myself… I’m not a fan of plain cauliflower but maybe I’ll have to give it a try!

  • Laura@SneakersandSpatulas January 16, 2014, 8:53 am

    I like to use it in soup to lighten up the traditional potatoe soup. It tastes great!

  • Nicole January 16, 2014, 9:02 am

    I like using cauliflower along with or in place of potatoes in soups/stews. It tastes yummy and gives me a different veggie to use instead of potatoes so much!

  • Kelly January 16, 2014, 9:08 am

    TOTALLY agree about cauli!! I make it about once a week – my favorite way is to just roast it with EVOO and some 21 Seasoning Salute (from TJs – my fave seasoning). Once it’s roasted, I toss it with capers or green olives and enjoy – it’s delish!! I love your idea for latkes – that sounds delish!!

  • AlisonJ January 16, 2014, 11:16 am

    About 4 years ago, I changed my opinion on almost every vegetable out there when I learned about roasting them (400 degree oven with olive oil, kosher salt & fresh garlic). It completely transformed the veggies – and my favorites roasted are broccoli, cauliflower, and beets (my 10 year old self says WHAT?).

  • K @ Finding a Skinnier me January 16, 2014, 11:50 am

    I have been seeing this a lot lately but haven’t gotten brave yet to try it. But your post has totally inspired me to at least try it, I mean it won’t hurt to try it once! Thanks! 🙂

  • Erin January 16, 2014, 1:14 pm

    Love the frills on the workout clothes! So cute! I love workout clothes, and love when i find things with a feminie touch like that!

  • Alex @ Kenzie Life January 16, 2014, 6:31 pm

    When I read the title of this post, I thought of that recipe in the South Beach Diet. I really like cauliflower mash but haven’t had it in a while. I like that it doesn’t take long to make either!

  • Chattynatty January 17, 2014, 9:29 pm

    I just made cauliflower, yellow squash Mac n cheese the other night- loved it!

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