2010 is an incredible year for cauliflower in the Northeast. Whereas last year’s greenmarkets produced a too-short supply of lackluster heads, this season finds nearly every farmstand piled with enormous snow white puffs in collars of delicate green.
 
While I’ve offered ideas for roasted, pickled, and raw cauliflower in these pages before–inspired by Sixpoint brewer Shane Welch’s love for the stuff–the encroachment of certain food-oriented holidays has had me thinking of cauliflower mash.
 
No, I’m not a low-carber nor a South Beach Dieter (and you’ll never see fat-free half-and-half or light sour cream enter my kitchen): mashed/pureed cauliflower can be a great dish in its own right, not just as a “healthy alternative” to potatoes.
 
 
Though clearly allied with the South Beach camp, Kalyn’s Kitchen offers up a tasty, cheesy take on cauliflower mash: minced garlic, heavy cream, goat cheese, and Parmesan make for a rich, savory side.
 
Kitchen Parade ups the nutty flavor by mashing cauliflower with its cruciferous cousin turnips, spiking the dish with Tabasco for extra zip; and, always a bonus during the holidays, this side can easily be made ahead and reheated in the oven.
 
Diet Dessert 'N' Dogs credits Mark Bittman for inspiring this dairy-free puree of cauliflower, parsnips, and white beans. The vegetables are roasted together with garlic and plenty of extra virgin olive oil, making this vegan option flavorful and decadent.  
 
 
And finally, Feed The Sink makes a meal out of the mash with a buttery wine-braised mushroom “compote”; while this recipe ups the umami with a topping of Parmesan curls and bacon, the latter could easily be left out to make this comforting fall meal vegetarian-friendly.
 
So don’t think of cauliflower mash as a dieter’s weak imitation of those ultra-buttery heaps of holiday spuds! Instead, it’s a dish replete with possibilities: a simple, tasty way to make the most of this health-promoting autumn vegetable. What's your favorite way to enjoy it?
 
[Top cauliflower photo from Clayirving on Flickr]

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