Yule Dinner Recipe: Mashed Roasted Cauliflower
Every year I make a big Yule dinner for us. I'm kind of a foodie-ish person, so I do things a little fancy. This year we had roast beef, which I put in the sous vide for 24 hours, then roasted in the oven for about 15 minutes to get the proper crust (makes the beef suuuuuper tender). I also made brussels sprouts fried with bacon, gravy, and Yorkshire puddings.*
However, we don't do potatoes anymore because The Wife is diabetic, and combining puds and potatoes isn't a Good Idea. So instead, I usually make mashed cauliflower. I used to steam them in the Instant Pot**, mash them with butter and cheese and call it a day. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad, but it was still a bit on the watery side. Passable and tasted good, but not Perfect.
But this year, friends, I tried a thing and I will be making mashed cauliflower this way forever!
I roasted the cauliflower first, and my gods! So amazing. So much so that The Awesome Wife told, nay demanded, that I must share this recipe far and wide for all and yon to enjoy!
So, here ya go:
Ingredients:
- 500 g of frozen cauliflower (or fresh, if you want)
- about 40 g of butter
- milk
- shredded cheese to taste (I recommend something on the mild side, but definitly NOT mozzarella! You want something like gruyere or a mild chedder.)
Instructions:
- Turn on the oven to 230 C (about 450 F)
- Put your cauliflower on a cookie sheet or whatever roasting thingo you have. Make sure it's one layer.
- Put in the oven for 30-45 minutes, or until there's browning on the cauliflower and the cauliflower's shrunk by half. (This is the important bit, really.)
- In a bowl, put the pat of butter, and when the cauliflower is done, add the cauliflower to the bowl and let the butter melt. (Make sure it's a decent sized bowl.)
- Using an immersion (aka stick) blender, blend the cauliflower and butter until it's smooth. This doesn't take long.
- Add shredded cheese to the mix. Mix with a fork until it comes together. The mix will be a little stiff. Add milk a tiny bit at a time until the mix is more proper "mashed potato" consistancy. Feel free to add salt and pepper here if you want.
That's it! This makes enough for 2 people, but if you want more, just double or triple the recipe.
Now, because I'm a dang adult, and have fulfilled my Wife's request, I'm going to go and watch Discovery with my Awesome Wife while enjoying a tasty non-alcoholic adult beverage. There may even be leftover puds with cream and sugar free maple syrup later. Because, again, I'm an adult and I do what I want. :)
Blessed Yule to all those who celebrate it! Hope your day has been merry, and your night too!
*aka Puds. I always have the Awesome Wife check them and declare them proper Puds, because She is British and I wouldn't want to offend her on Yule.
** aka The Best Kitchen Appliance Ever Made. I will die on this hill.