Ranch Cauliflower Mash
This easy recipe for Creamy Ranch Cauliflower Mash is made with simple ingredients. The best way to make mashed cauliflower is to roast it, then add butter, cream and a homemade ranch seasoning for a great ketogenic side dish that tastes similar to mashed potatoes. Great addition to any dinner or holiday feast.
Cauliflower has risen to the top as a star vegetable over the years. Somehow, it found a way to be so many things like rice, pizza crust, a substitute for mashed potatoes, and more!
This has been a great discovery for those that follow a low carb or ketogenic diet because cauliflower contains much less carbohydrates than a potato making that way of eating sustainable which is so important!
This recipe for cauliflower mash is unique because it has a ranch flavor that comes from homemade ranch seasoning which is a twist everyone will love.
🥘Ranch Cauliflower Mash Ingredients
1 Head Fresh Cauliflower: This recipe uses a fresh head of cauliflower instead of frozen which is important to create the perfect texture.
Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix: I created a homemade ranch seasoning without buttermilk that is a perfect blend of herbs and spices and can be used as a substitute for a Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning packet.
Butter or Ghee: Adding a rich buttery flavor to mashed cauliflower is exactly what you need to get as close to the taste of mashed potatoes as possible.
Cream or Half and Half: a small amount of cream adds creaminess and smoothness to your mash
📖How To Make Ranch Cauliflower Mash
1️⃣ Roast the cauliflower: After chopping your cauliflower into florets, toss it in a bit of oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast it in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes.
2️⃣ Blend The Cauliflower Mash: Add the roasted cauliflower into a high speed blender or food processor along with butter, cream and ranch seasoning. Blend until creamy and smooth.
3️⃣ Adjust Seasonings: Taste and add salt and pepper to your liking.
4️⃣ Serve: Scoop out into a serving dish and add to your plate. Top with additional butter for extra flavor.
🍎Whole30 Mashed Cauliflower
For a cauliflower mash that is Whole30 compliant, follow these simple swaps:
Swap The Butter For Ghee: ghee is allowed on a Whole30 reset and has a deep rich butter flavor.
Swap The Cream For Coconut Milk Or Almond Milk: I personally would use a plain almond milk as coconut milk may give the mashed cauliflower a slight coconut taste. Search for Whole30 compliant plain almond milk or almond milk creamer.
🔥Why Roast Cauliflower?
After making mashed cauliflower a bunch of times, I realized that the best way to make this recipe is to roast the cauliflower before blending it.Roasting gets rid of some of the excess moisture that is found in frozen cauliflower and it also gives the cauliflower a deeper flavor.
You could use frozen cauliflower for this recipe, but make sure you drain as much of the liquid out as possible by ringing out in a towel.
🧊Freezing & Storage
Freezing: cauliflower mash can be frozen however once thawing, it may a bit more watery than when you first made it. This is because freezing a delicate vegetable and thawing weakens the cell walls a bit.
Storing: Cauliflower mash can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
🔪Blending Mashed Cauliflower
I find that when I make mashed cauliflower gets the best consistency when it’s blended in a high speed blender such as a vitamix or any blender that works well on high speed. You could try to use a food processor however since it mostly pulses food, it may not become creamy and will have more of a riced consistency.
How To Serve Cauliflower Mash
- Salisbury Steak
- Stuffed Jalapeno Popper Chicken
- Keto Green Bean Casserole
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Sous Vide Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Salmon Patties
Ranch Cauliflower Mash
Ingredients
- 1 Head Cauliflower
- 2 tbsp Ranch Seasoning
- 2 tbsp Butter or Ghee
- ¼ cup Cream or Unflavored Dairy Free Milk
- 1 tbsp Avocado Oil
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Cut your cauliflower into even sized florets. Toss in a large bowl with avocado oil, salt and pepper.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes or until cauliflower is cooked and tender but not overly browned.
- Add warm cauliflower to a high speed blender along with butter, cream and ranch seasoning.
- Blend on high until a creamy consistency is formed. You may have to add a bit more liquid depending on how well cooked your cauliflower is. Add 1-2 tbsp at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- Remove from the blender and serve hot.
Notes
Whole30 Mashed Cauliflower
For a cauliflower mash that is Whole30 compliant:- Swap The Butter For Ghee: ghee is allowed on a Whole30 reset and has a deep rich butter flavor.
- Swap The Cream For Coconut Milk Or Almond Milk: I personally would use a plain almond milk as coconut milk may give the mashed cauliflower a slight coconut taste. Search for Whole30 compliant plain almond milk or almond milk creamer.
Why Roast Cauliflower?
After making mashed cauliflower a bunch of times, I realized that the best way to make this recipe is to roast the cauliflower before blending it. Roasting gets rid of some of the excess moisture that is found in frozen cauliflower and it also gives the cauliflower a deeper flavor. You could use frozen cauliflower for this recipe, but make sure you drain as much of the liquid out as possible by ringing out in a towel.Freezing & Storage:
Freezing: cauliflower mash can be frozen however once thawing, it may a bit more watery than when you first made it. This is because freezing a delicate vegetable and thawing weakens the cell walls a bit. Storing: Cauliflower mash can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.Blending Mashed Cauliflower:
I find that mashed cauliflower gets the best consistency when it’s blended in a high speed blender such as a vitamix or any blender that works well on high speed. You could try to use a food processor however since it mostly pulses food, it may not become creamy and will have more of a riced consistency.Nutrition
** add recipe to ranch seasoning post
