This cheesy mashed cauliflower side dish is made in the Instant Pot! An easy and delicious low carb alternative to mashed potatoes.
This post may contain affiliate links.
Cauliflower mash is a fantastic lower-carb alternative to mashed potato – and the cauliflower lends itself to all kinds of other flavors – like my recipes for Horseradish Cauli Mash and my Mashed Cauliflower with Blue Cheese!
However, often the cauliflower is cooked by boiling it – which can make the end result very watery. A great alternative are those prepared bags of florets that steam in the microwave – but although they're convenient, they're not the most economical option.
So for this recipe, I have steamed the whole head of cauliflower in the Instant Pot – it works SO well! After cooking it's very easy to mash by hand – or get someone else to do it for you! I've added cheese to the mash which I think gives it a wonderful flavor.
How to Make Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
Place a trivet into the base of the Instant Pot (mine is 6qt), and add some chicken or vegetable broth. Remove the leaves from a whole head of cauliflower (mine weighed about 2 lb after trimming), and place it onto the trivet.
Seal the lid, and select the Steam setting for 15 minutes. When the cooking time has been completed, quick release the pressure, then carefully remove the lid and leave it open for 10 minutes.
Use the trivet handles to remove the cauliflower – it should be super soft but not watery. Place it into a large bowl together with some cream cheese and grated Parmesan.
Mash everything together until smooth, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Note – for a super smooth cauli mash, you can use a food processor instead.
Transfer to a serving bowl, and garnish with a little butter and some fresh thyme leaves.
Leftovers reheat really well! Just cook in the microwave until piping hot. This would make a great side dish for a holiday meal!
Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower - in the Instant Pot
This cheesy mashed cauliflower side dish is made in the Instant Pot! An easy and delicious low carb alternative to mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 whole head cauliflower (approx. 2lb)
- ½ cup cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup finely grated Parmesan
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- butter and fresh thyme leaves, to garnish
Instructions
- Place a trivet into the base of the Instant Pot, and add the broth. Remove the leaves from the cauliflower, and place it onto the trivet.
- Seal the lid, and select the Steam setting for 15 minutes. When the cooking time has been completed, quick release the pressure, then carefully remove the lid and leave it open for 10 minutes.
- Use the trivet handles to remove the cauliflower - it should be super soft but not watery. Place it into a large bowl together with the cream cheese and Parmesan.
- Mash everything together until smooth, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Note - for a super smooth cauli mash, you can use a food processor instead.
- Transfer to a serving bowl, and garnish with a little butter and the fresh thyme leaves.
Notes
5.1g net carbs per serving of approximately ⅔ cup.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size Approx. ⅔ cupAmount Per Serving Calories 140Total Fat 9gSaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 28mgSodium 429mgCarbohydrates 8.6gNet Carbohydrates 5.1gFiber 3.5gSugar 4gProtein 6g