GARLIC LOVER'S MASHED CAULIFLOWER | Dolly and Oatmeal

i feel like we’ve hit somewhat of a stride with our day-to-day. i just cracked the code on getting dinner on the table for all of us at the same time, which has been a job in it of itself since amesy eats a different dinner than us (small steps!). and while there’s more meltdowns and overly emotional outbursts, amesy is becoming such a little person and it’s just been the biggest joy to witness. he’s recently been talking and chatting, and describing his little world with such enthusiasm (and intensity at times). i couldn’t be more thankful, especially this time of year that i get to call him mine.

part of why i’ve been trying to get us all to eat together is to get amesy more interested in different food since he can be apprehensive in trying new things. that’s where this recipe comes in. it’s easy, a cinch to make, and is so delicious. your toddler will likely love it, and yes, it’s perfect for your holiday table, too! basically, it checks all the boxes.

it’s really just a basic cauliflower whip made a bit more vegan/special diet-friendly, and whipped up with roasted garlic and garlic salt for a garlic lover’s dream of creamy goodness. it’s a riff off of the mashed potatoes my mom used to make with the biggest difference there being that.she used onion salt. but she would whip them so creamy, with little-to-no lumps, so that’s what i was going for here. with all the carb-loading this holiday season this dish is quite the welcome.

biggest holiday hugs going out to you! forever thankful for this community!

xo’s!

garlic lovers mashed cauliflower | v & gf

not all vegan butter is created equal. i tend to use miyoko’s, but earth balance is pretty good too. just keep an eye out for how much salt the butter contains (if any) this will be an indicator of how much salt you use in the recipe.
i call for garlic salt, if you don’t have it, see below for the recipe*

print the recipe!

| serves 4 |

1 head garlic
avocado oil
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk, at room temp
3 tablespoons vegan butter
1-1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
fresh ground pepper
1 tablespoon chopped herbs (i used a mix of sage, thyme, and rosemary)
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
extra virgin olive oil (optional)

*garlic salt

mix together 1 tablespoon fine sea salt, with 1 teaspoon garlic powder. store in a lidded container at room temperature for up to 3 months.

method

preheat oven to 400°F. slice the top of the garlic to expose the garlic cloves. place the garlic head on foil, and spray or drizzle with the oil to coat. fold it loosely to make a packet. cook until the garlic cloves are tender, roughly 30-40 minutes. remove from the oven and let cool.
place cauliflower florets into the basket of a steamer. bring about 1-inch of water to a boil and set the steamer inside, cover and cook until very tender, about 12-15 minutes.
while the cauliflower is steaming, get your other ingredients ready. place 2 roasted garlic cloves, milk, butter, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, and pepper into the container of a food processor fitted with a metal “s” blade.
carefully transfer the cauliflower to the food processor and blend until creamy and fluffy, scraping down the sides as needed, about 45 seconds. taste the mashed cauli, add more roasted garlic, garlic salt as needed, and pulse once more to combine.
place the mashed cauliflower in a serving bowl and sprinkle with the herbs and a few drizzles of olive oil (if using). serve hot.