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Fireflyy
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 409,118
January 2009
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 |  Posted: 11/18/2012 10:00:38 AM
I'd like to try a low-carb version of mashed potatoes and keep reading how good mashed cauliflower is.
Has anyone tried it? | |
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KikiPEA
Pea, Glorious Pea
PeaNut 43,536
July 2002
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Loc: In the land of loss...weight loss, that is. 35.5 down, 10-15 to go! :D
 | Posted: 11/18/2012 10:03:38 AM
No. Yuck. Nothing replaces real mashed potatoes. | |
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scrappower
Allons-y Alonso
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October 2004
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 | Posted: 11/18/2012 10:05:03 AM
It is nothing like mashed potatoes, NOTHING. LOL. | |
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~SuburbanMom~
Wannabe FNPea!
PeaNut 82,318
April 2003
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 10:06:40 AM
Yes I love them! | |
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cannes
Proud Pea-lice Wife!
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July 2002
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 10:10:41 AM
I think it's pretty good! I made them and didn't tell my family what it was and nobody mentioned that the "potatoes" tasted different. They were surprised when I told them.
My only tip is to make sure the cauliflower is dry before you start to mash it. If it's still wet from being boiled, it'll make for a runny consistancy. | |
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voltagain
OklaPhoma
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July 2001
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Loc: State of cultural confusion. Yeehaw and Aloha have collided!
 | Posted: 11/18/2012 10:14:37 AM
I like mashed cauliflower as a mashed potato replacement. However, I Do think they taste like cauliflower and not potato. But if you put gravy, cheese, a good butter sauce over them and don't say anything chances are good your family will like them. Just don't tell them what it is before they eat it.
I agree with the poster above about making sure they are dry before mashing or they come out soupy instead of "mashed" | |
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SinCity2003
PeaNut
PeaNut 519,832
September 2011
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 | Posted: 11/18/2012 10:16:46 AM
I've never made them, but I used to order them at Ruby Tuesday's all the time. I love them, however they cause gas  | |
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TeamSteve
The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.
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June 2006
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 | Posted: 11/18/2012 10:18:02 AM
Thanks for the post. I think I am going to try and make these. I love cauliflower. | |
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ilovecookies
PeaAddict
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April 2011
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 | Posted: 11/18/2012 10:20:14 AM
We think they're a pretty good substitute.
Making sure the cauliflower is dry is very important. | |
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Leezer
PeaAddict
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December 2004
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 11:02:51 AM
I steam mine then throw it in the blender with some laughing cow cheese and salt and pepper. Yummy. | |
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Carey Ayn
why
PeaNut 41,258
June 2002
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Loc: Minnesota
| Posted: 11/18/2012 11:17:05 AM
I love them, but they don't taste like mashed potatoes.
If you make the unhealthy ones with Boursin cheese, you will have happy eaters. I've served them to non veggie loving people and they've come back for seconds. | |
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chktrk
Al Ask A Pea
PeaNut 50,177
September 2002
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 11:27:09 AM
I think they are, if not loaded with butter and cheese, a healthier alternative but not a replacement. | |
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Fireflyy
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 409,118
January 2009
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 11:42:13 AM
I don't plan on "tricking" anyone. My DH is diabetic, and I was looking for a tasty alternative.
Is blotting the water off good enough?
Anyone have a good recipe to share? thanks. | |
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Miss Ang
I'm a Toilet Paper Pea. Are you?
PeaNut 26,443
January 2002
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 11:45:30 AM
I can not handle the smell of cooked cauliflower and that smell does not go away when they are mashed. I never actually tasted them because I couldn't get past the stench. | |
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Sophikins
PeaAddict
PeaNut 62,725
January 2003
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 11:49:45 AM
Yes, but even better is the mock rice made by putting the cauliflower through the grating disc of a food processor and then steam/saute. | |
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voltagain
OklaPhoma
PeaNut 18,334
July 2001
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Loc: State of cultural confusion. Yeehaw and Aloha have collided!
| Posted: 11/18/2012 11:53:05 AM
Blotting them will be good enough. I usually dump them n a colander and let them drain that way, the toss them over on the counter on top of some toweling and let them sit for a couple of minutes before mashing.
I know eating them plain is healthiEST (and they are good that way) but for plain I'm not going to go to the trouble to mash them. I'll just eat them as florets.
I do like them as a carb conscious substitute when I really want a loaded baked potato or mashed potatoes and gravy. While all the traditional potato topping aren't on a strictly healthy list I'm not adding the extra carbs too (I'm a diabetic too so have to watch that) | |
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rosiekat
PeaFixture
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July 2005
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 | Posted: 11/18/2012 11:56:07 AM
I find that if I mix them about half and half (potato and cauliflower), no one notices. I can taste a slight difference, but I actually prefer it. I like pure cauliflower, too, but the texture is very different and the kids don't like it. | |
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stampfox
PeaAddict
PeaNut 344,996
October 2007
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 | Posted: 11/18/2012 12:07:11 PM
You also don't want to mash it too much. You want a lumpy "mashed" potato look.
Twyla | |
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h&hmommy
PeaAddict
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 12:14:40 PM
My kids love them and have no idea it is cauliflower. | |
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Deena714
Half of NSBR's favorite power couple
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January 2003
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 12:22:31 PM
I agree that there is NOTHING that can replace mashed potatoes. There just isn't. But mashed cauliflower is GOOD. My husband made it a few months ago and I am hooked on it.
He steams the cauliflower, then mashes it. He puts it in the oven with a pat of butter (or ICBIN , a topping of shredded cheese and a little salt and pepper. The cheese and the butter melt in the oven. YUM YUM YUM. I can eat a whole head myself. | |
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maddiebsmom
PeaNut
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October 2012
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 12:37:16 PM
I made mine following a Rachel Ray recipe and loved it. Not as a replacement for mashed potatoes but as a really good cauliflower side dish. Her recipe called for nutmeg and was quite yummy....until I got the flu later that night. Pretty much runied that recipe forever but I am sure that you will have much better luck. : ) | |
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ajsweetpea
The Play Date Queen
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September 2002
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 12:37:50 PM
I actually tried a cauliflower au gratin at Trader Joe's today and it was really good. Granted, it didn't taste like potatoes, but I think it could make a good alternative to them. | |
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Fireflyy
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 409,118
January 2009
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 1:10:06 PM
Rosiekat, I thought about doing that, too. I don't have to eliminate all the carbs.
Thanks for the recipe, Deena. That doesn't sound too unhealthy.
Sophikins, how does that taste? I would LOVE to get DH to cut back on rice. He eats it 1-2 times a day. | |
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peasful1
Needs a New Pea Title
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August 2002
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 1:35:17 PM
I make it becuase we like mashed cauliflower, not as a mashed potato substitute. I steam the cauliflower rather than boiling. I then mash with a smidge of butter, kosher salt, a little asiago or parmigiano reggiano. Easy peasy. | |
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pe@ce
PeaFixture
PeaNut 80,720
April 2003
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 1:35:29 PM
been eating low carb for a while. I really like the mashed cauliflower. I also really like cauliflower pizza crust. | |
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mdoc
Peaing under the Radar
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January 2003
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 2:27:43 PM
I like them, but not as a mashed potato substitute. They are not mashed potatoes. They're more watery, and they don't taste like potatoes. That said, they are an excellent medium for the delivery of butter, sour cream, chives, crumbled bacon, cheese - all the stuff you might put on mashed or baked potatoes. And once you have all that yumminess on there, who cares if they taste like potatoes?
I eat a low carb, moderate protein, high fat diet, so mashed cauliflower (with all the toppings) works well for me.
FWIW, I also make cauliflower "rice." My kids prefer Asian fried cauliflower to fried rice. | |
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maryannscraps
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 75,215
March 2003
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 2:33:26 PM
We love them. I really like cauliflower. They don't taste like potatoes, but they're really good on their own merit. Little bit of butter and milk, salt and pepper, yum. | |
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flanz
AncestralPea
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June 2005
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 3:13:21 PM
This!
My only tip is to make sure the cauliflower is dry before you start to mash it. If it's still wet from being boiled, it'll make for a runny consistancy.
I LOVE cauliflower this way. I add a bit of butter and coconut milk and process in my food processor. If you have a large head of cauliflower I would consider adding 2-3 medium sized yukon gold potatoes as well. When I do that I think they definitely stand in as a fabulous sub for 100% potatoes! | |
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Zella
PeaFixture
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August 2009
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Loc: Puget Sound
 | Posted: 11/18/2012 3:14:41 PM
How anyone could fail to notice the difference is beyond me.
If you cover them in sauce or gravy, they are okay. But not otherwise. They taste exactly like mashed cauliflower. | |
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Pink Mochas
Not here to discuss politics or religion!
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August 2005
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 3:23:57 PM
We've had cauli-tators for a few years. It's now a Thanksgiving tradition. Not a mashed potato substitute because we whip them up really well with cheese and butter but they work well for low-carb.
DD just asked me yesterday to make them this year. I think I'll try them with the Laughing Cow. That sounds good! | |
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A Complicated Lady
BucketHead
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 5:19:25 PM
It's one of my favorite sides. I like it better than mashed potatoes.
We steam the cauliflower then put it in the food processor so it gets a creamy texture. Add salt, pepper, and a little cheese. I think the cauliflower has more flavor than mashed potatoes.
I use the South Beach Diet recipe. I think you can get it from the website.
Enjoy and come back and tell us what you think. | |
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batya
Making the WWW better, one post at a time.
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December 2002
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 5:47:28 PM
Yes. But I don't eat it to replace mashed potatoes. I eat it b/c mashed cauliflower is so good! | |
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cmputerdazed
PeaFixture
PeaNut 10,992
February 2001
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 | Posted: 11/18/2012 6:33:10 PM
could you use frozen cauliflower for this? | |
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voltagain
OklaPhoma
PeaNut 18,334
July 2001
Posts: 35,130
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Loc: State of cultural confusion. Yeehaw and Aloha have collided!
| Posted: 11/18/2012 6:34:53 PM
Fresh or frozen works. Just make sure it is dry before mashing. | |
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Fireflyy
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 409,118
January 2009
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 6:36:54 PM
I don't like cauliflower by itself, but I'm hoping I will the way you guys have suggested.
Thanks! | |
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Lisa818181
PeaAddict
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October 2006
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| Posted: 11/18/2012 11:25:26 PM
I've found that, while tasty, it does not resemble mashed potatoes if you just mash up steamed cauliflower with a masher. However, if you puree steamed cauliflower in a food processor, the texture is very much like whipped potatoes. It does have a slightly different taste but not a bad one. We use our Kitchenaid Stand Mixer to make whipped potatoes usually--DH insists on whipping them because he hates lumpy mashed potatoes, though I like them. If you do this but substitute half of the potatoes with the pureed cauliflower and then add butter/milk/etc as usual, the difference is hardly detectable. | |
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Melmag
StuckOnPeas
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February 2009
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| Posted: 11/19/2012 9:08:32 AM
They're quite tasty.... and I don't even like cauliflower! | |
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GrinningCat
Proudly Canadian
PeaNut 43,061
July 2002
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| Posted: 11/19/2012 9:12:25 AM
I've tried it and was disappointed after all the raving about it. It's not mashed potatoes, it's mashed cauliflower. No matter what you do it, it won't be mashed potatoes. It tastes like cauliflower. Thus should be called cauliflower.
I don't think this is a good substitute for mashed potatoes. But I'm a bit of a "eat the real thing instead of the substitute" kind of gal right now. | |
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