Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes with Savory Almond Butter Gravy: Your Ultimate Plant-Based Holiday Side

Experience the ultimate in wholesome indulgence with our lightened-up mashed potatoes, crafted from a perfect blend of creamy Yukon potatoes and nutrient-rich cauliflower. Crowned with a luxurious, dairy-free almond butter “gravy,” this dish is an absolute must-have for a flavorful and healthy plant-based holiday celebration or any weeknight meal.

The holiday season is rapidly approaching, bringing with it the cherished traditions of family gatherings, festive activities, and, of course, an abundance of delicious food! As Thanksgiving draws near, many of us are already making plans, brainstorming menus, and anticipating those special moments shared around the table. Whether you’re planning a grand feast or a more intimate get-together, the culinary delights are often at the heart of the celebration.

Recently, during a fun virtual family game night, we spent a good amount of time mapping out all the wonderful things we’re looking forward to doing in person next week. This includes our eagerly awaited annual Thanksgiving walk, competitive rounds of board games, cozy movie marathons, and a spectacular spread of food.

And when I say “food,” I mean *lots* of food!

My parents, ever so subtly, suggested I might want to skip bringing my usual sweet potato casserole this year. It seems my deep affection for sweet potatoes isn’t universally shared at our holiday table, and I might be one of the few passionate sweet potato enthusiasts in the family! While I often incorporate sweet potatoes into countless recipes, perhaps there’s indeed a special place and time for the classic, humble potato in certain dishes. Like, for instance, in a comforting bowl of mashed potatoes.

But what if we could elevate that classic? What if we could make it even better, lighter, and suitable for every palate? Enter the incredibly delicious and universally appealing Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes, beautifully complemented by a unique Almond Butter Gravy! No one ever said I couldn’t get creative with the ingredients, right?

These Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes are destined to be a crowd-pleaser at any holiday table this year. This recipe offers a brilliant twist on a beloved classic, combining the creamy texture of Yukon potatoes with the lightness and nutritional benefits of cauliflower. The result is a lighter yet equally satisfying mashed dish, served with a remarkably creamy, plant-based gravy made from almond butter. Get ready to fall in love with your holiday sides all over again!

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Creating these delightful Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes requires just a handful of simple, wholesome ingredients. This thoughtful combination ensures a dish that is both flavorful and light, making it an ideal choice for a healthier holiday side or a comforting meal any time of year.

• Yukon gold potatoes: Chosen for their naturally buttery flavor and creamy texture when mashed, Yukon gold potatoes are the perfect base for this dish. They provide that classic mashed potato richness.
• Cauliflower: The star ingredient for lightening up this dish! Cauliflower adds significant volume and nutrients without the extra carbohydrates. When mashed with potatoes, it creates an incredibly fluffy and tender texture.
• Garlic powder: A subtle yet essential flavor enhancer, garlic powder infuses the mash with a savory depth without overwhelming the other ingredients.
• Tahini: This unexpected ingredient is the secret to achieving an incredibly moist, fluffy, and creamy texture without using any oil or dairy. Tahini, made from ground sesame seeds, provides a rich, nutty flavor and a luxurious mouthfeel.
• Unsweetened almond milk: Used to achieve the perfect consistency, almond milk keeps the dish entirely plant-based and dairy-free while adding a subtle creaminess.
• Himalayan sea salt: To season the potatoes and bring out all their natural flavors.
• Ground black pepper: Adds a touch of warmth and gentle spice, complementing the savory notes.
• Fresh parsley: For a vibrant garnish and a burst of fresh, herbaceous flavor just before serving.

That’s all you need for a truly delicious and healthier mash!

Crafting Your Light and Creamy Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

These cauliflower mashed potatoes are not simply one or the other; they represent a harmonious blend, a wonderful hybrid that captures the best qualities of both vegetables. They offer all the comforting flavor and satisfying mouthfeel of classic mashed potatoes, but with the added benefits and light, earthy touch of cauliflower.

The innovative use of tahini in this recipe is a game-changer. It allows the mashed potatoes to achieve an incredibly moist, fluffy, and creamy texture while remaining entirely oil-free and plant-based. This means you get all the richness without any heavy oils or dairy, making it a healthier option without compromising on taste or texture.

To begin this simple yet rewarding process, let’s get those vegetables cooking:

First, take your carefully diced Yukon gold potatoes and cauliflower florets and place them into a large pot. Add enough water to cover them by approximately one inch. This ensures even cooking and helps the vegetables become perfectly tender.

Bring the pot of water to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat slightly to maintain a gentle boil and continue to cook the potatoes and cauliflower for about 20-25 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when they are fork-tender and very soft, easily yielding to the gentle pressure of a fork. This tenderness is crucial for achieving that wonderfully smooth and creamy mash.

Ingredients for Our Irresistible Almond Butter Gravy

While your potatoes and cauliflower are simmering to perfection, it’s the ideal time to whip up the star accompaniment: the rich and flavorful almond butter gravy. This unique, plant-based gravy adds an incredible depth of flavor and a luscious texture to your mashed potatoes, elevating the entire dish.

Here’s what you’ll need to create this amazing Almond Butter Gravy:

• Georgia Grinders Original Almond Butter: The foundation of our gravy, providing a deep, nutty flavor and a naturally creamy consistency.
• Lemon juice: A touch of fresh lemon juice adds a bright, zesty counterpoint that cuts through the richness of the almond butter, balancing the flavors beautifully.
• Water or unsweetened almond milk: Used to thin the gravy to your desired consistency, ensuring it’s pourable yet still luxurious.
• Black pepper: A pinch of freshly ground black pepper adds a subtle warmth and aromatic finish.
• Himalayan sea salt: To season the gravy to perfection, enhancing all the individual flavors.

With just these few ingredients, you’re on your way to a truly remarkable gravy!

This almond butter gravy is incredibly versatile and utterly delicious. While it shines brightly drizzled generously over these Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes, its uses extend far beyond. Imagine it enhancing roasted vegetables, adding richness to grain bowls, or complementing plant-based proteins like baked tofu or tempeh. However, I must confess, I have a particular soft spot for it when paired with our light and creamy Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes!

Crafting the Creamy Almond Butter Gravy

Making this delectable almond butter gravy is remarkably simple and quick, requiring minimal effort for maximum flavor. You’ll have a rich, savory, and perfectly smooth gravy ready in no time, ensuring it’s prepared concurrently with your mashed vegetables.

To begin, gather all the gravy ingredients and add them to a high-speed blender or a food processor. This is key to achieving that smooth, velvety texture. Blend everything together until the mixture is completely smooth and wonderfully creamy. There should be no lumps, just a uniform, luscious sauce.

During the blending process, you’ll want to adjust the consistency to your preference. If the gravy appears too thick, gradually add more water or unsweetened almond milk, about one tablespoon at a time. Continue blending and adding liquid until you reach your desired pourable yet thick consistency. The ideal gravy should be able to drizzle elegantly over your mashed potatoes without being too watery or overly stiff.

Conversely, if you find your gravy has become a little too runny, don’t fret! Simply add a touch more almond butter and blend again. The additional almond butter will help to thicken the consistency and bring it back to that perfect pourable state.

For this recipe, I personally used Georgia Grinders Original Almond Butter, and I highly recommend it. This particular almond butter is exceptional, made with just perfectly roasted almonds and a hint of sea salt. Its pure, rich flavor and smooth texture work wonderfully to create a thick, nutty, and roasted gravy that is not only vegan but also gluten-free, grain-free, and contains no added oils. It’s truly a wholesome choice that doesn’t compromise on taste or texture.

Finally, once you’ve achieved the desired consistency, taste the Almond Butter Gravy and season it with a pinch of Himalayan sea salt and black pepper to your liking. Remember that the almond butter itself often contains a hint of sea salt, so you might not need to add much extra seasoning. Adjust gradually until the flavor profile is perfectly balanced and utterly delicious.

With your delectable gravy set aside, let’s turn our attention back to the mashed vegetables. By now, the potatoes and cauliflower should be beautifully fork-tender and soft, ready for the next step.

Carefully drain the cooked potatoes and cauliflower, making sure to remove as much excess water as possible. Then, transfer the hot, steamed vegetables into a large mixing bowl. This is where the magic of mashing happens!

Now, it’s time to mash them. You can use a traditional potato masher, which is designed for this exact purpose, or if you’re like me and prefer a more rustic approach (or simply don’t own a masher!), a sturdy fork will work perfectly. The tender potatoes and cauliflower should smash easily and effortlessly. Because they are similar in color, the resulting mash will look cohesive and beautifully “mashed potato”-esque, despite the hidden cauliflower.

Fun fact: I’ve never actually owned a potato masher, so I always free-hand the smashing with a fork! It works just as well and can be quite therapeutic.

Once you’ve got a good base mash, add in the garlic powder for flavor, tahini for that incredible creaminess without oil, unsweetened almond milk to help achieve the desired texture, and finally, Himalayan sea salt and ground black pepper for seasoning. Continue mashing, thoroughly incorporating all these wonderful ingredients into the potato and cauliflower mixture.

Achieving Your Ideal Mash: Alternative Mashing Techniques

Continue to mash the potatoes and cauliflower until you achieve your preferred consistency. This is a wonderfully customizable step – mash as much or as little as you like! For those who enjoy a super creamy, almost velvety smooth texture, keep mashing until virtually no lumps remain. It can be quite a satisfying process, perhaps even a good therapy session, as some might say!

If you prefer your mashed potatoes with a bit more character and texture, leaving some small chunks of potato and cauliflower can be quite enjoyable. I personally favor mine with a few delightful chunks still present, adding a rustic charm to the dish.

For those seeking an exceptionally smooth and silky texture that rivals the finest restaurant-style purees, an alternative method is to transfer all the cooked vegetables and added seasonings (garlic powder, tahini, almond milk, salt, and pepper) into a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend until everything is completely smooth. This method produces an incredibly uniform and luxurious mash.

During this final mashing or blending stage, if the potato and cauliflower mixture appears too thick for your liking, you can add more unsweetened almond milk. Do this in small increments, about one tablespoon at a time, to thin the mixture gradually until it reaches your desired consistency. Be careful not to add too much at once, as you want to avoid a soupy texture.

Once you’re happy with the consistency, take a moment to taste the mixture. This is your chance to make any final adjustments to the seasoning. Add more salt and pepper to your liking, ensuring the flavors are perfectly balanced and vibrant. A perfectly seasoned mash can truly elevate the entire dish!

After these final touches, your delicious Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes are ready to be served! Serve the mash warm, beautifully plated, and generously topped with fresh, chopped parsley for a burst of color and herbaceousness. Then, complete the masterpiece with a decadent drizzle of your homemade Almond Butter Gravy. Yum! Get ready for compliments.

Serving Suggestions for Your Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

These Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes with Almond Butter Gravy are a versatile and delightful dish, perfect for a variety of occasions. While they shine as a creative, plant-based holiday side, their comforting and wholesome nature makes them suitable for everyday meals too. This recipe is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a fun, lighter, and healthier variation on traditional mashed potatoes.

Here are some ideas on how to best enjoy and serve this incredible dish:

• Holiday Feast Star: Naturally, these mashed potatoes are an ideal addition to your Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday spread. They offer a refreshing alternative that caters to various dietary needs without sacrificing flavor.
• Alongside Hearty Plant-Based Mains: Pair them with a savory lentil loaf, a robust mushroom Wellington, or hearty roasted root vegetables for a complete and satisfying vegan meal.
• As a Weeknight Comfort Food: Don’t reserve this dish just for special occasions! It’s an excellent way to add more vegetables to your diet during the week. Serve it with a simple baked tempeh or grilled vegetables.
• With Grilled or Baked Proteins: For those who aren’t strictly plant-based, these mashed potatoes make a fantastic side for grilled chicken, baked fish, or even a lean steak.
• A Healthier Alternative: This dish is completely vegan, gluten-free, and grain-free, with no added oils (thanks to the tahini!). This makes it a wonderful option for guests with dietary restrictions or for anyone seeking a more mindful approach to comfort food.

Making Ahead and Storing Leftovers

One of the many conveniences of this dish is that it can be made in advance, which is a huge plus, especially during busy holiday preparations! To do so, store the Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes and the Almond Butter Gravy separately in airtight containers. Keep them refrigerated until you’re ready to serve.

When reheating, gently warm both components separately. The mashed potatoes can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of almond milk if needed to restore creaminess. The gravy can also be warmed gently, stirring frequently. Reheating separately ensures both elements retain their best texture and flavor.

Leftovers, if you’re lucky enough to have any, can be stored in the same fashion and reheated for several days to come, making them perfect for meal prepping!

Utilizing Leftover Almond Butter Gravy

If you find yourself with extra Almond Butter Gravy (and trust me, you’ll want to make extra!), don’t let it go to waste. Its rich, nutty, and savory profile makes it incredibly versatile. Try drizzling it over a variety of dishes:

• Roasted root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, or sweet potatoes.
• Stir-fries for an extra layer of creamy, umami flavor.
• Baked tofu or tempeh, giving them a delicious, savory coating.
• Even as a unique dressing for green salads or grain bowls.

Enjoy every spoonful of this wholesome and satisfying creation!

Discover More Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Sides

Planning a full plant-based holiday feast can be both exciting and daunting. If you loved these Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes with Almond Butter Gravy, you’re in for a treat! Here are more incredible vegan and often oil-free, gluten-free side dish recipes to complete your festive spread or enjoy any time of the year. Each recipe is designed to bring flavor, comfort, and wholesome goodness to your table.

• Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Hazelnut Butter Sauce

• Dijon Tahini Green Beans

• Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Figs & Pecans

• Harissa Roasted Cauliflower With Cranberries & Hazelnuts

• Roasted Squash & Arugula Salad

• Butternut Squash Noodle Cranberry Salad

• Tri-Colored Roasted Cauliflower Salad

• Vegan & Grain-Free Sweet Potato Casserole

• Stovetop Cauliflower Rice Stuffing

• Low-Sugar Orange Cranberry Sauce

• Delicata Chickpea Bake With Almond Butter “Gravy”

• Pumpkin Cornbread Mini Muffins

• 2-Way Low Sugar Cranberry Sauce

• Candied Yams with Cacao Nibs & Pecans

We Want to Hear From You!

Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we love to see your culinary creations! If you decide to make this delightful Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes with Almond Butter “Gravy” recipe, please let us know how it turned out. We’re always eager to hear about your experiences and any unique twists you might add.

Be sure to leave a comment below, provide a rating, and write a review. Your insights help us understand what you enjoy most and inspire us to create even more delicious recipes for you to savor.

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XO Lauren

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