Try this healthy loaded cauliflower casserole. Made with butter, sour cream, chives, cheddar cheese and bacon, it’s the ultimate in low carb comfort food!
A couple of weeks ago I brought you lovely people one of my favorite recipes for mashed cauliflower with celery root and talked about how cauliflower is the unsung hero of the low carb world. We use it for almost everything, don’t we?
I know that I’ve personally roasted cauliflower with bacon and green onions as a side and have pureed it to add body to cream of celery soup. I’ve also seasoned it with exotic Indian spices in a wonderful vegetable masala and I’ve added it to hearty beef curry. One of my favorite ways to enjoy cauliflower is as cauliflower fritters that sub for hash browns. Yum!
Even mainstream bloggers have discovered cauliflower and are making great cauliflower pizzas like this one from Kevin at Closet Cooking. And Lisa from Low Carb Yum uses cauliflower in some of her desserts – chocolate pudding anyone?
You can see that cauliflower can be used for almost any dish. But you, my low carb friends, already know this. You’ve been cauliflower ninjas for years!
For me, it’s the more simple recipes that hit home – like this loaded cauliflower mash. It’s the ultimate in comfort food. If you were one who enjoyed ordering loaded potato skins at Friday’s after work or preferred a loaded baked potato with your steak, this recipe will take you back to the days. At least, it did me!
And those who loved twice-baked potatoes need not mourn an old favorite because this healthy low carb cauliflower tastes so good, I could have called it twice baked cauliflower casserole!
The trick to getting a fluffy cauliflower mash:
- steam instead of boil.
- let it sit uncovered to release some moisture
- drain well before putting it in the food processor
- add the ingredients that make it taste great – like sour cream, cheddar cheese, chives and bacon.
That’s it. Easy, cheesy and delicious!
My kids couldn’t get enough. These are die hard mashed potato haters! This healthy loaded cauliflower was a hit in their book and a win for me!
Each serving of this loaded cauliflower mash has 3 net carbs.
This loaded cauliflower, made with butter, sour cream, chives, cheddar cheese and bacon, is the ultimate in low carb comfort food!
- 1poundcauliflower florettes
- 4ouncessour cream
- 1cupgrated cheddar cheese
- 2slicescooked baconcrumbled
- 2tablespoonssnipped chives
- 3tablespoonsbutter
- 1/4teaspoongarlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
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Cut the cauliflower into florettes and add them to a microwave safe bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of water and cover with cling film. Microwave for 5-8 minutes, depending on your microwave, until completely cooked and tender. Drain the excess water and let sit uncovered for a minute or two. (Alternately, steam your cauliflower the conventional way. You may need to squeeze a little water out of the cauliflower after cooking.)
- Add the cauliflower to a food processor and process until fluffy. Add the butter, garlic powder, and sour cream and process until it resembles the consistency of mashes potatoes. Remove the mashed cauliflower to a bowl and add most of the chives, saving some to add to the top later. Add half of the cheddar cheese and mix by hand. Season with salt and pepper.
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Top the loaded cauliflower with the remaining cheese, remaining chives and bacon. Put back into the microwave to melt the cheese or place the cauliflower under the broiler for a few minutes.
- I visually divide the cauliflower into sixths. Serving size is approximately 1/3-1/2 cup.
Roasted Cauliflower With Bacon and Caramelized Green Onion
Article source: http://www.lowcarbmaven.com/loaded-cauliflower-low-carb-keto/