Sweet Potato & Cauliflower Mash

Bowls are all the rage these days. First, it was the Buddha bowl, then came the smoothie bowl. When I heard about this new wave of bowls sweeping autumn dinnertime tables, I knew I had to hop on this bandwagon.

Imagine, if you will, a bowl filled with a collection of savory, fall flavors accompanied by the chew of sweet dried cherries, the crunch of crushed walnuts, and a dash of ground cinnamon. Doesn’t that just scream cozy, autumn comfort food!? And I haven’t even told you the base! Are you ready??? Mashed sweet potato and cauliflower! It’s so dreamy.

This is the type of dish you make on a cold, fall evening to embrace the season. It’s cozy, filling, warm, and satisfying. Not to mention, incredibly simple to prepare. And the best part? Adding to it whatever your heart desires and what happens to be available in your pantry. Let’s do this.

Ingredients:

Mash:

3 sweet potatoes – peeled/cut into 2-inch pieces

1 head cauliflower – cored and cut into large florets

2/3 cup of milk (I used oat milk, use whatever you like)

1/2 stick of unsalted butter

Pinch of cinnamon

Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Salt and pepper

Toppings:

Nuts/seeds (walnuts, almonds, pistachios, toasted pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds)

Dried fruit (mission figs, cranberries, cherries, raisins)

Apple chunks

Hemp seeds

Spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, cayenne pepper)

Directions:

Time: 30 minutes

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the sweet potatoes and return to boil. Simmer for 5-8 minutes. Next, add the cauliflower, return to boil, and let simmer for another 10-12 minutes until both the potatoes and cauliflower are very tender.
2. Drain the vegetables and return them to the pot.
3. On low heat, add milk, butter, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper to the vegetables. Using a potato masher, mash everything together until you have a pretty smooth and sexy consistency.
4. Place mash in a bowl and top as desired. I highly suggest having a combo of textures (ie. chewy and crunchy) that will complement and add excitement to the smoothness of the mash.

Below I have added crushed walnuts, hemp seeds, a dash of ground cinnamon, dried mission figs, and dried sweet cherries. All toppings from Trader Joe’s. 

Happy fall y’all! Enjoy and please share with us all what you top your Sweet Potato and Cauliflower smash with!  

xo, Lauren