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Purple Cauliflower Recipe (Mashed Cauliflower)

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Welcome to Try it Tuesdays, where I encourage you to try a new vegetable you may have never had or try a new twist on an old favorite.Today we are cooking purple cauliflower mash and it’s one of those veggie recipes you’re just going to fall in love with. Even the kids love it!

A lot of people steer clear of new veggies at the store because they simply don’t know how to prepare them. Sometimes they’ve had what I call ‘a bad run in’ with a vegetable (grandad’s boiled brussel sprouts, anyone?) so they can’t imagine a new & delicious way to try them. That’s where I come in!

Kid Friendly Mashed Cauliflower Recipe Alert!

Should I put a disclaimer on here? If your kids don’t actually LOVE this cauliflower mashed potatoes recipe, I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to deceive you. The thing is, my sister’s kids don’t beg for cauliflower mash! Yeah, they’ll eat it on occasion when the mood strikes maybe. But there is one sure fire way to get them to eat their cauliflower mash & that, my friends, is to make it purple.

What Is Purple Cauliflower?

Purple cauliflower is simply a variety of cauliflower that has a deep, almost-burgundy hue. It still tastes like regular cauliflower but it’s a little bit sweeter and has more nutritional value too!

Does Purple Cauliflower Taste Different?

The purple variety of cauliflower is said to be more mild, less bitter & more nutty flavored than it’s white cousin. And my daughter thinks is it delicious.

Maybe it’s the color. Maybe it really is the less bitter/more mild flavor combination. Either way, my child literally cheers for purple cauli mash!

Is Purple Cauliflower Natural?

Yes, purple cauliflower is a natural and 100% edible vegetable. It has been bred from the traditional white cauliflower to produce this colorful variety.

Ingredients For Purple Cauliflower Mash

  • Purple Cauliflower: The main ingredient, offering a unique color and mild flavor.
  • Milk: Adds creaminess to the mashed cauliflower.
  • Butter: Contributes to a richer taste and smoother texture.
  • Sea Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
  • Cracked Black Pepper: Adds a hint of heat and spice.
  • Fresh Herbs/Chives: Introduces a refreshing, aromatic element to the mash.
Cauliflower Mash Ingredients

GAPS Friendly Cauliflower Mash Recipe

If you want a GAPS friendly version of this recipe then simply switch out the milk for ¼ Cup Home Made Raw Milk Kefir.

How To Cook Purple Cauliflower Mashed

Here is a step by step guide for this purple cauliflower recipe. The first part involves steaming your cauliflower which can be done on the stove top or in a steamer basket in the Instant Pot.

Step One: Trim Your Cauliflower

Wash and trim your head of cauliflower and then chop the purple cauliflower into florets or cook as a whole cauliflower. Keep as much of the stem as you like! Its all edible and will mash really well once steamed.

Step Two: Steam Your Cauliflower Florets

Steam your cauliflower on the stove top in a steamer basket or on a trivet for 10-12 minutes until fork soft.

How To Steam Purple Cauliflower In The Instant Pot

To steam your cauliflower in the Instant Pot, place one cup of water in the bottom of your inner pot. Place a trivet and steamer basket into the pot and add the florets.

Pressure Cook Cauliflower

Close the Instant Pot lid, set the to pressure cook for 2 minutes on high pressure.

Once the purple cauliflower is steamed, release the steam from the Instant Pot using a manual release.

Step Three: Place Steamed Cauliflower Into Blender

Place your steamed cauliflower in a blender or food processor. I use a Vitamix but you can use any food processor you have.

Add your milk, butter, salt, pepper and let the processor roll!

Step Four: Garnish And Serve Purple Cauliflower Mash

Your purple cauliflower mash is now ready to be served. Garnish with your favorite herbs or chives and enjoy!

I hope you have enjoyed this Try It Tuesday recipe for purple cauliflower mash. If you’re looking for more veggie recipes, be sure to check out my other vegetable-focused recipes on the blog!

Also check out this article on the benefits of eating colorful vegetables.

What To Serve With Cauliflower Mash?

You can serve your purple cauliflower mash with a variety of dishes. Some of our favorites are roasted chicken, grilled steak, salmon, white fish and pork chops.

You can even use the cauli mash as a side dish to your favorite pasta or soup!

It’s also great with some freshly baked bread for dipping. Enjoy! This mashed cauliflower recipe can replace real mashed potatoes as a side for any of the following dishes:

  • Roasted Chicken
  • Grilled Steak
  • Air Fried Salmon
  • Oven Baked Fish
  • Pork Chops
  • Baked Bread

How To Thicken Cauliflower Mash

If you find your cauliflower mash is too runny or watery for your liking, there are a few tricks to help thicken it up. If you have an immersion blender, blend the mashed cauliflower on low speed in circular motions until it starts to thicken.

Alternatively, you can place the cauli mash in a food processor and pulse until it thickens.

Thicken On The Stove Top

You can also cook the mashed cauliflower on the stove top for a few minutes to evaporate some of the moisture and help thicken it up.

Whichever method you choose, be sure to keep an eye on your cauliflower mash as you don’t want it to burn! Once your desired thickness is reached, it’s ready to serve. Enjoy!

Can I Use Frozen Cauliflower In This Recipe?

Yes, you can! Simply allow extra time when steaming on the stove top or in the instant pot. Add an extra 8 minutes for stove top steaming and 2 extra minutes for Instant Pot steaming.

What Else Can I Add To Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

So we ditched the regular mashed potatoes for cauliflower mash. Not only is this way less in carbs, it also has more nutrition.

However, you can still make this cooked cauliflower more interesting by adding some extras ingredients to make your mashed cauliflower creamy and add flavor! It’s all about the creamy texture right!

Some of our favorite mix-ins include garlic powder, parmesan cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, greek yogurt and of course salt and pepper. You can also add onion powder or garlic powder if you fancy garlic mashed cauliflower.

Do You Serve Cauliflower Mash Hot Or Cold?

The purple cauliflower mash can be served hot or cold and makes for a delicious side dish to any meal! This recipe is also great for meal prepping as the mash can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheated when needed.

What To Do With Purple Cauliflower?

If you want more idea of what to make with purple cauliflower then try one of the following:

Roast Purple Cauliflower

Roast it – It is delicious when roasted with some olive oil, garlic and herbs.

Make Cauliflower Rice

Try making riced cauliflower by grating it into small pieces and then steaming until cooked through. It makes a great alternative to traditional rice dishes.

Puree Purple Cauliflower

Puree it – Purée the cauliflower and use as a replacement for mashed potatoes or in soup. It will be great for babies or adults on the puree food diet.

Make Pizza

Make pizza – Use purple cauliflower as a pizza topping with cheese and tomato sauce for an unique twist.

Stuff Purple Cauliflower

Stuff it – Cut the cauliflower in half and stuff with your favorite ingredients such as cheese, vegetables and herbs.

Make Pickles

Make pickles – Pickle purple cauliflower florets for a unique twist on traditional pickles.

Bake Purple Cauliflower

Bake it – Use purple cauliflower as a topping for casseroles or pasta dishes.

Make Purple Cauliflower Fritters

Make fritters – Mix together cauliflower, flour, eggs and spices to make delicious and healthy fritters.

Make Salads

Add it to salads – Chop purple cauliflower into small florets and add to your favorite salad for a healthy crunch.

Make Slaw

Make slaw – Use purple cauliflower to make a colorful slaw with other vegetables and a light dressing.

Stir Fry

Stir fry it – Stir fry cauliflower florets in olive oil, garlic and herbs for an easy side dish or main course.

Risotto

Make risotto – Use purple cauliflower to make creamy risotto dishes for a flavor you will love.

Purple Cauliflower Recipe

Purple Cauliflower Mash Recipe

Yield: 4-5
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

This Purple Cauliflower mash that the kids will love is tasty, colorful and full of goodness. Get the recipe here.

Ingredients

  • 1 Head of purple Cauliflower
  • ¼ Cup Milk
  • 1 Tablespoon Butter
  • ½ Teaspoon Sea Salt
  • ¼ Teaspoon Cracked Black Pepper
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh herbs/chives

Instructions

    Step One: Trim Your Cauliflower

Wash and trim your purple cauliflower into florets. Keep as much of the stem as you like! Its all edible and will mash really well once steamed.

Step Two: Steam Your Cauliflower Florets

Steam your cauliflower on the stove top in a steamer basket for 10-12 minutes until fork soft.

Step Three: Place Steamed Cauliflower Into Blender

Place your steamed cauliflower in a blender or food processor. I use a Vitamix but you can use any food processor you have. Add your milk, butter, salt, pepper and let the processor roll!

Step Four: Garnish And Serve Purple Cauliflower Mash

Your purple cauliflower mash is now ready to be served. Garnish with your favorite herbs or chives and enjoy!

Notes

How To Steam Purple Cauliflower In The Instant Pot

To steam your cauliflower in the Instant Pot, place one cup of water in the bottom of your inner pot. Place a trivet and steamer basket into the pot and add the florets.

Close the Instant Pot lid, set the to pressure cook for 2 minutes on high pressure. Once the purple cauliflower is steamed, release the steam from the Instant Pot using a manual release.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 53Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 252mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 3g

Do your kids love different colored veggies? What’s their fave? Let me know if they love this best cauliflower mash recipe.

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