Best 6 Smashed Cauliflower Recipes

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Craving a healthy and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or a side? Look no further than Smashed Cauliflower! This simple yet flavorful recipe transforms ordinary cauliflower into a crispy, golden-brown delicacy. Smashed Cauliflower offers a delightful blend of textures, with a tender interior and a slightly charred exterior. It's not only a delicious option for vegetarians and vegans, but also a fantastic low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes. This versatile dish can be customized to suit your taste preferences, making it a perfect choice for any occasion. Whether you prefer a spicy kick, a cheesy indulgence, or a tangy twist, the variations presented in this article will guide you through creating the perfect Smashed Cauliflower dish. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds and discover the endless possibilities of this culinary gem!

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

RACHAEL RAY'S CHEESY "SMASHED" CAULIFLOWER



Rachael Ray's Cheesy

Posting this here for safe keeping. I don't normally use Rachael Ray recipes 'cause she mixes sweet and savory flavors a lot and I find that kinda gross. ;) But this one sounded pretty good. I think I'll leave out the nutmeg, tho. If you try it let me know how it turns out. :)

Provided by hottiecj

Categories     Cauliflower

Time 20m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 head cauliflower
1 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 ounces boursin cheese (or other garlic and herb soft cheese)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (a handful)
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg (optional)

Steps:

  • Pour broth into a deep pot.
  • Trim leaves and core off head of cauliflower.
  • Place head of cauliflower in broth and drizzle with the olive oil.
  • Cover and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to medium and boil covered until tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Uncover and mash cauliflower w/potato masher.
  • Allow liquid to cook off while you add cheeses and mash all together, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  • When all mixed and thickened, remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste, and nutmeg, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 103.3, Fat 5.9, SaturatedFat 1.7, Cholesterol 5.5, Sodium 326.4, Carbohydrate 7.8, Fiber 2.9, Sugar 3, Protein 6.5

LONDON BROIL WITH STEAK SAUCE GRAVY, SMASHED CAULIFLOWER WITH CHEESE, HAM AND RED CHARD



London Broil with Steak Sauce Gravy, Smashed Cauliflower with Cheese, Ham and Red Chard image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets
3 cups chicken stock
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
1 cup shredded white extra-sharp Vermont Cheddar (recommended: Cabot brand)
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano
Coarse black pepper and salt
A generous grating nutmeg
1 1/2 pounds shoulder London broil steak, 1 1/2 inches thick
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
1/2 pound ham, chopped
6 cups chopped red chard, 1 large bundle
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar, eyeball it
1 tablespoon honey
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups beef broth
1/4 cup steak sauce (recommended: A1 or Lea and Perrin's brands)

Steps:

  • Place cauliflower in a medium shallow pot or pan. Add stock, cover and place pot over high heat. When liquid boils, reduce heat to simmer and cook covered 10 minutes. Remove cover, raise heat to medium high and allow the broth to reduce by half, 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces and the cheeses and smash the cauliflower with a masher to the same consistency as desired for mashed potatoes. Season the cauliflower with black pepper, a pinch of salt and nutmeg.
  • Turn broiler on. Brush meat with Worcestershire and season with salt and pepper. Cook London broil on top rack for 6 minutes on each side, for medium rare to medium doneness.
  • While steak and cauliflower cook, heat a second large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil, 2 turns of the pan, and ham. Sear ham and caramelize at edges, 2 minutes.
  • Add chard and wilt the greens into the pan then season with salt, pepper and a dash of nutmeg, optional. Cook 5 to 7 minutes more, turning frequently with tongs then add vinegar to the pan and a drizzle of honey. Turn to coat the greens, adjust seasoning and transfer to a serving dish.
  • Remove meat from broiler and let it rest 5 minutes.
  • Place a small skillet over medium heat. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter, add finely chopped shallot, cook 2 minutes, then whisk in flour and cook 1 minute. Add 2 cups beef broth to the pan and bring to a bubble. Reduce the broth 2 minutes then add 1/4 cup steak sauce and black pepper, to taste.
  • Very thinly slice the meat on an angle against the grain (the lines in the meat). The degree to which you can slice thinly slice the meat will determine how tender it is to cut and chew, so make sure the carving knife is sharp ¿ the thinner the better!
  • Serve sliced London broil with steak sauce gravy all over it and smashed cauliflower and red chard with ham piled up alongside the meat.

SMASHED CAULIFLOWER



Smashed Cauliflower image

This is a great alternative to mashed potatoes, and much more figure friendly. It's a great vegetable side dish.

Provided by JAMVS

Categories     Fruits and Vegetables     Vegetables     Cauliflower     Mashed

Time 35m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets
3 cups chicken broth
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup shredded Vermont white Cheddar cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Bring cauliflower and chicken broth to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Uncover the saucepan and increase heat to medium-high. Allow cauliflower to simmer until soft and the cooking liquid has reduced by half, about 10 minutes.
  • Remove cauliflower from the heat, and add the butter, Cheddar cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Mash with a potato masher until the cheeses have melted and the cauliflower is smooth, then season to taste with salt and pepper.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 269.5 calories, Carbohydrate 11.8 g, Cholesterol 58 mg, Fat 20 g, Fiber 5.3 g, Protein 13.7 g, SaturatedFat 12.5 g, Sodium 395.2 mg, Sugar 5.1 g

SMASHED CAULIFLOWER SIDE DISH



Smashed Cauliflower Side Dish image

Wonderfully creative substitute for potatoes or rice. Surprise your family with this excellent side dish!

Provided by Erika Cormier

Categories     Fruits and Vegetables     Vegetables     Cauliflower     Mashed

Time 20m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 (16 ounce) packages frozen cauliflower
¼ cup butter
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon salt
1 clove garlic, minced

Steps:

  • Place cauliflower in a pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook 10 minutes, or until tender. Drain and return cauliflower to pot.
  • Stir butter, black pepper, salt, and garlic into cooked cauliflower.
  • Mash cauliflower mixture with a potato masher or whisk until a smooth consistency similar to mashed potatoes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 157.7 calories, Carbohydrate 11 g, Cholesterol 30.5 mg, Fat 12.1 g, Fiber 5.3 g, Protein 4.7 g, SaturatedFat 7.4 g, Sodium 427.1 mg, Sugar 5.1 g

SMASHED CAULIFLOWER-POTATOES



Smashed Cauliflower-Potatoes image

Here is another vegetable side dish that I make once or twice a week. This recipe fits perfectly with phase 1 of The South Beach Diet and is a great alternative for those wanting to cut back carbs. Even my meat-and-potatoes husband enjoys this recipe. Cooking the cauliflower in milk is what makes this version unique (and tasty). Also, I have used a couple of bags of fresh cauliflower already cut up like they sell at Trader Joe's or 1 20 oz bag of frozen florets for convenience.

Provided by Foodie Friend

Categories     Cauliflower

Time 40m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 3

1 medium head cauliflower, chopped in small florets
1 cup low-fat milk (1% or less)
1/2 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Cook cut up cauliflower florets in milk and salt over low heat for 35 minutes, or until tender. Stir the mixture a couple of times to rotate the cauliflower in the milk and to keep the milk from scalding. (Sometimes when I get distracted the milk gets scalded on the bottom of the pot. If this happens, stir gently so that that the scalded milk browned bits do not get mixed up into the cooked cauliflower).
  • Drain, and discard or freeze the remaining liquid for a creamed vegetable soup (like cauliflower-cheese soup).
  • Using an immersion blender, blend cooked cauliflower until the mixture resembles mashed potatoes (no liquid necessary -- otherwise it will be too runny).
  • At this point use this mixture as if it were mashed potatoes and turn this "Smashed Cauliflower" into your favorite form of potatoes. In other words, you can add roasted garlic, scallions, low fat sour cream, chives, butter, or any combination. However, most of the time we eat it as is, with salt and white pepper to taste.

SMASHED CAULIFLOWER WITH WHITE CHEDDAR SAUCE



Smashed Cauliflower With White Cheddar Sauce image

This is one of those side dishes that is just so good and makes you feel a little less guilty for eating it. Some of the taste testers couldn't even tell it was cauliflower - they thought it was smashed potatoes! It's creamy, buttery, and of course cheesy. If you prefer yours smoother, a whirl through the food processor would...

Provided by Ellen Bales

Categories     Vegetables

Time 35m

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 small cauliflower heads (or two large)
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 clove minced garlic (or more if you prefer)
1 c half and half
1/2 c milk
2 tsp minced onion
6-8 oz Vermont white cheddar cheese, shredded or sliced
salt and pepper, to taste

Steps:

  • 1. Wash cauliflower and cut into medium-sized florets. Add to a large pot of boiling, salted water. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  • 2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter and stir in flour, making a paste. Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Slowly add milk and half-and-half and stir until it starts to thicken.
  • 3. Add remaining ingredients and simmer on low heat until cheese melts. If mixture is too thick, add more milk, a little at a time, and mix thoroughly.
  • 4. Stir the hot cheese sauce into the cooked and drained cauliflower and mix well, smashing with a large spoon as you go.
  • 5. Serve with your favorite entree.

Tips:

  • Choose the right cauliflower: For the creamiest results, use a large head of cauliflower with tightly packed florets.
  • Cut the cauliflower into even-sized florets: This will help them cook evenly.
  • Steam the cauliflower until tender: You can do this in a steamer basket over boiling water or in the microwave.
  • Smash the cauliflower until it is smooth and creamy: You can use a potato masher, a fork, or even a food processor.
  • Season the cauliflower with your favorite seasonings: Some popular options include salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
  • Serve the cauliflower as a side dish or main course: It can be enjoyed on its own or topped with your favorite toppings, such as cheese, bacon, or vegetables.

Conclusion:

Smashed cauliflower is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. It is a great way to add more vegetables to your diet and is also a good source of fiber and vitamins. Give this recipe a try next time you are looking for a healthy and satisfying meal.

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