↑

Scrummy Lane

Quick & easy family friendly recipes

  • Home
  • About & contact
    • Privacy policy for Scrummy Lane
  • Recipe Index
  • Easy dinners
  • Easy desserts
  • Greek recipes

Home » side dishes » Our favourite cheesy roasted cauliflower mashed potatoes

Our favourite cheesy roasted cauliflower mashed potatoes

03 Nov 19

This post may contain affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through them. There is no additional cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

  • Facebook24
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest3376
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Last Updated on 03 Dec 19

An overhead photo of some cheesy cauliflower mashed potatoes in a red baking dish for Pinterest

There are mashed potatoes, and there are THESE cheesy roasted cauliflower mashed potatoes. With slightly nutty and sweet roasted cauliflower, potato and cheese in them (and a bit of yummy thyme), they could well be your new go-to mash recipe!

A small red cast iron pot of cauliflower and potato mashed potatoes garnished with roasted cauliflower

The BEST mashed potatoes!

There aren’t too many recipes that I would call my ‘go-to recipes’. There’s THIS amazing Greek chicken and potatoes that I literally could eat every day of my life, for instance. There’s this easy moussaka which I like to make for guests. And there’s this nothing-short-of-incredible 6-ingredient Swedish chocolate cake, which I have dreams about!

But when it comes to mashed potatoes, THIS roasted cauliflower and potato mash recipe is always the one I turn to.

What’s so great about it? Well, here goes…

  • It’s a mixture of pureed cauliflower AND potato AND cheese. Mashed cauliflower alone can be a bit too runny. Adding a little potato too makes the mash just right.
  • Roasting the cauliflower gives the mash a delicious, slightly nutty and sweet flavour. Yum.
  • You could say this is like a cross between a classic mashed potato and a potato cauliflower puree – a kind of cauliflower cheese mash. It’s super delicious when you eat it with roast meat, vegetables and gravy. I always make it when I have family or guests over for a traditional British roast dinner!
  • You can make it ahead. I sometimes make it the day before. I pour my delicious cauliflower mashed potatoes into some kind of small serving dish with a lid like the one in my photos (affiliate link). When I’m ready to serve up dinner, I simply reheat on medium power in the microwave.
  • You can make it look quite fancy! Save some of the delicious roasted cauliflower florets to sprinkle over the top, and drizzle over a bit of olive oil.
  • Adding some fresh or dried thyme is the icing on the cake!
roasted cauliflower
Roasting the cauliflower gives the mash a slightly sweet and nutty flavour!

What ingredients do you need to make this cauliflower and potato mash?

  • roasted cauliflower
  • boiled potato
  • warm milk infused with fresh or dried thyme
  • cheese and butter (swap for a big drizzle of olive oil if you prefer or for vegan cheese and olive oil if you want to make your mash vegan)
  • salt and pepper to taste

And how do you make cauliflower mash with a food processor?

This delicious cheesy cauliflower mash is super easy to make. All you do is roast cauliflower while boiling a bit of choppped potato (photos 1 and 2). Then you pulse the cauliflower, potato, cheese and a bit of warm herb-infused milk and butter in the food processor (photos 5 to 8). Done!

I usually warm the milk in a small saucepan and add some thyme to infuse with the wonderful flavour. If I’m feeling a bit short on time though I sometimes mix the thyme into the milk and microwave it instead (photo 3)!

Just like this…

How to make roasted cauliflower and potato mash - 8 process photos

You will end up with a mash that is somewhere between classic mashed potatoes and a potato puree. If you’d prefer your cauliflower mash to be a bit thicker, simply add a bit more potato.

Save some of the smallest, crispiest bits of cauliflower for garnishing the top!

The best part is warming the milk with thyme in it on the stove. It’s strangely calming and satisfying, and smells divine!

Pro tips: 1. Don’t over process. If you blend for too long, the mash can become a little too smooth and ‘gloopy’ – at least for my liking! 2. Once you’ve made your impressive looking side dish, you can pop a lid or cover on it and keep it warm in the oven until you’re ready to eat.

FAQ

I don’t have a food processor. Can I still make this cauliflower mash?

Don’t worry if you don’t have a food processor. Mashing and stirring works well too. Just use your potato masher, or even a fork. Your mash might not be quite as smooth, but that’s OK.

Hmmm… butter and cheese… how can I make my cauliflower mash healthier?

Well… there’s only a little bit of butter and cheese in each portion of mash. But if you prefer you can add a big drizzle of olive oil instead of butter.

You could even skip the cheese altogether if you like, or use less of a stronger tasting cheese. Something like parmesan would work really well.

What can I serve with cauliflower and potato mash?

  • Serve it with a roast. Any kind of roasted meat or baked fish, or even a vegetarian alternative like this delicious baked eggplant goes well. I usually serve more roasted vegetables with this meal, too, and maybe some delicious gravy!
  • I sometimes serve it with some good quality sausages. This meal is delicious comfort food either as it is or with a green vegetable on the side.
  • Believe it or not, the taste and texture of this mash reminds me a little of hummus! So if you are feeling brave, why not serve it as a dip with raw vegetables, bread sticks or tortilla chips?
Are these the best mashed potatoes ever? They combine roasted cauliflower with potato and cheese. Delicious!
Cauliflower mash is delicious with sausages!

A word about vegetables

These days, I prefer to buy really good quality, locally grown vegetables. I try to buy organic from my local farmer’s market, but I realise organic vegetables can be expensive!

I get around this by loosely planning what I’m going to cook over the next week so that I only buy what I need and not much gets wasted. Of course this is easier said than done so the system isn’t perfect!

Farmer’s markets are great if you have one close by. Another great option is ordering an organic veg box. If you’re in the UK, the award-winning Riverford is worth a look. You can order seasonal organic veg boxes (plus meat, fish, dairy, recipe boxes and more) of various sizes weekly, fortnightly, or as and when.

The great thing is that their vegetables are on average 20% cheaper than supermarket organic vegetables, and customers say ‘freshness and flavour’ is the main reason they buy from them – so just what we’re looking for!

Not quite what you’re looking for? Try these crispy brussels sprouts with tahini sauce and almonds instead. They’ll be the best brussels sprouts of your life!

More easy potato side dishes

  • If you try one more potato recipe from Scrummy Lane, let it be these amazing Greek potatoes!
  • These crispy smashed potatoes are also Greek style, but ready a little quicker than the potatoes above. You can even make them in your air fryer!
  • Looking for a show stopping potato side? Try this potato bake with bacon, or these creamier garlic parmesan potatoes (aka dauphinoise potatoes).
  • If you’re looking for something a little different, try these mini garlic and parmesan hasselback potatoes!
Cheesy roasted cauliflower and potato mash garnished with roasted cauliflower and olive oil in a red dish

IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, LET ME KNOW HOW YOU GET ON BY LEAVING A COMMENT AND RATING BELOW… OR TAKE A PHOTO AND TAG @scrummylane ON INSTAGRAM!

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST AND YOUTUBE.

An overhead shot of some roasted cauliflower mashed potatoes in a small red dish garnished with cauliflower florets
Print
5 from 1 vote

Cheesy roasted cauliflower mashed potatoes

Mash made with delicious roasted cauliflower and potatoes and cheese. These are the best mashed potatoes I’ve ever tasted!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine British
Keyword mashed potatoes, roasted cauliflower, winter
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 as a side dish (or 2 to 3 served with sausages!)
Calories 226.05kcal
Author Helen

Equipment (affiliate links)

food processor
potato masher
small baking dish with lid

Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click button below for grams & ml)

  • 1 medium cauliflower cut into florets
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (for roasting)
  • 1 medium potato peeled and chopped into small chunks.
  • 4 tablespoons grated cheese (or 1 handful – any strong cheese e.g. strong cheddar)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ⅓ cup milk
  • 2 thyme sprigs (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
  • salt & black pepper
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 220C/420F.
  • Spread the cauliflower out on a baking tray in one layer and drizzle with the olive oil. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cauliflower is golden and almost caramelised.
  • At the same time, boil the potato chunks until they are soft (about 15 minutes). Also warm the milk in a small saucepan with one of the thyme sprigs or the dried thyme.
  • Put aside a small handful of the roasted cauliflower florets. Then put the rest into the bowl of a food processor and blend with a bit of the warm milk (thyme sprig removed!).
  • Add the potato, butter, cheese and as much of the rest of the milk as you need to blend to a smooth puree.
  • Finally, grind in plenty of salt and pepper and blend for a couple more seconds.
  • Scrape the mash into a nice serving dish. Top with the reserved cauliflower florets, a sprinkle of fresh thyme leaves (if using fresh) and a drizzle of olive oil.

Notes

Making your mash ahead

If you cover your finished dish of mash, it keeps warm in the oven really well until you’re ready to eat.
You can even make it the day before and take it along to a party/event. Just warm it through in a microwave just before serving (try 3.5 minutes at 80% power). 

Cheese

This is ‘cheesy’ enough for us, but go ahead and add more cheese if you want your mash to be super cheesy. 
Alternatively, swap the 4 tablespoons of ordinary grated cheese e.g. cheddar for something stronger like parmesan. I’d use just 2 tablespoons of parmesan, though. 
To make this cauliflower mash vegan, you can even skip the cheese and butter altogether and just add a big drizzle of olive oil instead. Yum!

How to serve this cauliflower mashed potatoes

I sometimes serve this with sausages, vegetables (fresh or frozen) and gravy. It’s also great with grilled or roasted meats or fish, a casserole, or any other dish you’d usually serve mashed potatoes with. 

Nutrition

Calories: 226.05kcal | Carbohydrates: 14.98g | Protein: 6.97g | Fat: 16.62g | Saturated Fat: 6.85g | Cholesterol: 26.01mg | Sodium: 160.14mg | Potassium: 676.58mg | Fiber: 4.28g | Sugar: 3.82g | Vitamin A: 316.8IU | Vitamin C: 76.16mg | Calcium: 131.86mg | Iron: 2.48mg
Follow me on Pinterest!Follow @scrummylane to pin more quick and easy recipes for later

Want more recipes like this? Join my email list!

By Helen all recipes, Baby & kid friendly, Christmas, gluten free, healthy, Helen's favorites, mid-week, Seasonal, side dishes, vegetarian, Winter

Comments

  1. Janice says

    03 Nov 19 at 8:23 pm

    5 stars
    This couldn’t have dropped into my inbox at a better time! I ‘ll be making this to accompany roast chicken today.

    Reply
    • Helen says

      04 Nov 19 at 8:12 am

      I’m so excited to hear this, Janice! I really hope you enjoyed it! 🙂

      Reply
  2. the hungry mum says

    06 Nov 17 at 5:09 pm

    What a fab idea! I reckon this would taste ten types of amazing. Cheese is my religion 😉

    Reply
    • Helen says

      08 Nov 17 at 9:32 pm

      Thanks, Hungry Mum! Hope you give it a go!

      Reply
« Older Comments

Trackbacks

  1. 49 + 9 Thanksgiving Side Dishes Recipe Ideas - Global Aesthetic | Latest Health says:
    09 Nov 18 at 11:16 pm

    […] Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower Mash from Scrummy Lane […]

    Reply
  2. Cozy Winter Vegetable Dishes | Mom2.comMOM 2.0 says:
    01 Mar 17 at 2:05 pm

    […] Photo credit: Scrummy Lane […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


Don't expect to find anything fussy or complicated here. Just QUICK, EASY & (mostly!) HEALTHY recipes from the Mediterranean and beyond. ENJOY! READ MORE >>


Trending!

A close up of crockpot chicken gnocchi soup in a white bowl

Easy crockpot chicken gnocchi soup (Olive Garden copycat, with pressure cooker version!)

6-ingredient gooey Swedish chocolate cake (kladdkaka)

6-ingredient gooey Swedish chocolate cake (kladdkaka)

I rarely claim anything to be 'the best' but these really are THE BEST GREEK POTATOES!

The best Greek potatoes (with a video)

Easy 'magic' lemon pudding (only 5 ingredients)

Easy magic lemon pudding (5 ingredients, no eggs)

Greek yogurt blueberry muffins - a light, airy and delicious recipe!

Greek yogurt blueberry muffins (low sugar recipe)

A different sort of crunchy fries ... halloumi fries! You won't be disappointed ... just don't forget the sour cream and sweet chili sauce for dipping!

Crispy halloumi fries (and dips!)

In season!

Someone serving themselves from a dish of crispy brussels sprouts with tahini sauce and almonds

Crispy brussels sprouts with tahini sauce and almonds

Greek Christmas honey cookies. You won't be able to eat just one. Delicious!

Greek Christmas honey cookies (melomakarona)

A Thai chicken and butternut squash curry with peanuts, coriander & poppadoms, with a spoon in it

Perfect Thai chicken and butternut squash curry (stove top, slow cooker or pressure cooker)

Sticky apple ginger cake bars - a much simpler alternative to traditional Christmas cake!

Sticky apple and ginger cake

More seasonal recipes

search

Subscribe!

Get all the latest recipes straight to your inbox

By submitting your details, you agree to Scrummy Lane's Privacy Policy

categories

Copyright ©2019, Scrummy Lane. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs