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Creamy cauliflower mash - a quick, simple and delicious recipe

9/6/2015

33 Comments

 
Creamy cauliflower mash by Liz Posmyk Good Things
My mother was a clever cook. Nothing ever went to waste and she knew how to feed a family of six with something as simple as a pot of nourishing cauliflower soup and a loaf of 'continental' bread.

The laundry in the house that I grew up in faced south and had a cement floor which was covered by (stylish) black and white linoleum tiles. There was a large, double laundry tub, also made from cement. My father cut out a sheet of thick fibro to fit over the top of one side of the tub, allowing for extra storage space. 

The laundry was one of the coldest rooms in the house. And it was there on that bench over the tubs that my mother kept her cauliflowers. Always. Pure white, they were, and huge too. Mum made sure of that. 'Tsk, tsk,' she would mutter, shaking her head in disapproval if my father ever came home from the store with anything less than a perfectly white, enormous specimen. 

That (slightly pedantic) penchant was passed on to my mother's youngest. For I, too, always seek out brilliant white caulis of a decent weight and size. Oh, and the florets must be tightly packed! 

I do love cauliflower and more often than not, you will find one in my refrigerator, sometimes there are two. I enjoy eating them plain, just lightly steamed; or topped with a low fat cheese sauce and served as cauliflower cheese; or cooked with spiced sweet potatoes and pumpkin. From time to time I make my mother's soup with sour cream. And Peter loves my cauliflower bhajis, and cauliflower soufflé [recipes soon, soon]. 

One of my most favourite ways of preparing cauliflower is to make a simple mash. It makes a very good accompaniment to white fish as well as meat, and is a cracker of a topping for any sort of pie. It really is quick, simple and completely delicious!

CREAMY CAULIFLOWER MASH
You don't need fancy equipment to make this dish, but if you happen to have a food processor, stick blender, potato masher, or indeed, a Tefal Cuisine Companion, it helps!

500g head of cauliflower
75g cream cheese (preferably low fat)
sea salt and pepper, to taste

Method for the Tefal Cuisine Companion (#CC):
Cut the cauliflower into florets and place the florets into the Cuisine Companion steamer basket. Pour water to the 0.7L mark in the bowl. Pop the steamer basket over the #CC bowl, seal the lid. Steam at P100 for 15 minutes, until the cauliflower is tender, but not overcooked. Remove the basket from the #CC bowl, pour out the water from the bowl and pop the bowl back onto the base. Fit the Ultrablade to the #CC. Place the cooked cauliflower florets into the bowl. Process on speed 12 for 30 seconds. Add the cream cheese, salt and pepper. Process in bursts of 30-40 seconds on speed 12 until the cauliflower mash is well blended and smooth. Serves 4. 

Method for food processor/microwave/hand mashing:
Cut the cauliflower into florets, place them into a steamer basket over a pot of simmering water and cook until tender. Or place into a dish with a little water, cover with cling film and cook on high for 7 minutes in a microwave until tender. Place the cooked florets into a food processor with the cream cheese, salt and pepper, and blitz until smooth. Or place the florets into a Pyrex bowl with the cream cheese, salt and pepper, and mash by hand or with a stick blender. 

Notes: leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated the following day. If serving as a topping for pie, sprinkle with some shredded cheese, then pop under the grill briefly, or use a blow torch to melt the cheese. 

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Fresh cauliflower still life by Liz Posmyk Good Things
Philadelphia cream cheese and the ultrablade from the Tefal Cuisine Companion - Liz Posmyk Good Things
Pop the cauliflower florets into the steamer basket - Liz Posmyk Good Things
The steamed cauliflower is then mashed with the ultrablade - Liz Posmyk Good Things #CuisineCompanion
Et voile! Creamy cauliflower mash or puree - Liz Posmyk Good Things #CusineCompanion
Creamy cauliflower mash - Liz Posmyk Good Things

Tell me dear readers and fellow cooks, do you enjoy cooking with cauliflower? Are you a frugal cook? 
33 Comments
zohra
9/6/2015 02:19:05 am

This looks yum, Liz, especially the blow-torched cheesy bit. I usually love my mum's caulifower soup with croutons,or her caulifower, carrot and potato curry with some chapattis. But lately, I've discovered a Moroccan roasted cauliflower salad with cumin, feta and macadamias, and that's lovely too!

Reply
Lizzy
10/6/2015 10:36:33 pm

Hi Zohra... it's such an under rated vegetable, don't you agree? Roasted too, it's lovely!

Reply
Tania | MyKitchen Stories link
9/6/2015 02:32:43 am

What a lovely memory Lizzie. I have to say I would walk from here to Canberra for a little dish of that cauliflower.

Reply
Lizzy
10/6/2015 10:36:57 pm

Make it a big one, lovely Tania! xx

Reply
Mandy link
9/6/2015 03:21:27 am

Aah yes, cauli has to be perfect to make its way into my trolley.
I love the addition of cream cheese and I have both in my fridge.Yippee for me.
Have a beautiful day Lizzy.
:-) Mandy xo

Reply
Lizzy
10/6/2015 10:37:25 pm

Woo Hoo, Mandy... I hope you try this. Happy cooking xx

Reply
Gerlinde@ Sunnycovechef link
9/6/2015 09:32:15 am

Cauliflower is not one of my favorite veggies. I will eat it roasted and your recipe looks good and I love to try it.

Reply
Lizzy
10/6/2015 10:37:57 pm

Hi Gerlinde... roasted it is very nice... yes, do please try this. Let me know x

Reply
Caz Filmer link
9/6/2015 10:40:13 am

YUM. Will be trying that for sure.

Reply
Lizzy
10/6/2015 10:38:17 pm

Thanks, lovely!

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e / digt in hobart link
9/6/2015 01:51:19 pm

cauliflower = good. cauliflower + cream cheese = oh my wow!

Reply
Lizzy
10/6/2015 10:38:50 pm

Nice equation, Elizabeth x

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Eha
9/6/2015 01:56:33 pm

Another ardent cauliflower lover here with lots of recipes in hand but admitting to loving it best plainly steamed also! Have not used Philly or similar and really must try soonest . . . don't know that I have picked any out for 'physical beauty' but most seem such anyways :) !

Reply
Lizzy
10/6/2015 10:39:38 pm

Hi Eha... I've seen some bad looking caulis in my time (as manager of the market and also in some supermarkets). Love, love, love this one. x

Reply
John / Kitchen Riffs link
9/6/2015 02:20:54 pm

Yup, cauliflower is my friend, too. Although it's not something I always have in the refrigerator, particularly during the summer. Love it roasted, mashed, whatever. Love that first picture!

Reply
Lizzy
10/6/2015 10:40:08 pm

Thanks so much, John... very kind : )

Reply
Tandy | Lavender and Lime link
9/6/2015 07:29:53 pm

I love cauliflower mash, and raw cauliflower in summer. I am a very frugal cook, especially when times are tough :)

Reply
Lizzy
10/6/2015 10:40:39 pm

Me too, Tandy... especially lately... but I do LOVE a good steak!

Reply
Hotly Spiced link
9/6/2015 09:17:34 pm

Lovely story of your mother and her cauliflowers. And the one you have photographed is perfect. I love cauliflower and have been enjoying them this season roasted or in a soup but have never mashed them. That's now next on my list! xx

Reply
Lizzy
10/6/2015 10:41:02 pm

Roasted... mmmmm. Yes, Charlie, do please try this xx

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Laura (Tutti Dolci) link
11/6/2015 12:19:46 pm

Oh I love cauliflower and this looks wonderfully creamy!

Reply
Lizzy
12/6/2015 12:31:29 pm

It really is, Laura x

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Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella link
11/6/2015 12:57:34 pm

We love cauliflower. For me, a firm and enormous one is the one I look for since you pay her unit :)

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Lizzy
12/6/2015 12:31:10 pm

Oh, you buy them by the kg?

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Maureen link
12/6/2015 01:46:46 pm

Your memories of your mother always put a smile on my face. You two were so incredibly lucky to share such wonderful food and love. There is nothing a parent can do that's more important than make their child feel loved and important.

Reply
Lizzy
12/6/2015 02:38:52 pm

Oh Maureen, darling, that is so very true! Thank you for your kind words xx

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David Scott Allen link
13/6/2015 03:19:32 am

We, too, are huge fans of cauliflower. Sometimes, when it is in season, I can't get enough of it! It is one of the few veggies I also buy OUT of season! But they must be spotless! Your mash sounds perfect - and the cream cheese (glad you can get Philly cream cheese!) is something that never occurred to me. Love that. Thanks!

Reply
Lizzy
13/6/2015 10:54:11 am

Same here, David... and I do hope you will try this one xx

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David link
14/6/2015 05:52:40 am

Making this today! Got a gorgeous cauliflower at the market this morning (along with peaches and apricots) and can't wait to get going! xo

Glenda link
19/6/2015 06:03:45 pm

Hi Liz, Just copied this one for tomorrow night. We are having guests. Look forward to it. Cheers.

Reply
Glenda link
21/6/2015 04:39:35 pm

Just reporting back. 'Bloody good!'

Reply
Lizzy
21/6/2015 05:01:29 pm

Excellent! Thanks for the feedback... and, guess what... I know : )

Mary Frances link
2/12/2015 10:33:28 am

Cauliflower and cream cheese? wow! Perfect and so easy to make. Thanks for sharing this, I'm going to make it this evening :)

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Good Things is written and published by Liz Posmyk © 2011-2020.   All rights reserved.
Excerpts may be used provided that full and clear credit is given. Thank you.


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