Cauliflower puree is a dish in which cauliflower has been blended or mashed, typically along with seasonings and other ingredients. While cauliflower puree can be both a delicious as well as nutritious addition to anyone's diet plan, diabetics and low-carbohydrate dieters often make use of mashed cauliflower as a substitute for mashed potatoes. As cauliflower is a relatively bland ingredient, there are numerous variations on recipes recipes for this dish, often with very different flavor profiles. Cauliflower puree may also be used as an ingredient in other dishes, such as soups or even savory pancakes.
Despite their very different appearances, cauliflower and broccoli are actually of the same species. Both are cruciferous vegetables and are well regarded for their nutritional value. These vegetables are considered to be highly nutritious and are low in calories as well as starches. Unlike broccoli, however, cauliflower does not have a particularly distinctive flavor, which makes it a good stand-in for potatoes or rice. The blandness of the vegetable means that clever cooks can prepare a cauliflower puree with typical potato pairings, such as sour cream and butter.
For individuals who are concerned about reducing their calorie intake and particularly the amount of carbohydrates in their diets, cauliflower represents an opportunity to eat a firm, bland vegetable that is more nutritious and far less starchy than potatoes. For example, 100 grams of white potatoes contains 94 calories and 21 grams of carbohydrates, while the same amount of cauliflower has only 25 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrates. Even with the addition of caloric ingredients such as butter or cream, a mashed cauliflower will have far fewer calories than a similarly prepared bowl of mashed potatoes.
A basic cauliflower puree can be made by simply steaming cauliflower until tender and then puréeing it in a food processor or blender. For a more substantial dish, many people will add ingredients such as buttermilk, olive oil, or butter. In addition to these fats, some people will also add cheese as well as herbs and spices. When blended with additional ingredients, cauliflower puree can become a very tasty side dish. In some cases, people are able to use cauliflower puree as a substitute for mashed potatoes and other starches in recipes. For example, a cauliflower puree can be used in place of mashed potatoes in potato pancakes. The puree could also be used as a low-starch base in cream soups.