Creamy Beany Cauliflower Mash with Parmesan

Creamy Cauliflower, Bean and Parmesan Mash

Looking for real comfort food that won’t leave you feeling a bit meh after?? What about this: Creamy, beany, comforting, high protein umami-packed mash? Made from just cauliflower, beans and a mountain of grated parmesan. Cauliflower gets a lot of stick thanks to the ~2016 cauliflower pizza craze, but this is so good! Yes compared to regular or sweet potato mash, it is lower in carbohydrates but higher in protein and fibre. However, that doesn’t make it ‘better for you’ or ‘healthier’, it’s just different. And as Will Ferrel says in Kicking and Screaming ‘You're both better different... in a different but better way.’

Word of warning, we had this with a bean stew but for our stomachs, this was just too much bean firbe in one go! So from now on we will be having it with poached eggs and ketchup, veggie sausages and gravy or tofu katsu curry.

When I say lots of black pepper, I mean LOTS! Did you know black pepper is also known as King of the Spices?? It is not surprising given that it can help the absorption of turmeric, and is high in fibre, antioxidants, vitamin K and vitamin A?  A superhero spice, and it’s just the level of heat that I can handle!

Ingredients

1 head of Cauliflower

1 tin of Butter beans (or any white bean!)

50g Parmesan or any other hard cheese you prefer

Lots of black pepper and a little salt to taste

Method

Boil the kettle. Break the cauliflower into chunks, cutting any large florets in half. Include as much of the stalk as you can to reduce waste.

Pop into a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid.

Pour over the boiling water until halfway up the pan and pop the lid on. Simmer over medium heat for 15-20 minutes until the cauliflower florets are cooked through and soft. Drain well.

Turn off the heat and put the cauliflower back in the pan.

Drain the beans and rinse them with water and drain well again. Pour them into the saucepan.

Grate over the parmesan and lots of black pepper.

Using a hand-held stick blender, blend until it’s a texture you like. I like a little chunky. Mix to ensure it is all well combined.

Taste and season if needed.