Cauliflower White Bean Puree
Updated Jul 14, 2021, Published Jan 12, 2019
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Cauliflower White Bean Puree is the perfect stand-in for decadent mashed potatoes! Cream cheese makes it rich and creamy while white beans add that touch of thickening and body you crave in a mashed potato substitute–all while keeping it lower-carb! Makes the perfect side dish for Italian Meatloaf or Beef Braciole!
“This recipe is the bomb! Even the few leftovers were delicious. We give it five stars!”
My husband and I love decadent mashed potatoes but we also love a good, slightly more healthful substitute! In all honesty, it’s tough to make mashed potatoes for two people. The peeling of potatoes, the boiling, the mashing? All of that is why we usually reserve mashed potatoes for holidays.
But this! Cauliflower White Bean Puree is perfect for a small household!
Friends, this Cauliflower White Bean puree has got it goin’ on!
I’ve been doing cauliflower purees for my low-carb clients for forever.
For them, I usually do a simple combination of cauliflower, some onion and garlic simmered in chicken broth, drained well then pureed. If you don’t get all the liquid out, you can end up with something that resembles a thick cauliflower soup.
This Cauliflower White Bean Puree is light but still has all the creaminess of decadent mashed potatoes. White beans, or cannellini beans add a bit of healthful starch so the possibility of thick cauliflower soup happening is much less.
How to make Cauliflower White Bean Puree:
- Start with two medium heads of white cauliflower.
- Cut the cauliflower into large florets. Add the onion, garlic, white beans and chicken broth.
- Simmer covered part of the way and uncovered the other so that much of liquid evaporates and concentrates for flavor.
- Drain off any excess liquid.
- Puree with an immersion blender.
Mmmwaaaahhhh! You’re going to love the cheesy flavor, the creaminess and the consistency that mimics mashed potatoes!
For another amazing mashed potato substitute try:
And these great cauliflower recipes:
- Cauliflower Welsh Rarebit
- Cauliflower Antipasto Salad
- Roasted Cauliflower with Black Olive Pangrattato
- Barley Pilaf with Roasted Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Parmigiana
Cauliflower White Bean Puree
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 medium heads cauliflower, cut into large florets
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 can (14.5-ounce) chicken broth, or vegetable broth
- 1 can (15-ounce) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 4 ounces cream cheese, (1/2 package)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Salt and white pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Combine cauliflower, onions, garlic, chicken broth and cannellini beans in a Dutch oven or small soup pot.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover slightly and cook 10-15 minutes or until cauliflower begins to soften.
- Uncover and break up the cauliflower as much as you can with a wooden spoon or other utensil.
- Continue simmering uncovered over low heat until much of the liquid has evaporated, being careful the liquid doesn’t completely boil out and the cauliflower beings to burn.
- Add cream cheese and butter.
- Puree with an immersion blender until smooth.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Simmer covered part of the way and uncovered the other so that much of the liquid evaporates and concentrates for flavor.
- Can be made 1-2 days ahead. Reheat in the microwave.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
I don’t know who woke up one morning and said “l think I’ll mash cauliflower and white beans together and call it a side for beef”, and I have no idea why this recipe stayed in my head, but I’m so thankful! This recipe is the bomb! Even the few leftovers were delicious. We give it five stars!
Hi, Ronda, Thanks so very much and so happy you love this recipe! 🙂
This is delicious. What do you think about freezing it? The frozen mashed cauliflower from the supermarket never tastes all that good.
Hi, Michael, Thanks so much for your question and I’m glad you enjoyed! I freeze cauliflower mash all the time. It tends to get a little watery, but the beans will help reduce that in this recipe. Thanks again, and please let me know how it works for you.
I make cauliflower mashed potatoes all the time. However I steam my cauliflower to prevent it from getting watery. I am looking forward to trying your recipe for something different.
Hi, Sharon, Thanks so much and hope you enjoy! You might also give my Celery Root Puree a try: https://www.fromachefskitchen.com/celery-root-puree/