Garlic Mashed Caulfilower/Mashed 'Faux'tatoes

I wanted to come up with a side for my 'Almond Crusted Tofu Parmesan' dish. The chicken parmesan usually served in restaurants, usually comes with a side of mashed potatoes. Now, although mashed potatoes would have been a perfectly comforting side, it would take away the claim of the dish being healthy and guilt free. So, I decided to healthify the mashed potatoes and make a 'faux'tato version of it using cauliflower. I've made a pretty basic version of mashed cauliflower, but all the variations that are out there for mashed potatoes you can incorporate in this recipe.

Chop the cauliflower into bite sized pieced. I have used both the white florets and the stems, excluding just the light green stems and leaves. Place the chopped cauliflower and the garlic cloves in the steamer and steam until soft. Remove, blot out any extra moisture using a paper towel. Don't blanch the cauliflower in boiling water, as it would result in water retention and make your mashed cauliflower runny.

Place the steamed cauliflower and garlic(while still warm) in a bowl along with the butter, ricotta cheese and greek yogurt. Using an immersion blender, mash this mixture to the desired consistency adding milk as needed. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle chopped scallions, and serve!

Verdict: I was skeptical about how this would taste, but truly speaking I would have believed it if it was said to be mashed potatoes. The garlic adds a wonderful flavor and the ricotta and yogurt add protein as well as a tang to the dish. Creamy and dreamy, this is one side I was glad I paired with the tofu.

Sending this to the following events:

- Jagruti's Gain Popularity event

- Spotlight: Show your Best Creation, event series by Ria

- Kids Delight - 5 Ingredients or Less, event series by Srivalli.

- Healthy me Healthy US event @ Mharo Rajasthan Recipes

- Easy to Prepare in 15 minutes at Aathidhyam