A perfect low carb alternative to mashed potatoes with a creamy buttery taste and less than one point. If you don't have buttermilk, low fat sour cream also works great.
Creamy Cauliflower Purée
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 3/4 cup • Old Points: 1 pt • Points+: 2 pt
Calories: 60.7 • Fat: 2.4 g • Protein: 3.7 g • Carb: 8.6 g • Fiber: 4.2 g
Ingredients:
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut up into florets
- 4 cloves crushed garlic
- 1/3 cup 1% buttermilk
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp light butter
Directions:
Steam or boil cauliflower and garlic until soft. Drain, add buttermilk, light butter, salt, pepper and purée with a hand blender. If you don't own a hand blender, you should consider getting one. It is one of my most used gadgets in my kitchen, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. A regular blender would work fine as well.
Yum-o is all I have to say! That looks so incredibly tasty. I have to tell you that I made your spinach stuffed lasgana rolls the other day and boy were they good! Thanks for making so many wonderful recipes for those of us watching our figurines. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Gina, this looks like a great dish. I'm lactose intolerant do you think I can use Lacteeze or soft tofu instead?
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this Gina! As for the hand blender - I finally went out this weekend and bought a hand blender/food processor combo. I cannot wait to use it!!!
ReplyDeleteI make this quite often as a yummy side to have with casseroles or with anything saucy.
ReplyDeleteIt's also delish with lite cream cheese and chopped chives in lieu of the buttermilk and garlic!
@Anonymous- I've never used Lacteeze but why not!!
ReplyDelete@Sarah- I can't live without mine. Makes pureeing anything so simple and cleanup is so easy.
@Annie- Yes, chives!! Cream cheese I bet is great too, thanks for sharing!
I made your enchiladas tonight....wow there were wonderful!
ReplyDeleteYUM! I feel like that is all I say when I come visit you.... guess it could be worse! :) hehe
ReplyDeletethis looks SOOOOOOOO good! i love potatoes but have to cut them down to a min. this is awesome!
ReplyDeleteThis looks fab! Is there an alternative to buttermilk?
ReplyDeleteFYI about Brummel &Brown, I used it for years but I have stopped using it due to concerns about trans fats. If you check the label you will see that it has a fraction of them. Unfortunately by federal labeling rules it can be .495 which rounds down to zero, bt those fractions do add up. Everything I have read on trans fats says "stay away!", so I am back to butter, yum.
ReplyDeleteoh this looks good!! I am loving your site.. I made the garlic coconut shrimp the other night..not sure what I did wrong- but it was like a soup-- but it was heavenly!! so its a keeper!! and then I made the lasagna with spinich-- WOW-- no one would ever know it was diet food!! Next time I think the addition of mushrooms and onions might be fun to try as well!
ReplyDeleteVicki--I also made the garlic coconut shrimp and it turned out very soupy. Maybe simmer longer next time to reduce? Either way, the flavor was amazing, and my guests loved it!!
DeleteI'm trying to get back on the WW program and was having a lot of trouble...but your recipes are a great help. I love, love, love all the cauliflower ideas. Am eager to try the spinich lasagna.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your generosity in sharing these.
I also added some ranch seasoning for extra flavor! Yummy!
ReplyDeleteGina, I don't comment much but I get your email updates daily. Thank you for the great ideas. Even if I am not using your recipes that day, them being in my inbox reminds me that I need to stick to my WW points. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds delish and I can't wait to try it!
How can I sign up for emails?
Deleteon the right hand side of the webpage just below the top look for "click here for free recipes via email"
DeleteI can close my eyes and think it is mashed potatoes, hehe. I am no fan of cauliflower but the ingredients of this dish sound delicious.
ReplyDeleteYou've done it again. This looks awesome, and I've been wanting to try making this instead of mashed potatoes. Gonna get on it tonight! :D Thanks so much for your wonderful recipes!
ReplyDelete@Julie- butter's better!! :) Thanks for sharing, I do like using real butter when I cook. I just use it in small quantities!
ReplyDelete@Vicki- the shrimp dish is a stew so you probably did nothing wrong! The addition of mushrooms and onions to the lasagna rolls sounds lovely!
You can replace the buttermilk with light sour cream if you wish.
What about skim milk or fat free half & hlaf?
DeleteI make something similar to this all the time. My husband and I eat South Beach friendly, so this is top at the list. I don't miss white potatoes at all, though I don't know if he could say the same!
ReplyDeleteVery South Beach friendly!! I do low carb, low points every now and then when I need a little jump start and this is a great side dish. Even my daughter likes it and she's not a fan of cauliflower.
ReplyDeleteI made this tonight, along w/ corned beef and cabbage. I am dying! The cauliflower is so good!!
ReplyDeleteHi Gina! Would this worked if I used frozen cauliflower?
ReplyDeleteI made the califlower dish tonight. All I
ReplyDeleteCan say is, it was amazing! I used a 16 oz bag of frozen califlower and it was easy
N turned out fabulous!
Gina, you inspire
Me to stay on track! Thanks for taking the time 2 post such great recipes!
Susan
You're welcome!!!
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog. Thank you so much. Your photographs are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I'm going to try out a whole Easter Menu with your recipes this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes!
ReplyDeleteLizzie
Where has this recipe been all my life! It tastes just like mashed potatoes and it is barely any points.
ReplyDelete@Christina - Funny how it really tastes like mashed potatoes : )
ReplyDeleteWow. I've heard of this before but I wondered about the taste. I'll have to try it. I hope to get a food processor soon. :)
ReplyDeletei followed the recipe exactly and i couldnt eat it due to the overwhelmingly strong garlic taste, was this supposed to come out almost spicy?
ReplyDeleteNo, it sounds like your garlic didnt cook long enough. When cooked (boiled in this case) the garlic has a very mild flavor.
ReplyDeletethis is awesome! i didn't have buttermilk, so i used skim, and just added some "i can't believe it's not butter" spray at the end. delicious, filling and super-low on points!
ReplyDeleteThis is delicious! I've made it several times now, even my kids ask for it :)
ReplyDeleteGina - this is a fantastic website and I am so glad I found it. The recipes are awesome! And being point friendly really helps too. The pictures are gorgeous and inspire me to cook new and different things. I have also heard alot about the cauliflower dish and have never tried it but will now. Your enchilada recipes are delicious! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan!!
ReplyDeleteCan I say yummy!! Made this last night and my kids loved it. My older son does not like mash potatoes but loves this. He even went back for 2nd's. Thanks for the idea
ReplyDeleteI don't like cauliflower (or thought I didn't) but could live on mashed potatoes the rest of my life.
ReplyDeleteGina - this recipe is AWESOME, if I didn't cook it myself I would think it had real potatoes in it.
I absolutely love your website, you have done an excellent job with it!!!! I have to say it's my favorite site when it comes to recipes....
Please don't stop!!! :)
Thanks again!!!
I enjoy this dish so much, i have already made it twice since starting WW last month.
ReplyDeleteDo you think this would be a good sidedish for the Chicken Cordon Bleu???
ReplyDeleteSure, this would be a great side for Chicken Cordon Bleu.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are all enjoying this! Crazy how it tastes so much like mashed potatoes!! :)
I made this last night and really enjoyed it. I used 2% milk and I thought it worked fine. I also used white pepper. A definite keeper! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMade this tonight, so yummy.
ReplyDeleteMade this tonight with your pork chops with mushrooms... Yummy!
ReplyDeleteawesome :)
ReplyDeleteWould the point value stay the same on this recipe for the Points Plus program?
ReplyDelete2 points plus :)
ReplyDeleteMy boyfriend loves mashed potatoes but hates the pooch on his stomach. He was so excited when I showed him this recipe and your website. Especially after he had the roasted red bell pepper soup I made from your website yesterday. We love it!!!!!! We love that you use fresh ingredients, that you post the nutritional information, and that you are an novice photographer. Just know that we are loving and using your recipes and look for more comments from us.
ReplyDelete~Thank you
I look forward to it Vernice!
ReplyDeleteHi there
ReplyDeletedo you think that I can use this instead of mashed potatoes in the turkey croquettes? making mine as chicken... but didn't know if the cauliflower would have enough body to hold?
I don't think it would hold well, maybe a mix of both?
ReplyDeleteThis looks really good Gina! I was wondering though, do you have any idea what the calories would be if you got rid of the garlic? I am allergic to it. Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteIt would be basically the same. Garlic has very few calories. Check Google.
DeleteThese are the best! As a carboholic, I could eat mashed potatoes for every meal 7 days a week. This recipe gives me my mashed potato fix without the guilt (or increase on the scale). I almost never have buttermilk in my fridge, but use Fage 0% greek yogurt instead. It adds creaminess and tang and is still really healthy. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteIf I don't have buttermilk or sour cream on hand, could I use milk or a combo of milk and heavy cream? Thanks! These look delicious, I can't wait to try them :)
ReplyDeleteEmily, never tried it with yogurt!
ReplyDeleteYou could use a combo of mik and heavy cream but that will increase the fat, calories and points.
I tried it with sour cream instead of buttermilk (because I don't have buttermilk) tonight and really liked them. I don't think the family was too excited about them, but oh-well! More for me!!!
ReplyDeleteCooked this with chicken broth and saved 1/3 cup of the liquid to mash the cauliflower in, added chives and 1/3 cup low fat mexi cheese to it. Great. Thanks
ReplyDeleteJacque
Yay. Finally found a healthy food site that works for my family. I have so many healthy food cook books but the ingredients are rediculously long. Thank you, thank you for making it easy for us busy moms. Just tried the potato and cauliflower soup tonight. It was a big hit.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome!!
ReplyDeleteThis one needs to be fixed up more for greater taste because I found it rather bland -- very unusual for me with Gina's wonderful recipes. I will keep the garlic, but next time use light sour cream, ff Greek yogurt or light flavored cream cheese instead of buttermilk. Also would add chives. I also made a mistake of simply pouring in the liquid without checking for consistency which caused it to be too watery and then had to thicken with a little corn starch. A good start to a healthy recipe, however; so I will keep trying.
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing recipe. I found it very tasty and healthy. I'm lactose intolerant so I changed it up a bit- instead of using buttermilk I used coconut milk with apple cider vinegar. I found this tip online- for 1 cup of coconut/soy/rice/whatever milk you add 2-3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Let sit for 10 minutes then add it to your recipe. Turned out great!
ReplyDeleteI just put this recipe into my recipe maker on Weight Watchers because I wanted to change it up a bit, but noticed the recipe was still only 1 points plus - even with 2% buttermilk!
ReplyDeleteHow many cups of cauliflower florets should 1 medium head be? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGina!! I have to post my surprise combination side dish I had tonight! OMG! I made the creamy cauliflower and was having the cream of zucchini soup too. I thought the two flavors were very compatible. Do I decided to try them like mashed potatoes and gravy. OMG! If it were a blind taste test I would swear it was mashed potatoes and chicken gravy! I hope someone else tries this! Close your eyes however or eat it in the dark! Green gravy!
ReplyDeleteI had to post this and will post it at the other site too!
Susie
Buttermilk is naturally light : )
ReplyDeleteSarah, wish I would have checked at the time.
Susie, nice find!
I love this recipe.. I use a dab of mayo and green onion in mine.. and its delish!
ReplyDeleteI believe I've made too much. How does this taste the next day?
ReplyDeleteIts great!
Deleteoh my gosh this will be a new staple forever! I made real mashed potatoes the night before and my boyfriend said he liked these better. I also used low fat sour cream because i had no buttermilk on hand - can't get over how great this was!!! I mixed it in a magic bullet for people out there who have one, do it in batches though cause it is too hot to do all at once.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of immersion blender do you use? I just bought a Cuisinart but looks like it would scratch pots!
ReplyDeleteI made this tonight with baked cod with a little fresh lemon on top. So good and filling. Leftovers for lunch tomorrow! I love how the cauliflower is almost has a nutty flavor.
ReplyDeleteI love cauliflower soup, but have never made faux cauliflower mashed potatoes ~ will be trying this recipe soon!
ReplyDeleteI LOVED this! Unfortunately the rest of my family did not. Oh well their loss!! I substituted 1/3 cup of greek yogurt instead of butter milk.
ReplyDeleteJust made this with the low fat sour cream, and topped with a little cheese and a slice of crumbled turkey bacon for lunch. It took a bite or 2 to get used to it, but when I did, I cleaned the bowl! I admit I was a skeptic at first the whole cauliflower turned potato thing, but you just made me a believer! My belly fat is cursing your name =) Xo ~ Kimberly
ReplyDeleteI made this recipe and loved it - thank you! check out how mine turned out below:
ReplyDeletehttp://jilleveryday.com/2012/02/22/pork-chops-with-dijon-herb-sauce-cauliflower-puree/
Yum! Even my husband liked it! This will become a staple for sure.
ReplyDeleteThis was AMAZING. I won't even crave regular mashed potatoes again, these are THAT good to me. Gina what would I do without you?! You are changing so many lives with your recipes! Seriously!
ReplyDeleteis there a way to make the consistency a little more mashed potato like? i know it's a "puree" but i just made it and it's so watery i'm wanting the real thing. i was hoping this would be a great alternative to starchy mp's - i'll see how the man handles it when he gets home. i'm not going to tell him it's cauliflower ha.
ReplyDeleteMake sure you drain the cauliflower, it shouldn't be watery.
DeleteOMG! Made this tonight with skinny chicken pesto dinner. FAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC!!! Let's get married!!! lmao!
ReplyDeleteI make this all the time and it is delicious. Instead of milk, I add 2 oz of lowfat cream cheese. Makes the mash creamier. Also, when I feel too lazy to pull out the gadgets, I just use a potato masher in the pan I cooked the cauliflower in. If too much water remains in the pan, I turn the heat on low so the moisture evaporates as I mash.
ReplyDeleteOMG.......Eating this right now. It is fantastic. I am diabetic and this will now be my potatoe for all meals.
ReplyDeletenom nom nom nom! Really good!
ReplyDeleteThis recipe was so good. My son thought it was real mashed potatoes
ReplyDeleteI was a bit leery about how this looked when I first used a hand mixer by mistake to 'blend', but once I realized my mistake & pureed it - it turned out great. I didn't have buttermilk (& didn't want to buy any since I rarely make things with it), so I used 2 oz FF cream cheese. It was the perfect consistency.
ReplyDeleteMy husband says it's BETTER THAN MASHED POTATOES. The taste IS different than potatoes - I doubt you could fool someone- but a very good flavor if you like cauliflower. I will be using this instead of mashed potatoes from now on.
Awesome! Love this web site. I used reduced fat sour cream instead of buttermilk and it was excellent. I really wanted something filling and comforting but with low points value. This fit the bill perfectly.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone happen to know if these freeze well? My husband despises cauliflower so I would be the only one eating them. I'm hesitant because of the buttermilk. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSo I made this tonight to go along with a burger I made for dinner since I was craving some mashed and this looked like a great alternative. I love how it came out. I didn't have fresh cauliflower so I used the frozen 16oz bag. Also, I don't have a hand blender so I used my regular blender. The only issue I had was the # of servings. I only ended up with 3 at 3/4 cup each. Gina, any idea how much a head of cauliflower yields either in cups or oz? I'd love to make it again but if I use the frozen florets or even the fresh I want to make sure I have the right amount to get 4 servings. But I love how it came it and it tasted great and it was filling! A perfect compliment for my burger and it'll be a side along some chicken for lunch tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteFirst time making this and I didn't have any buttermilk, so I used fat free sour cream and OMG this was absolutely amazing! My fiance says he never wants mashed potatoes again! We had this with London broil and a side of veggies - completely carb free meal! Thank you so much Gina for such an amazing side!
ReplyDeleteThese look wonderful Gina! I have tried mashed cauliflower before but it didn't come out smooth as i used my mixer like i would have done for real potatoes. never thought of using a blender! I have a head of cauliflower in my fridge :) I know what we are having with out pork chops tonight!
ReplyDeleteI tried this last night as a side to the Dijon Pork and to my surprise it took center stage. Even the leftovers I had today were so delicious. I used Orange cauliflowers and added green onions as well as roasted pimentos.
ReplyDeleteThis is going into the regular meal rotation