Microwave Mashed Cauliflower Recipe + Raley's Meal Kits (2024)

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Thanks to Raley’s for allowing me to share their microwave mashed cauliflower recipe that is part of their Sirloin Beef meal kit.

Microwave Mashed Cauliflower Recipe + Raley's Meal Kits (1)

Even on nights when I don’t have a lot of time to cook, I want to feed my family a nutritious meal made with wholesome ingredients. When I want to cut corners without compromising on quality, I turn to trimmed cuts of meat and precut vegetables to save time on meal prep. Raley’s has just made things even easier with their new, flexible meal kits.

At my local Raley’s, they have created a meal kit display near the rotisserie chickens. It includes complete meal kit recipes, rotisserie chicken “quickkits,” and “build your own kits” from customizablemeal components.

Microwave Mashed Cauliflower Recipe + Raley's Meal Kits (2)

The complete meal kits are just that and include everything youneed to make dinner like the protein, the sides, and the spices. Basically, they are a meal kit without the hassle of a subscription plan. You can pick them up when you need a break without having to worry about a pre-planned delivery schedule. So when my husband was out of town last week, I picked up several mealkits at my local Raley’s. I was impressed not only with the quality of the meals,but with the simple techniques used to create the flavorful dishes.

Microwave Mashed Cauliflower Recipe + Raley's Meal Kits (3)

I am going to share a couple of the techniques from the Sirloin Beef Meal Kit as well as the recipe for the microwavable herbed goat cheese mashed cauliflower, which is included in the kit, so you can see how simple these meals are to make. You don’t need any special equipment, and the kit directions include pictures. Gourmet cooking does not need to be complex!

How to Crush Peppercorns

The steak is served with a green peppercorn sauce, which tastes amazing. All of the ingredients are already in the kit, including the green peppercorns. But instead of just telling you to crush the peppercorns and leaving you to figure out how to do that, they have a picture of the peppercorns on a cutting board and tell you to crush the peppercorns with the bottom of a pan. This is an easy solution for those who don’t have a mortar and pestle.

Deglaze the Pan

Deglazing the pan is the secret behind amazing sauces and gravies.

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The sirloin steaks are seared in a skillet, which is a fast way to cook the steaks, but it also leaves browned bits and caramelized drippings from the meat in the pan. Those browned bits, or the fond as chef call it, serve as the base for the green peppercorn sauce. How do you deglaze a pan? You add the crushed peppercorns, red wine vinegar, beef base, and water to the pan. Then you use a spoon to scrape those bits off the bottom of the pan while stirring the sauce. It is a basic technique and easy to do, but it yields a flavorful sauce that makes your dinner taste like it was cooked by a professional chef.

Microwave Mashed Cauliflower Recipe + Raley's Meal Kits (5)

The sirloin beef meal kit includes 2 sides: herbed goat cheese mashed cauliflower and wilted baby spinach with garlic. Both of these dishes only require a few ingredients and a short time to make. Below you will find directions for how to make mashed cauliflower in the microwave.

Microwavable Mashed Cauliflower Recipe with Herbed Goat Cheese

This recipe is from Raley’s Sirloin Beef Meal Kit, and all of the necessary ingredients are included in the kit. When you make the full Sirloin Beef Meal Kit, the directions for the mashed cauliflower are intertwined with the directions for the steaks and spinach so that all three dishes are complete at the same time.

Ingredients:

  • 12 – 14 ounces cauliflower florets
  • 1-ounce garlic herb goat cheese
  • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • dash of salt
  • pinch of pepper

Directions:

  1. Place the cauliflower in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave on high for 5 minutes. (Leave the cauliflower in the microwave until you are ready to mash it).Microwave Mashed Cauliflower Recipe + Raley's Meal Kits (6)
  2. Remove the cauliflower from the microwave and add the herbed goat cheese; season with salt and pepper, and mash it with a fork.Microwave Mashed Cauliflower Recipe + Raley's Meal Kits (7)
  3. Add 2 tablespoons of cream and stir.Microwave Mashed Cauliflower Recipe + Raley's Meal Kits (8)

I bought another Sirloin Beef Meal Kit this week and made it for my husband and sons one night when I was going to be out. When I came home I asked my husband if he liked the mashed cauliflower and he said, “That was cauliflower?” He did not realize that he was eating cauliflower; he seriously thought he was eating mashed potatoes!

Raley’s Meal Kits

On the website, it states that the meal kits serve 2 people, but these would be large restaurant-type servings. I found that they served 3 people in my family, making it a good solution when one of us is away from home at dinner time. However, we usually only consume 3 – 4 ounces of meat in one meal.

Meal Kit Recipes

I shared the tips and a recipe from the Sirloin Beef Meal Kitabove, which includes Steak with Peppercorn Sauce, mashed cauliflower with herbed goat cheese, and baby spinach. This was a hit with the whole family.

Other Options:

Raley’s Quick Kits, such as Mole Enchiladas, come with everything you need to create a recipe except the protein. You just need to pick up a rotisserie chicken and use some of the meatto quickly complete the recipe. The quick kits are aconvenient way to use rotisserie chicken for multiplemeals.

Save time while customizing yourdinner withRaley’smeal components. In the meal kit display, you will find 9 sauces, 8 pre-cooked whole grains and starches, 8 prepped vegetables, and freshly trimmed cuts of meat. You can mix and match the components to build your own meal kit.

Printable Recipe for Microwave Mashed Cauliflower

Microwave Mashed Cauliflower Recipe + Raley's Meal Kits (9)

Print

Microwave Mashed Cauliflower Recipe

A quick and easy recipe for Mashed Cauliflower.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword Mashed Cauliflower Recipe

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 7 minutes minutes

Servings 3

Calories 121kcal

Author Evelyn Miliate

Ingredients

  • 12 - 14 ounces cauliflower florets
  • 1- ounce garlic herb goat cheese
  • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • dash salt
  • pinch pepper

Instructions

  • Place the cauliflower in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave on high for 5 minutes. (Leave the cauliflower in the microwave until you are ready to mash it).

  • Remove the cauliflower from the microwave and add the herbed goat cheese; season with salt and pepper to taste, and mash it with a fork.

  • Add 2 tablespoons of cream and stir.

Nutrition

Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 745mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Vitamin C: 118mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 1mg

Microwave Mashed Cauliflower Recipe + Raley's Meal Kits (10)

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Microwave Mashed Cauliflower Recipe + Raley's Meal Kits (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep mashed cauliflower from being watery? ›

Using less water prevents the cauliflower from getting waterlogged. Boil until tender. This will take about 10 minutes or so. Sautéeing the cauliflower first helps it cook faster once the water is added to the pot.

What do you add to cauliflower to thicken mash? ›

You can add a litle softened cream cheese to the pot in the final step and stir until melted. Or you can add a keto thickener like glucomannan or xanthan gum. Be sure to whisk it in well when the mashed cauliflower is hot. You don't need more than about ¼ teaspoon per head of cauliflower.

How long does it take to steam cauliflower in the microwave? ›

Place pieces in a microwave-safe bowl, and add just enough water to cover the bottom of the bowl, 2 to 3 tablespoons. Place a plate over the bowl and microwave for 3 to 4 minutes, depending on how much bite you like in your cauliflower, how large the pieces are, and how powerful your microwave is.

Why is mashed cauliflower better than mashed potatoes? ›

Compared to potatoes, cauliflower has less than half the calories per the same 100 gram serving. (source) Cauliflower has only 3 grams of “net carbs” per 100 gram serving, while potatoes have 14 grams of net carbs. (Net carbs = total carbohydrates – total fiber.)

Why is my cauliflower watery? ›

If you overcook the cauliflower before it's cooked in the cheese sauce, your dish will have a disappointing soft texture with watered-down sauce. Although there are some tricks to apply if you overcook vegetables, your best bet is to aim for undercooking the vegetable a little.

How do you make runny mashed thicker? ›

You can use what you have on hand: Flour, cornstarch, or powdered milk are all solid options that are probably already in your pantry. Potato flour and potato starch would work as well. Stir in the thickening agent gradually, about a tablespoon at a time, until the potatoes have reached your desired consistency.

Why is my cauliflower mash grainy? ›

Why is my cauliflower mash grainy? If you don't cook the cauliflower through so it's nice and soft, it will be grainy when you blend it up. It also could be grainy if you don't blend it enough. These aren't mashed potatoes so you can blend for as long as it takes to get them nice and creamy.

Why do you add milk to boiled cauliflower? ›

If you want it to remain as white as possible boil it in milk, not water. Yes, all milk. The milk acts as a way to preserve the natural white coloring. If you are okay with it not being super brilliant white, you can do half milk/half water.

How to make cauliflower puree Gordon Ramsay? ›

Remove the cauliflower stalks and cut them into small pieces. Heat the butter and milk in a pan and stew the cauliflower in it until softened. Add the cream and return to a high temperature. Immediately strain and liquidise the cauliflower then season and pass through a fine chinois.

How do you make steamed vegetables taste better in the microwave? ›

  1. So many options!
  2. And sure, popping a bag of veggies into the microwave is quick and easy.
  3. But if you take those same vegetables, throw them on a cookie sheet, drizzle them with a bit of olive oil, sprinkle with coarse salt, maybe throw on a few sprigs of a hard herb.
  4. It's a whole new veggie revolution!
Jan 30, 2017

How do you know when steamed cauliflower is done? ›

Add 1-inch of water to a medium-to-large pot and bring to boil over high heat. Add the steamer insert, then put the cauliflower in the insert. Steam for 6-8 minutes, until easily pierced with a fork.

How do you know when cauliflower is done steaming? ›

Set up the steamer and put in the cauliflower florets. Cover with a tight fitting lid and steam over medium-high heat. Steam for about 5-7 minutes until, the cauliflower is tender but still has a crunch.

Which is healthier cauliflower or potatoes? ›

Nutritionally, cauliflower is lighter in calories and carbs than potatoes and is more nutrient-dense. That's why it's popular among the low carb and weight loss communities.

Is cauliflower a carb or protein? ›

In 1 cup of chopped cauliflower, you'll get 5.3 g of total carbs, 3.2 g of net carbs, 0.3 g of fat, and 2.1 g of protein, per the USDA. Not to mention, you get 320 mg of potassium, making this vegetable a good source of the nutrient.

Does mashed cauliflower really taste like mashed potatoes? ›

The first time I made mashed cauliflower at home, I was trying to recreate the cauliflower puree I so often had at fancy restaurants. They always tasted similar to mashed potatoes, but with a silkier and lighter texture, plus more flavor.

How do you thicken pureed cauliflower? ›

Using a blender or immersion blender, blend cauliflower and liquid to form a very smooth purée. Season with salt. (You can adjust purée consistency as needed: Thicken by cooking down further while stirring often over low heat in a wide nonstick skillet, or thin by whisking in liquid, such as stock, cream, or water.)

How do you squeeze water out of riced cauliflower? ›

It really is as simple as putting the cooked and cooled cauliflower on a clean flour sack towel , wrapping it up and squeezing all the water out. I like to use flour sack towels because they're large and really thin, which makes them easy to squeeze tight and get out as much water as possible.

How do you puree cauliflower to thicken soup? ›

But how can you achieve an indulgent, thick texture using only vegetables? Frugal Cooking recommends adding cauliflower, which provides a silky texture without all the fat found in cream. Just blend cooked cauliflower with your broth and add the mixture to your soup.

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