This Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese is the best recipe I’ve tried for mashed cauliflower! And this tasty cauliflower mash is perfect for a side dish when you don’t want the carbs from mashed potatoes. 

PIN Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese!

Square image for Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese shown in serving bowl with spoon.

I think everyone who likes cauliflower and goat cheese is going to love this savory Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese! I’ve tried so many variations of cauliflower mash through the years, and in my humble opinion this is the BEST pureed cauliflower you could possibly want. It’s the creamy goat cheese that makes this mashed cauliflower dish so good, and this is a low-carb side dish I make over and over.

And everyone has seen recipes comparing pureed cauliflower to mashed potatoes, but this pureed cauliflower is perfectly happy about being cauliflower, and thrilled to be flavored with garlic, Parmesan, and goat cheese! And anyone who’s limiting carbs will be happy to have this on their plate; I hope you try it!

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

  • large head cauliflower
  • Minced Garlic (affiliate link) or 2-3 garlic cloves
  • half and half or heavy cream (if needed)
  • grated Parmesan cheese
  • goat cheese
  • salt/pepper to taste

What kind of goat cheese did I use to flavor the pureed cauliflower?

For this recipe I used the creamy goat cheese that comes in a log. (There are some good brands from France, but I usually just buy the goat cheese at Costco!) Read more about Goat Cheese if you’re not familiar with it.

What other types of cheese could you use?

I do think goat cheese is an acquired taste, and if you’re not a fan of the pungent flavor you can use another type of creamy white cheese that you enjoy to flavor the pureed cauliflower, such as Feta, Cotija, Queso Fresco, or Ricotta.

Do you need an immersion blender to make pureed cauliflower?

I used an Immersion Blender (affiliate link) for this recipe, which made it so easy to puree the cauliflower right in the pan I cooked it in. But you can also use a food processor or a hand mixer, or just mash the cauliflower up with a potato masher if you don’t mind it a bit more chunky.

The BEST Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese found on KalynsKitchen.com

How to Make Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese:

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

  1. Cut a large head of cauliflower into small, same size pieces.
  2. Simmer the cauliflower and garlic about 20 minutes on low heat, until it’s quite soft.
  3. Let drain very well. (Don’t rush this or the finished dish will be watery.)
  4. Puree the cauliflower with an Immersion Blender (affiliate link), Food Processor (affiliate link), or small hand mixer until it’s as soft as you’d like it.
  5. This recipe uses the type of creamy goat cheese that comes in a log, although I think it would be tasty with other types of cheese as well. I used about 3 tablespoons of goat cheese and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan.
  6. Stir in the cheeses so they melt into the hot cauliflower, season to taste with salt and fresh ground black pepper, and serve.

Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese shown in serving bowl with spoon.

More Low-Carb Cauliflower Side Dishes:

The BEST Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese found on KalynsKitchen.com
Yield: 6 servings

Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

This Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese is the best recipe I’ve tried for pureed cauliflower; it's amazing!

Ingredients

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

Instructions

  1. Put cauliflower in a pan with enough water to cover, and add garlic and a small amount of salt.
  2. Let cauliflower come to a boil, then lower heat and cook 20 minutes, or until cauliflower is very soft.
  3. 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.)
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Heat 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly so it does not stick to the bottom.
  7. Serve hot, with a little freshly grated Parmesan on top if desired.

Notes

If you have a large head of cauliflower use the full 3 tablespoons of Parmesan and goat cheese. You might want a bit less for a smaller head of cauliflower.

Recipe created by Kalyn with inspiration from South Beach Diet Cauliflower "Mashed Potatoes".

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 85Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 199mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 5g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

Did you make this recipe?

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating (under the PRINT button in the recipe) or share a photo of your results on Instagram! THANKS!

The BEST Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese found on KalynsKitchen.com

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese would be a perfect side dish for any low-carb or Keto eating plan, as well as any phase of the original South Beach Diet. It does have two types of cheese, so I’d serve it with something that’s low in fat if you’re following South Beach.

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Cauliflower Recipes or Side Dishes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This mashed cauliflower recipe that’s flavored with garlic, Parmesan, and goat cheese was first posted in 2006, back in the days when this type of dish was often called “South Beach Mashed Potatoes.” I’ve made it over and over since then. The recipe was last updated with more information in 2023.

Pinterest image of Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese

Share This: