Make a Creamy Soup
Most creamy soups rely on carb-rich potatoes or fattening cream to get that smooth taste. Slash calories and keep the rich texture with creamy cauliflower soup. This slow cooker recipe can be tossed together in no time for a healthy dinner any night of the week.
Scramble It with Eggs
Do you need a side of toast with your eggs every morning? Instead, try whisking some pureed cauliflower into your scrambled eggs. The nutritional boost will keep you full without a side of toast or cereal, and you’ll never even taste it.
Mash It Up
It wouldn’t be a holiday meal without mashed potatoes; that is, unless you’re serving mashed cauliflower. This creamy, tasty side dish will fool even your most passionate potato-loving family members. Just steam chopped cauliflower and mash it with butter and salt.
Go Buffalo
Having friends over for the big game? No need to stick with plain carrot sticks and salad. Join the celebration with a healthier version of chicken wings. Buffalo cauliflower bites are crisp and spicy with barely a fraction of the fat and calories.
Smash It Up
If you can’t get behind the idea of giving up potatoes altogether, try mixing some extra cauliflower into your favorite potato side dishes. You can make cheese smashed potatoes loaded with mashed cauliflower for extra nutrients while keeping the taste you love.
Make Pizza Crust
We’re living in amazing times when we can talk to robots in our phones, and cauliflower can disguise itself as crispy pizza crust. Use shredded cauliflower as your crust base; just be sure to wring out any extra liquid with a clean dish towel to prevent a soggy pizza.
Get Cheesy
Potatoes au gratin is all about that savory, cheesy bite; so keep the cheese while cutting calories with cauliflower au gratin. This creamy side dish is made with mashed cauliflower, shredded cheese and, of course, butter.
Rice It
Cauliflower rice is one of the easiest low-carb swaps to try. Just toss some chopped cauliflower in a food processor to get that rice consistency. If you’re in a hurry, most grocery stores sell cauliflower rice in their freezer section, too.
Add It to Mac
If you’ve given up your favorite comfort food in the hopes of eating healthier, it’s time to be reunited. Mac and cheese can get a major healthy makeover with a cheesy cauliflower sauce or by replacing some of the noodles with cooked cauliflower.
Make Breadsticks
Cauliflower pizza crust is one thing, but can a veggie really transform into breadsticks? Yes, and these breadsticks are cheesy and garlic-y! The recipe is similar to cauliflower pizza crust but stands on its own as a nutritious and low-cal appetizer.
Layer It in Lasagna
It’s hard to cut calories when you’re making lasagna, but cauliflower makes it possible. When preparing your ricotta cheese layer, add cooked cauliflower. The veggie takes on a cheesy taste and can help you cut down on the amount of pasta in your dish.
Whip It into Banana Bread
Vegetables for dessert? It’s not too good to be true! Just mix some pureed cauliflower into your banana bread batter for extra nutrients you’ll never taste. It will even help your bread stay moist.
Punch up Potato Salad
Cauliflower can be used in place of potatoes in just about any dish you can imagine; even homemade potato salad. If you’ve been cutting back on carbs, this is the perfect dish to bring to your family cookout. You’ll still be able to enjoy all the picnic fun without the starchy carbs.
Go with Casserole
Looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner that isn’t loaded with fat? Whip up a cauliflower casserole for a comforting meal without the usual carbs like potatoes or white rice. It can even be prepped ahead of time.
Create a Kugel
If you’ve never tried kugel, it’s time to start with a cauliflower version. This sweet dish is usually made with noodles or potatoes in a creamy sauce. But sub in cauliflower to keep all the buttery goodness without the extra carbs.
The post 15 Surprising Ways to Cut Carbs with Cauliflower appeared first on Taste of Home.
Carrie Madormo