Better Mashed Potatoes

20 min prep time
15 min cook time
10servings
Recipe by Robyn Webb, MS, LN Photo by Stock image
A bowl of mashed potatoes and cauliflower

How to Make Better Mashed Potatoes

The potato is the star of this comfort-food side dish, but a nonstarchy vegetable plays a surprising supporting role. The result is light and luscious. 

Smart Swaps: The original mashed potato recipe (serving size: 1/2 cup) had 130 calories, 8 g fat (4.7 g sat. fat, 0.3 g trans fat), 15 g carbohydrate, and 770 mg sodium. *

Mashing options: Put the mixture through a ricer or a food processor for a smooth mash. Mash with a potato masher for a coarse mash. 

Veggie Helper: Cauliflower, which has less starch than potato, helps cut in half the carbohydrate grams in this dish. 

Less Fat: Fat-free buttermilk adds richness without the fat calories of the butter and whole milk in the original recipe. 

More Flavor: I used less salt overall but swapped in a small amount of Parmesan for a flavor boost.

20 min prep time
15 min cook time
10servings
1/2 cup
Print Recipe >

Step-By-Step Instructions:

  1. In a large saucepan, place the potato, garlic, and cauliflower and enough water to cover. Bring to boiling, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the potato and cauliflower are tender, about 15 minutes.

  2. Drain and add the vegetables and garlic back to the pot. Cover the pot with a kitchen towel and put the lid over the towel. Let stand for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and towel. This process helps to dry the vegetables so they mash better.

  3. Add the buttermilk, cheese, olive oil, butter, salt, and pepper. Mash* just until the ingredients are lightly combined. If desired, garnish with fresh snipped chives.

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Nutrition facts

10 Servings

  • Serving Size
    1/2 cup
  • Amount per serving Calories 60
  • Total Fat 2.5g
    • Saturated Fat 1g
  • Cholesterol 5mg
  • Sodium 280mg
  • Total Carbohydrate 8g
    • Dietary Fiber 2g
    • Total Sugars 2g
  • Protein 2g
  • Potassium 264mg
  • Phosphorous 50mg
Ingredients
black pepper
1/2 tsp
salt
1 tsp
butter (unsalted butter)
2 tsp
olive oil
1 tbsp
Parmesan cheese (grated)
2 tbsp
low-fat buttermilk
1/3 cup
head cauliflower (separated into small florets, discard core and stem)
1
garlic (peeled and left whole)
5 clove
russet or baking potatoes (peeled and cut into 2-inch cubes)
7 oz

Reviews & Ratings

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4
Overall Rating
Showing 4 of 6 Results

Recommended

I am cooking for myself and someone with Pre-diabetes so I am looking to reduce carbs without totally eliminating foods we both love. I tried this and I am sure it is just us, we hate cauliflower. I thought being a small amount no one would notice but it was horrible. Hopefully since we don't have potatoes often he can have a small amount of fully regular potatoes.

Recommended

I recommend the recipe, but I won't waste food! Discard cauliflower? Do a spicy pickle, or pizza crust. Trim a bit and chop it up, simmer and drain well, then mash it by hand or in the blender or food processor. Or rice it. I like to tuck it away in the freezer, flat and airtight in a zip bag. It defrosts quickly. Soups, casseroles, salad dressings, season it and and put it in a layered dip, etc. But don't limit it to lunch and dinner! It can hide out in cookies and other baked goods. New recipes for cauliflower are popping up online. Have fun with it! Please don't discard perfectly good food.




















Not recommended

Russet potatoes? I don't think so. Its common knowledge that Yukon Gold potatoes are MUCH creamier than Russets, so you can get delicious mouth feel without using an extreme amount of butter. Do better.
No, I don’t recommend

Recommended

I did cut back a little on the cauliflower. I used maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of the head of cauliflower. I also mashed and squished out as much water as I could to the cauliflower, other than that I followed all the other ingredients and directions. Came out perfect for us. My family enjoyed it. I will make this again.