Chopped chives

Roasted Cauliflower Mash {Paleo, Keto, Whole30}

November 20, 2018
Course

Let me preface this by saying, there is NOTHING wrong with mashed potatoes. My mashed potatoes are the reason that my husband and I are married. HAHA! But seriously, ask him why he married me and chances are the response that you’ll get will be related to my mashed potatoes. They are near and dear to his heart! Mine too!

However, my husband and I have found that we feel best sticking to a fairly low-carb paleo lifestyle. Every now and then, we still drive into a big bowl of buttery mashed potatoes. We just don’t do it TOO often as they are definitely a “food with no bounds” for us…and we can’t stop eating them.

We still always want something similar to mashed potatoes to serve with beef tips and gravy, or to put on top of shepherd’s pie. Mashed potatoes are life and we just needed a good substitute!

I tried multiple variations on this recipe and so many were just too soupy for us. They were not bad by ANY means, just a little too soft and sloppy – not exactly what you want to pour gravy over.

…Then I made these! They took extra time to roast, but they were so worth it! The flavor and consistency – even with tons of butter added – WAS PHENOMENAL. I don’t think I can make any other cauliflower mash ever again!

So, if you’re looking to impress some friends with a healthy, low-carb take on a comfort food favorite, make this Roasted Cauliflower Mash. You won’t regret it!

Personally, I like to double up this recipe so I have plenty of leftovers for the next couple days…or if I find cauliflower on sale that I have to use up – I can’t help myself, I buy it all! This recipe helps to use it up and NEVER goes to waste!

Print Recipe
Roasted Cauliflower Mash {Paleo, Keto, Whole30}
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Passive Time 5 minutes
Servings
servings
Ingredients
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Passive Time 5 minutes
Servings
servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Rinse and clean the head of cauliflower.
  3. Remove leaves and lower portion of the stalk from the head of cauliflower. You can keep a portion of the stalk to roast. You're going to puree it up anyways! I like to trim only 1-1 1/2" off the bottom, at most.
  4. Chop cauliflower into florets. Try to keep them all the same size so that they roast equally. I chop them a little larger than bite-sized. If you want them to roast quicker, cut them smaller.
  5. With a paper towel, pat the cauliflower pieces to make sure they are fairly dry. This helps them to roast instead of steam in the oven.
  6. Toss the cauliflower pieces in a large mixing bowl with oil to coat.
  7. Spread cauliflower onto a large baking pan lined with parchment paper. (easy clean up!) Make sure they are spread out and not touching much.
  8. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the cauliflower is very tender. It's ok if some pieces are a little overdone. That will give the mash flavor!
  9. To a food processor or high-powdered blender, add the cauliflower pieces, butter, milk, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Blend until smooth. I start with 2 tbsp of milk and 1 tsp of salt and adjust the taste and consistency after that.
  10. Transfer the mash to a bowl and mix in fresh chives or finely chopped green onions, if desired!

Smoky Jalapeño Bacon Potato Salad

May 24, 2018

Potato salad is just one of those dishes that scream summertime and cookouts! It’s just a total classic – who doesn’t love a good potato?

I love putting new spins on the classic, and this week, I bought way too many jalapeños so I needed to use them up! When in doubt, throw jalapeños in every dish you make! 😉 That’s basically the motto that my husband wishes I’d live by every day!

…my motto: throw bacon in every dish that I make!

This Smoky Jalapeño Bacon Potato Salad is the best of both worlds – you get a little heat from the jalapeños and smokey flavor from the bacon! If bacon wasn’t enough, we paired it with some smoked turkey thighs and smoked pulled pork the other night for dinner. It was PERFECT! This summer is definitely going to be the summer of the smoker, and I am not ashamed to admit that at all!

We got it for Christmas this last year and are obsessed with it! Do any of you have a smoker? What’s been your favorite thing to smoke in it?

I’m always looking for some inspiration for unique things to try out for the next go at the smoker! Let me know your favorites in the comments below!

Print Recipe
Smokey Jalapeño Bacon Potato Salad
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. In a large pot of boiling water over medium heat, cook chopped potatoes (I left the peels on - feel free to remove them if you'd like!) for about 13 minutes or until the pieces are just barely tender. You don't want the pieces to fall apart - so keep an eye on them!
  2. While the potatoes are cooking, remove the skin from the onion and shred the onion into a bowl. You can use a regular sized grater or a very fine one - depending on your preference.
  3. To the bowl, mix in remaining ingredients, except for the bacon pieces and eggs.
  4. Once the potatoes have finished cooking, drain the water from them.
  5. Let them cool for just a couple minutes, and then mix them into your mayo mixture.
  6. Finally, stir in the bacon pieces and hard-boiled eggs. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate it for later!