Instant Pot Cauliflower Mash

Instant Pot cauliflower mash with purple cauliflower in a pressure cooker or Ninja Foodi is packed with a ton of flavor, creamy, and tastes like mashed potatoes but a better low carb choice.

Tell me this naturally purple Instant Pot cauliflower mash isn’t totally cool! I will tell you that if your kids aren’t really fans of vegetables, I bet they will try these!! Special thanks goes out to Kitchen Deluxe for sponsoring this post, it’s one of our favorite Instant Pot recipes for beginners. (affiliate links present)

Ninja Foodi Mashed Cauliflower Recipe

You can make it in a Crockpot Express or as an easy Ninja Foodi recipe as well. All these pots basically work the same. You just need the high pressure function and a basket to hold the vegetable so it doesn’t sit in the water.

You can use any color your store offers, it doesn’t have to be purple. White is just as delicious. This cauliflower recipe is only just a fun vegetable side dish but it’s really tasty too. They’re rich, creamy, and put a smile on everyone’s face in our house. 

We will share here how to make Instant Pot mashed cauliflower, how to cook a whole head of cauliflower in your multi cooker, as well as a cheesy version I’m addicted to. You can use your Ninja Foodi for any of these as well.

What does mashed cauliflower taste like?

While cauliflower is a mild tasting vegetable, it doesn’t have the same neutral flavor you get with rice. In my opinion it’s highly ignored and not served as often as it should be. Coming in a few different colors, white is the most common. When mashed you can add delicious add ins like butter, sour cream and seasonings so it tastes like potatoes.

You could make them orange, green or yellow too depending on what color cauliflower you find at the store. I used purple because I have 3 girls and well I thought that it would be “totally cool”! For the Foodi you will use the lid that is not attached which will pressure cook with that button.

Equipment Needed

1. Instant Pot or pressure cooker
2. Vegetable steamer you see below
3. Use a potato masher as once they are steamed and softened you’ll treat them just like mashed taters.

If you already have one of these vegetable baskets at home then use yours, you just don’t want to use a trivet. Reason is the florets will fall off into the water and become a mushy mess that are water logged.

Ingredients

1. Head of cauliflower (white, or color of your choice)
2. Butter or margarine, but real salted butter is much better
3. Cream cheese or sour cream (I use what I have on hand). If using cream cheese to smooth it out ensure it is room temperature when added
4. Parmesan cheese we love to add
5. Green onions & garlic powder – optional
6. Salt and pepper to taste, really, add any and all seasonings you would normally put into your mashed potatoes

Is cauliflower keto? YES!! It is a vegetable of choice if you’re on the ketogenic diet. The plant is low in carbs and can replace potatoes, rice, and even pasta. BUT with this you still get the taste of a feel good food you’re probably craving. I’d suggest this as a side dish and if you want a heartier one that could be served as a vegetarian meal our Instant Pot cauliflower curry is great too.

How to Make Mashed Cauliflower in Pressure Cooker

• Pour in water, about 1 1/2 cups of water or broth into the bottom of your Instant pot.
• Open the steamer basket up as you see here
  • It includes a safety tool too that makes lifting the steamer out of your pot easier and safer too
• Add cauliflower florets in large chunks
• Close the lid and steam valve
• Set to high pressure for 3 minutes cook time
• Release the pressure with a quick release once done
• Remove the lid and mash veggies or put into food processor

Made with frozen cauliflower option

You could! Just pour right out of the bag into your steamer basket and follow the same timing in the recipe card. Cooking from frozen actually works great most of the time like with air fryer frozen cauliflower.

Once your cauliflower is nicely steamed and super soft you just pour it into a bowl, add your goodies, mix on low/medium to smooth it out, and serve! Surprise them one night with this as a side item, I guarantee you’ll get a big “What??!! Cool!”….and they will try it!

How do you thicken cauliflower puree?

If left inside your Instant Pot and mashed you can thicken by cooking down further while stirring often while on the saute function or inside a nonstick skillet. To thin it out just whisk in additional liquid such as broth, cream, or water. There you have it. In just about 15 minutes total you can have yourself a fun vegetable Instant Pot dish that is fun and flavorful!

How long does mashed cauliflower keep?

Properly stored, cooked cauliflower will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. To further extend the duration, freeze it!

Other cauliflower recipes you will love

Looking for more Instant Pot vegetable recipes?

• Make air fryer cauliflower steak if you have a Foodi with the other lid.
• Don’t forget to try our cheesy Instant Pot cauliflower
• Pressure cooker cauliflower soup is amazing too