Cauliflower Purée with Thyme
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This cauliflower purée is creamy and comforting, and it just happens to taste remarkably like mashed potatoes.
Photo by Alexandra Grablewski (Chronicle Books, 2018)
This cauliflower purée is creamy and comforting, and it just happens to taste remarkably like mashed potatoes. I’m not sure if it’s just my eyes playing tricks on me, but it really does! It also has the benefit of being easier to make, healthier and lower in carbs. But don’t make it just for that reason — it’s delicious in its own right. In fact, when my friend Heather tested the recipe for me, she sent me a text that read, “OMG so good, just licked the bowl of my Cuisinart.” Try serving it with my Onion-Braised Beef Brisket, Grilled Flank Steak with Garlic & Rosemary, Roast Chicken or Easy BBQ Boneless Short Ribs.
What you’ll need to make cauliflower purée
Step-by-Step Instructions
There are a lot of mashed cauliflower recipes out there; what I like about this one is that the cauliflower is steamed in, and then puréed with, chicken broth. This adds flavor and eliminates the need to add cream to thin out the purée.
Begin by bringing the chicken broth and salt to a boil and a large pot. Add the cauliflower and steam for about 20 minutes, or until the cauliflower is very tender.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cauliflower to a food processor and add the butter along with a few tablespoons of the chicken broth.
Process until smooth and creamy, then taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Add the chopped thyme and process until evenly mixed.
Transfer to a bowl and serve.
Photo by Alexandra Grablewski (Chronicle Books, 2018)
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Cauliflower Purée with Thyme
This cauliflower purée is creamy and comforting, and it just happens to taste remarkably like mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower (about 2 lbs.), cut into ½-inch pieces (don't worry about keeping florets intact)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into chunks
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring the chicken broth and salt to a boil. Add the cauliflower; bring back to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low and steam for 20 minutes, or until cauliflower is very tender. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cauliflower to a food processor. Add 3 tablespoons of chicken broth from the pot, along with the butter. Process until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and freshly ground pepper. Add thyme and process until just combined.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (4 servings)
- Calories: 151
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Sugar: 5g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g
- Sodium: 731mg
- Cholesterol: 25mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Just made this today. Very yummy. Will certainly use this again and again as the only other ways I will eat cauliflower is sauced with bechemel, hollandaise or mornay. Might even try this with a drop of liquid smoke or by caramelizing the cauliflower in the oven before pureeing it.
Hi Jenn. I don’t have a food processor. Can I use a hand held immersion blender? Your recipes are my go-to all the time! Lorna
Sure, Lorna, that’s fine – enjoy!
Can this be frozen?
I can’t say for sure how this would freeze because I haven’t done it – sorry! If it’s helpful, you can make it several days ahead of time and reheat in the microwave.
This is a lovely recipe. I reduced the ingredients for two adults. I added a few small garlic cloves to the cauliflower and stock. Puréed it and it was delicious. I served it with tempura seafood.