I know I seem to say this a lot but I can’t believe that it is fall already and what’s more is that this weekend is the Canadian Thanksgiving already! With that in mind I just had to share some Thanksgiving recipe ideas and since creative side dishes are what I enjoy most about a Thanksgiving feast I started with this spinach and feta mashed cauliflower. Mashed cauliflower is a healthy and light alternative to mashed potatoes and when you jazz them up with things like spinach and feta they become an absolute delight that could easily outshine the main on your dinner plate. The flavours in this mashed cauliflower are based on spanakopita a Greek spinach and feta phyllo pie with fresh herbs like dill and green onions. Normally mashed potatoes are made nice and creamy with the addition of heavy/whipping cream and/or sour cream, cream cheese and loads of butter but I went with creamy Greek style yogurt and a touch of butter to keep things lighter. Whether you are serving this spinach and feta mashed cauliflower at a Thanksgiving dinner or just any old weeknight dinner, they are super quick and easy and just packed with flavour!
Spinach and Feta Mashed Cauliflower
Mashed cauliflower is a great alternative to mashed potatoes and this mashed cauliflower is packed with flavour with spinach and feta, styled after the Greek spinach and feta pie, spanakopita.
ingredients
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into small florets
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream or cream cheese
- 5 ounces spinach (cooked fresh cooked or thawed frozen), squeezed of excess liquid and coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup feta, crumbled
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 2 tablespoons dill, chopped or 2 teaspoons dried dill
- milk to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
directions
- Place the cauliflower in a steamer over boiling water and steam until fork tender, about 10 minutes.
- Mash the cauliflower with a masher or in a food processor.
- Mix in the butter, greek yogurt, spinach, feta, green onion and dill along with enough milk to bring the mashed cauliflower to the desired consistency before seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
Option: Steam some cloves of garlic along with the cauliflower and mash them into the cauliflower.
Option: Cook and mash the cauliflower a day or two ahead of time and simply warm and mix everything in when ready to serve.
Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Mashed Potatoes
Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes topped with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms
Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie)
Spinach and Feta Quinoa Salad
Spinach and Feta Clafoutis
Creamed Spinach and Artichokes
Greek Lemon Foil Roasted Potatoes
Asiago Roasted Mushroom Mashed Cauliflower
Slow Cooker Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Easy Mashed Potatoes
Horseradish Mashed Parsnips and Celery Root
Salt and Vinegar Mashed Potatoes
Spinach and Feta Baked Chicken
Colcannon
Hurray for Thanksgiving! This sounds like the perfect side for this coming weekend.
Oh this sounds wonderful! I have yet to try mashed cauliflower, but it is on my list. This would be wonderful! I especially love that you combined it with feta, sounds delicious! A great way to get those vitamins and minerals too, I am going to need it after the marathon!
Just from looking at this, I would have never guessed it was cauliflower and not potatoes! Amazing.
This is such a great idea and mouthwatering combination!
Cheers,
Rosa
Such a perfect Thanksgiving side and so healthy too! I can't believe it's cauliflower! 🙂
delicious!!!
My kind of side, Kevin!
LOVE this idea!! Happy Thanksgiving to you 🙂
Sues
That looks delicious! I've made mashed cauliflower before but was underwhelmed. I'll have to give this a try!
A wonderful side; perfect for the holidays. Catherine
Happy Thanksgiving, as a Canadian living in Maine I love that I get two Thanksgivings. I've made and enjoyed many of your recipes and three you just posted are on my list to make soon.
This is such a fun idea, Kevin! So different and perfect for Thanksgiving 😉
Wow, this looks SO fantastic. Can't wait to try it. I've pinned some of your recipes and finally started subscribing to your blog so I don't miss any. Thanks for all the great food!
With reasonably nutritious, some people appetites!
http://www.gigijav.com/brandkenzo.html
This looks so good! Thanks for all of your Thanksgiving recipes, too.
Omg this looks so yummy! I recently just got back to reality with being connected and went thru my Favorites box and found your amazing recipes. I am so happy I kept you saved in my favorites =0) Thanks again for another delicious recipe! Happy Thanksgiving
Delicious. I'm French and obviously, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving but it was perfect for our Sunday meal. Even my kids (4 and 2) enjoyed it.
This is the best vegetable dish I have ever tried.. it is on our menu. often
Anonymous: I'm glad you enjoyed it!
This sounds amazing! And since I went a little overboard and bought three huge heads of cauli at the farm stand yesterday, this just might be a more immediate way to use some of it.
Love that you list the nutrition values. Can you advise the serving size they are based on? It only lists "serves 8". Thanks
Love that you list the nutrition values. Can you advise the serving size they are based on? It only lists "serves 8". Thanks
Anne C: That is a 1/4lb or 1/3-1/2 cup serving.
Kevin, you are the best…I'm so happy to see your numbers growing by leaps. If you are open to suggestions, I would love to see a gathering of all your 'MAKE AHEAD" RECIPES. All your individual topic cookbooks are great but I sure would love seeing something that has all recipes that can be prepared ahead of the meal/serving.
Lexy: That's a great idea for a book, especially for busy work weeks and holiday dinners!
I added some fresh thyme to the dish (just 1 handful of leaves) and it really is fantansic. I highly recommend it!
This recipe was absolutely delicious! Instead of onions, I sauteed garlic with the spinach before adding to the cauliflower. The feta in this recipe is the perfect finishing touch. Scrumptious!
I've made this twice already. The first time I overcooked the cauliflower into mush. My mistake. It was STILL delicious! Foolproof. haha. I'm actually eating it right now. Healthy and tasty. Love this!
Made this last night. Turned out great! I used cream cheese because that is all I had, omitted the dill (not a dill fan) and added a bit of fresh oregano, and subbed out the milk for heavy cream (out of milk). I used frozen riced cauliflower, which made this a quick and delicious dish. Will be making again.