Cottage Cheese Cauliflower Mash (High Protein, Low Carb)

October 30, 2024

1

Published: Oct 30, 2024 by Cathy Chenard · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Indulge in this creamy, low-carb cottage cheese cauliflower mash—a high-protein, easy-to-make side dish that rivals classic mashed potatoes and is perfect for fall and holiday meals!

Cottage cheese cauliflower mash in a bowl topped with butter and chives.

On cooler days, there’s nothing quite as comforting as a creamy mash with meat or fish. And this cauliflower mash with cottage cheese offers a low-carb, high-protein twist without sacrificing the classic creamy texture of mashed potatoes.

Cottage cheese adds a nice, creamy texture and boost of protein to the mash, while garlic and grated Parmesan bring richness and depth of flavor. Topped with a dollop of butter and fresh chives, this delicious mash could easily rival regular mashed potatoes!

This easy cottage cheese cauliflower mash requires just a handful of ingredients and a few simple steps. It’s a healthy side dish for fall or holiday meals when you want to indulge while keeping things light.

Ingredients

Cauliflower: We use a medium head of organic cauliflower for this recipe. Since this recipe calls for cauliflower florets, you’ll remove the stem and cut the cauliflower into smaller florets.

Low-fat cottage cheese: We replace the typical milk or sour cream with a low-fat cottage cheese (2% milkfat) to make this mash healthier and higher in protein. That said, you could also use a full-fat cottage cheese.

Fresh garlic: This mash get a boost of flavor garlic! We recommend 2 to 3 garlic cloves, depending on your preference.

Grated parmesan: Grated parmesan is another must in terms of flavor. Freshly grated is always better, but whatever you have on hand.

Salt: Salt is a must since cauliflower can be quite bland. We generously salt the water for boiling. When blending all the ingredients together, we start with a quarter teaspoon of salt, then add more to taste. It’s important to get the salt just right. You can also add freshly cracked black pepper, too.

How to Make

STEP 1: Remove cauliflower stem and cut head into smaller florets. In a medium-size pot, add water and bring to a boil. Season water with ½ teaspoon salt and add florets and whole garlic cloves and cook for 10 minutes.

STEP 2: After cauliflower is done cooking, drain cauliflower and garlic in a colander. Dab boiled cauliflower with paper towels to remove excess water.

Drying and removing excess water from boiled cauliflower

STEP 3: Place florets and garlic cloves in a food processor or blender along with cottage cheese, freshly grated parmesan and salt. Pulse until smooth. Taste and add more salt as desired.

STEP 4: Return mash back to pan to heat to desired temperature. Top with a dollop of butter and fresh chopped chives (optional). Serve immediately and enjoy!

Ingredients in a food processor, pulsed until smooth.

Finished cottage cheese cauliflower mash in a bowl topped with butter and chives.

How to Store

Allow the mash to cool completely and transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat in microwave or over stovetop on low heat.

More High Protein Sides

If you try this recipe, we would love to hear your feedback! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag @lowcarbsimplified on your photo of this recipe on Instagram or Facebook. We hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

Recipe