• Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • About The Real Food Geek
    • About Real Food
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Dips, Sauces & Condiments
  • Healthy Living
    • Weight Loss Journey
    • Real Food Adventures
  • Get In Touch
The Real Food Geek
  • Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • About The Real Food Geek
    • About Real Food
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Dips, Sauces & Condiments
  • Healthy Living
    • Weight Loss Journey
    • Real Food Adventures
  • Get In Touch
Side Dishes

Creamy Cauliflower Mash with Thyme

by Cheryl 18 July 2019
written by Cheryl
JUMP TO RECIPE PRINT RECIPE
Cauliflower mash in a bowl topped with thyme
Cauliflower mash in a bowl topped with thyme

If you want to turn into a cauliflower lover, then this Creamy Cauliflower Mash recipe will do the trick. Dish up a scoop of this creamy, herby mash and reap all the benefits of its nutritional goodness!

Bowl of cauliflower mash with a sprig of fresh thyme

Now let’s be honest, is Cauliflower Mash a like-for-like replacement for buttery mash potatoes? No, it’s really not! However, is Creamy Cauliflower Mash totally delicious in its own right? Hell Yeah!

In just one mouthful of tasting this Creamy Cauliflower Mash with Thyme, I have gone from being a Cauliflower hater to a Cauliflower lover. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a meat and potato girl, through and through. So, the thought of choosing cauliflower mash instead of mashed potatoes seemed pretty absurd at first. But, three simple ingredients has made it happen.

MAKE CAULIFLOWER MASH WITH JUST 3 INGREDIENTS

  • Cauliflower
  • Cream Cheese
  • Fresh Thyme

Of course, we’re going to add Salt and Pepper. But they’re a pantry staple, so they’re a given in my book!

If you’re looking for a dairy-free option, you can swap out the cream cheese and add a little olive oil. It will change the flavour slightly, but you will still have a deliciously creamy mash.

WHY CAULIFLOWER MASH?

It all started when I was trying to get more varieties of vegetables into my diet. A quick search on the internet brought my attention to the massive buzz surrounding cauliflower. I know, I’m late to the party!

If you’re an avid food blog reader or Instagram scroller, you’ll likely know, cauliflower is an alternative ingredient in all kinds of recipes these days. From pizza crust and buffalo wings to cauliflower steaks and mashed ‘potatoes’.

So, as I was making a Chicken Chasseur, I thought I’d attempt to make my version of Creamy Cauliflower Mash. Something light and dreamy to mop up the delicious sauce. And, you know what, I haven’t stopped making it since!

And, the fact that you can eat it without guilt is awesome!

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EATING CAULIFLOWER?

A great reason to incorporate cauliflower into your diet is because of its nutritional benefits. Cauliflower is a good source of fibre, vitamins and antioxidants. Take a look at what cauliflower contains and what it can do for you.

FIBRE

  • Prevents constipation
  • Maintains a healthy digestive tract
  • Lowers risk of obesity
  • Reduces the risk of diabetes
  • Regulates the immune system and inflammation
  • Lowers risk of coronary heart disease and stroke

ANTIOXIDANTS

  • Shown to reduce the risk of breast, reproductive cancers, lung and colon cancer

CHOLINE

  • Great for improving your sleep, muscle movement, learning and memory function

VITAMIN K

  • Improves calcium absorption and as a result, supports bone health

(Source)

HOW DO YOU MAKE CAULIFLOWER MASH WITH THYME?

Check out the below step-by-step instructions, or scroll down to find the printable recipe card.

STEP-BY-STEP RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS

cauliflower mash ingredients

Prepare your ingredients and get your equipment ready.

cauliflower florets in saucepan

Bring a saucepan of water 1-inch deep to a boil. Add the cauliflower florets into the steamer basket and steam for 10 minutes or until really soft. If there’s a slight bite, you could end up with a lumpy mash.

If you don’t have a steamer, you can boil the florets in the saucepan. Ensure the cauliflower is submerged in boiling water.

cauliflower drying on paper kitchen towel

After 10 minutes, stick a fork into a cauliflower floret to check it has completely softened.

Now, drain the water from the saucepan (and put to one side as you will need this later) and pour the cauliflower florets from the steamer basket onto a kitchen towel. Pat the cauliflower dry, removing any excess water.

An important step that will ensure the mash is creamy, not watery.

cauliflower cream cheese thyme in saucepan

Now place the cooked cauliflower florets, cream cheese, thyme leaves, salt and pepper into the saucepan.

cauliflower mash blended in saucepan

Using an immersion blender, blend for 2 minutes or until the cauliflower is smooth and creamy.

cauliflower mash in bowl

Serve and enjoy!

Bowl of cauliflower mash with a sprig of fresh thyme

Creamy Cauliflower Mash with Thyme

If you want to turn into a cauliflower lover then this recipe will do the trick. Dish up a scoop of this creamy, herby mash and reap all the benefits of its nutritional goodness!
5 from 1 vote
PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine English
Servings 4
Calories 60 kcal

EQUIPMENT

  • Measuring Spoons
  • Saucepan with Steamer Basket
  • Kitchen Towel
  • Immersion Blender

INGREDIENTS
 

  • 750 g Cauliflower Florets
  • 1 tbsp Cream Cheese (Full Fat)
  • 1 tsp Fresh Thyme Remove leaves
  • 1/4 tsp Sea Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper (Freshly Ground)

INSTRUCTIONS
 

  • Prepare your ingredients and get your equipment ready.
  • Bring a saucepan of water 1-inch deep to a boil. Add the cauliflower florets into the steamer basket and steam for 10 minutes until tender.
  • After 10 minutes, stick a fork into a cauliflower floret to check it has completely softened. Now, drain the water from the saucepan (and put to one side as you will need this later) and pour the cauliflower florets from the steamer basket onto a kitchen towel. Pat the cauliflower dry, removing any excess water.
  • Now place the cooked cauliflower florets, cream cheese, thyme leaves, salt and pepper into the saucepan. Using an immersion blender, blend for 2 minutes or until the cauliflower is smooth and creamy.
  • Serve and enjoy!

NOTES

PREFERENCES: I’m really not one for a lumpy cauliflower mash. It’s a texture thing! I find a blender is the best way to get the mash completely smooth. Of course, you can use a standard potato masher, but I find you can never remove the lumps completely. 

NUTRITION

Calories: 60kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 213mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4g
Keyword Cauliflower Mash, Creamy Mash, Mashed Cauliflower
Have you tried this recipe? I’d love to see!Mention @therealfoodgeek on IG and tag #therealfoodgeek!

I hope you LOVE this recipe as much as I do! It’s

  • Incredibly creamy
  • Warm and peppery
  • Herbilicious
  • Super nutritious
  • Simple to make

And, if you do get the chance to give this Cauliflower Mash with Thyme at try, please drop me a note in the comment section and provide star rating. I’d love to know what you think.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

P.S. Stay in touch by connecting with me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

You can also stay up to date with new posts and healthy REAL FOOD recipes by subscribing to The Real Food Geek mailing list below.

PIN CREAMY CAULIFLOWER MASH WITH THYME FOR LATER!

Cauliflower mash in a bowl topped with thyme

SHARE...

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
previous post
Creamy Porridge Custard with Strawberry Rhubarb Coulis
next post
Chicken Chasseur (Instant Pot Recipe)

You may also like

Cauliflower Rice with Spinach and Nigella Seeds

Honey Glazed Carrots with Orange & Cumin

Roasted New Potatoes with Garlic, Rosemary & Shallots

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Rate this recipe




Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

* By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. For more information, see our privacy policy.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hiya! I’m Cheryl

Hiya! I’m Cheryl

Welcome to The Real Food Geek

Join me as I attempt to abandon the bad eating habits of a lifetime in favour of a healthier lifestyle without sacrifice.

FOLLOW ALONG!

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest

POPULAR POSTS

  • 1

    10 Most Popular Recipes of 2020

  • 2

    Healthy Spaghetti Carbonara

  • 3

    Oven-Baked Chicken Dippers with a Creamy Chive Dip

  • 4

    Honey Glazed Carrots with Orange & Cumin

  • 5

    Herby Potato Salad with Homemade Salad Cream

  • 6

    How to Make a Real Food Club Sandwich

FEATURED CATEGORIES

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

DINNER

CATEGORIES

  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Side Dishes
    • Dips, Sauces & Condiments
  • Healthy Living
    • Real Food Adventures
    • Weight Loss Journey

FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

The Real Food Geek ©2020


Back To Top
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.