A low-calorie, tasty alternative to mashed potatoes is mashed cauliflower. I actually think they taste better although you may not be able to tell the difference by just looking at them.

Since going to a primarily whole food plant-based diet there are only a few things I really miss. One of them is the butter on and sour cream in mashed potatoes. After watching everyone at Thanksgiving scarf them down I decided I had to pacify myself with a big batch of mashed cauliflower. They tasted great and had the added benefit of making me feel a tiny bit superior for having resisted the potatoes.

Seriously, Cauliflower is full of nutrients — Vitamin C, K, Folate and Choline — low in calories and rich in taste! So good that even cauliflower haters are fooled into eating it. A great all-round side dish or in my case a complete meal.

Mashed Cauliflower

1. Clean one large head of cauliflower and cut or break into small pieces
2. Add to deep pot and steam for 20 minutes (you want the cauliflower soft, but not drenched in water)
3. Drain if necessary and reserve water
4. Put drained cauliflower in the food processor and add:
   1. 1/2 teaspoon salt
   2. Add oil — either 1/4 cup cashew cheese OR 1 Tablespoon olive oil
   3. Pepper to taste
   4. OPTIONAL:  add 1/2 t crushed garlic
   5. OPTIONAL:  add 1/4 cup onions
5. Puree until the consistency is like that of mashed potatoes; you may have to add a little of the reserved water

I am willing to bet that if you try them, you will like them!