Cauliflower parsnip mash is a healthy, simple side dish that is perfect for weeknight meals or fancy Sunday suppers! This recipe is gluten free, paleo, Whole30 and vegan friendly!
This cauliflower parsnip mash reminded me of dinner with my mom as a kid! I love homemade mashed potatoes! My mom used to make us a homemade meal every night of the week. I can probably count on one hand the nights we had taco night or spaghetti night. My mom would make big lasagnas, pot roast and mashed potatoes or some sort of chicken dish with you guessed it mashed potatoes! I don’t think there was ever a week that went by without mashed potatoes!
What do parsnips taste like?
Parsnips have a slightly sweet but very nutty flavor. They have a bit of a kick and are much more flavorful than a potato.
Parsnips are great to use in place of potatoes. They hold up very well to being mashed, added to stews or even cut up and served like fries!
How to add more veggies to your weeknight meals:
One of the easiest ways to add in more veggies to your weeknight meals is to hide the vegetables into things you already make. For example this cauliflower parsnip mash has steamed cauliflower added to the mashed parsnips. The cauliflower is not detectable and you could also add steamed cauliflower to mashed potatoes as well!
Other ways to add more veggies to your weeknight meals are to make the veggies the star like these zucchini boats or buffalo cauliflower bites.
Another great way to add more veggies to your weeknight meals is to start having soup more often! Soup is so easy to make and can be packed with vegetables. This frozen vegetable soup is so simple to make and has 4-5 servings of veggies! It would be perfect as an appetizer as well!
How to flavor the cauliflower parsnip mash to taste like homemade mashed potatoes:
Mashed potatoes have 2 standards that take them to the next level in my opinion: They should be filled with butter and fluffy but not too dry!
How to add that buttery flavor to these mashed parsnips:
I used grass fed butter to get that homemade taste but you could also use Butter Flavored Coconut Oil (affiliate link) to keep this vegan! Try to make sure that you buy a good quality grass fed butter to get all the flavor you want! For things like butter, the quality is really important!
How to get fluffy mashed cauliflower parsnips:
Be sure to fully drain the cauliflower and parsnips before mashing. Add the milk a little bit at a time after mashing by hand. If you choose to use an immersion blender, be sure not to over-mix, as the cauliflower can quickly get soupy.
What herbs can you add to this mashed cauliflower parsnip side dish?
- Fresh or dried thyme (my personal favorite)
- Herbs de Provence
- Fresh or dried mint
- Fresh or dried parsley
If you love Cauliflower Parsnip Mash you should try:
- Vegan Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
- Whole30 Cauliflower Potato Salad
- Roasted cauliflower with tahini drizzle
- Roasted cauliflower guacamole
Cauliflower Parsnip Mash
Ingredients
- 1 lb parsnips peeled and chopped
- 1/2 head cauliflower
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbs coconut milk
- 1 1/2 tbs Kerry gold butter or Butter Flavored Coconut Oil vegan
- 2-3 sprigs thyme
Instructions
- Peel and chop the parsnips.
- Remove the florets from the cauliflower.
- Add enough water to cover the parsnips and cauliflower.
- Cover and bring to a boil until fork tender
- Drain and add salt, milk, butter and thyme.
- Mash with a fork or blend with an immersion blender.
Corin Schumacher
September 26, 2017 at 11:28 pmExcellent recipe! I carmelized a large onion and 1-T fresh garlic, put the mash in a casserole dish, sprinkled with 2 T fresh asiago, covered with the onion mixture, and heated in the oven for 15 minutes at 375. Good enough for a main dish with a salad or some fresh fruit.
Ruth
March 28, 2017 at 6:26 amThis sounds delicious! I love parsnips (my mum’s roast parsnips can’t be beaten) and I bet the combination with cauliflower works really well.
Noline
February 6, 2017 at 3:26 pmI have all these ingredients handy and so feel like so comfort food. So guess what I am making today. Thank you 🙂
Susie @ Suzlyfe
January 26, 2017 at 7:14 amI have a giant head of cauli in my fridge right now, and I was going to just roast it, but this is inspiring me to do more!