Recipe Favorites: Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese

Delicious mashed cauliflower with garlic, Parmesan, and goat cheese!

(Recipe Updated 11-9-07)  Before I ever really thought seriously about going on the South Beach Diet, I'd heard of their now-famous recipe for "Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes" and the idea of cauliflower masquerading as mashed potatoes struck me as a little strange. I've since seen many recipes comparing pureed cauliflower to potatoes, but let me make it clear, this cauliflower doesn't have a wanna-be potatoes complex at all. This is just a recipe for delicious pureed cauliflower, perfectly happy about being cauliflower, and thrilled to be flavorful with garlic, goat cheese, and parmesan. If you like cauliflower, this is good stuff.

I'm reposting this recipe because I'm updating with a better photo and since we're doing Low-Glycemic Thanksgiving Recipes, it occurred to me that I'd be very happy to have this cauliflower on my plate at Thanksgiving Dinner, so I'm including the recipe with the Thanksgiving options. If you're avoiding potatoes because they're high on the glycemic index, I recommend putting this cauliflower next to some South Beach Diet friendly Whole Wheat Stuffing topped with gravy, and you won't miss the potatoes at all.

Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese
(4-6 servings, depending on the size of your cauliflower)

Ingredients:
1 large head cauliflower, cut into small same-size flowerets
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 T half and half or cream (if needed)
2-3 T grated Parmesan cheese (depending on size of cauliflower)
2-3 T goat cheese (depending on size of cauliflower)
salt/pepper to taste

Instructions:

Put cauliflower in a pan with enough water to cover, and add garlic and a small amount of salt. Let cauliflower come to a boil, then lower heat and cook 20 minutes, or until cauliflower is very soft. Remove from heat and drain very well. (I let it drain nearly 5 minutes in a colander. Don't skip this step or the finished dish will be a bit watery.)

When cauliflower is well drained, put into food processor and puree, adding the half and half if needed. (Most of the time there will be enough water left on the cauliflower so you won't need it.) You could also use a small hand beater to "whip" the cauliflower as you would potatoes. I also think this would taste great mashed with a hand masher for a more coarse consistency.

Put cauliflower back into the pan you cooked it in and turn heat on very low. Add Parmesan, goat cheese, and season with salt and pepper. Heat 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly so it does not stick to the bottom. Serve hot, with a little freshly grated Parmesan on top if desired.

More About Cauliflower:
This recipe was originally an entry for Cates ARF/5-A-Day at Sweetnicks, where she encourages us to eat more fruits, veggies, and anti-oxidant rich foods. Cauliflower is one of The World's Healthiest Foods, it's one of The Healthiest Foods You Can Eat, and it's listed as a sidekick to broccoli (slightly less nutritious but still very high in nutrients) in Superfoods RX.




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South Beach Suggestions:
This would be a perfect side dish for any phase of The South Beach Diet. It would taste great with Sauteed Scallops with Garlic, Steak and Mushroom Kabobs, Greek Meatballs, or Chicken with Kalamata Olives. Add any kind of green salad for a completely South Beach meal that everyone will like.