Garlic + Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower

Mashed potatoes are wonderful, am I right?!

But when you’re looking for a healthier, more nutritious option—let’s talk about mashed cauliflower!

These days, it's not uncommon to have a Thanksgiving Day guest who steers clear of gluten.

And even if you don't, we all want to cook up something that will have everyone at the Thanksgiving table seriously wanting—maybe even needing—to go back for seconds.

It just so happens that you can serve your gluten-free friends and get everyone and their brother excited about the same fabulous food. I’m talking about a mouth-watering, velvety, cheesy side dish…

mashed cauliflower!

And not only is this dish healthy and incredibly delicious, but super simple!

Start by steaming up a little cauliflower and garlic…

Puree it with some cream cheese, Parmesan, and chives… 

And you'll find your result is the creamiest, most flavorful side dish.

It’s definitely worthy of a place next to (or in place of!) your traditional mashed potatoes.

Garlic + Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower

makes: 3 cups

Ingredients:

• 1 medium head cauliflower (2 pounds), broken or cut into bite-size florets
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped chives

Directions:

1. Add the cauliflower and garlic to a large pot and fill it with just enough water so that the vegetables are covered. Simmer until the veggies are tender—about 10 minutes, then drain.
2. Next, place the cauliflower and garlic mixture in the bowl of a food processor. Add the cream cheese, parmesan, salt, and pepper, and pulse until the mixture is smooth, but with some small lumps. When you are finished, it should look similar to mashed potatoes.
3. Add the chives to the mixture in the food processor and pulse only a few times—just to combine. Then remove the cauliflower mash from the food processor, place in your favorite serving dish, and enjoy!

: @NikkiDinki

: @NikkiDinkiCooking

Find more recipes like this in Meat on the Side!

 

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Beer Cheese Soup

Beer Cheese Soup

servings: 4; makes 8 cups of soup

Ingredients:

• Four 6-inch-round loaves sourdough bread
• 1 small butternut squash (about 1 pound)
• 1 medium head cauliflower (about 2 pounds)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, sliced
• 2½ teaspoons kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• One 12-ounce beer, pilsner or your choice
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
• 8 ounces American cheese
• ½ cup grated parmesan
• ½ cup heavy cream

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare the bread bowls by slicing the top inch or top third of each sourdough loaf. With a paring knife, cut a circle about an inch from the edge all the way around the loaf, being careful to leave about an inch of bread on the bottom as well. Gently remove the bread from inside the loaf, reserving it for another use.
2. Brush the insides of the bowls with melted butter or olive oil, or spray them with olive oil spray, then place them on a baking sheet. Bake until the bread bowls are warmed and begin to brown—12 to 20 minutes.
3. In the meantime, peel the squash. Cut it in half and then use a soupspoon to scoop out the seeds. Chop the flesh into 1-inch cubes; you should have about 3 cups of squash cubes. Remove the base of the stem and leaves from the head of cauliflower and roughly chop into florets; you should have about 4 cups of florets. Set the veggies aside.
4. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, ½ teaspoon of the salt and the pepper and sauté until the veggies are tender—5 to 7 minutes. Add the beer and cook for 3 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan if necessary.
5. Add the squash, cauliflower, stock and 1 teaspoon of the salt to the pot. Cover the pot and let the mixture cook until all the vegetables are very tender, stirring occasionally—about 30 minutes.
6. Transfer the soup to a blender, working in batches if necessary, and blend until it is very smooth. Place the soup back in the pot over low heat, then stir in the cheddar, American, and parmesan cheeses. Continue stirring until all of the cheeses are melted, then stir in the cream. Taste the soup and add up to another teaspoon of salt if needed (this is dependent on how salty your stock and cheese are).

: @NikkiDinki

: @NikkiDinkiCooking

Find more recipes like this in Meat on the Side!

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4 Cheese Mac + Cheese

HALF RECIPE:

1/2 Lbs Macaroni Pasta

2 Tbs Unsalted Butter

1/2 Large Onion

2 Cloves of Garlic

2 Tbs All Purpose Flour

3/4 Cup Whole Milk

4 Cups Cheese, Gruyere, Parmesan, Fontina, Cheddar

Salt

Cook Pasta 1 to 2 minutes shy of packaged directions.  In the meantime, Melt butter and saute onions and garlic until soft and translucent.  Add Flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.  Add milk and stir/whisk till it is combined in mixture.  Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, let simmer until thick, about 5 minutes.  Add in 3 cups of cheeses and stir until combined.  Combined cheese sauce with pasta and transfer to a baking dish.  Top with the remaining cup of cheese and broil till the top is crusty and brown.  ENJOY!

FULL RECIPE:

1 Lbs Macaroni Pasta

4 Tbs Unsalted Butter

1 Large Onion

4 Cloves of Garlic

4 Tbs All Purpose Flour

1.5 Cup Whole Milk

8 Cups Cheese, Gruyere, Parmesan, Fontina, Cheddar

Salt

Cook Pasta 1 to 2 minutes shy of packaged directions.  In the meantime, Melt butter and saute onions and garlic until soft and translucent.  Add Flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.  Add milk and stir/whisk till it is combined in mixture.  Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, let simmer until thick, about 5 minutes.  Add in 6 cups of cheeses and stir until combined.  Combined cheese sauce with pasta and transfer to a baking dish.  Top with the remaining 2 cups of cheese and broil till the top is crusty and brown.  ENJOY!

 

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