A light and healthy vegetable side dish that is still rich and cream with just a bit of tang, lighten up your holiday meals or add something delicious to a weeknight dinner with Whipped Cauliflower Gratin with Goat Cheese and Thyme.
Whipped Cauliflower Gratin with Goat Cheese and Thyme
Disclaimer: Blendtec supplied the prize for this giveaway. No additional compensation was received. As always, all opinions are my own.
Blogs are such dynamic things. I mean, obviously it’s not like a standard website that looks basically the same anytime you visit it. Every few days (or everyday for those amazing bloggers who can somehow manage that) there’s a new post, story, recipe, project, roundup, link party, or something else to read, make, or do. But since they are also usually created by one or a few people, they tend to evolve based on what is going on in the life or lives of the creator. I know of people who have developed allergies or changed their diets for one reason or another and transformed a general food blog into a gluten free or low carb or vegan blog. Food bloggers who spent years posting recipes are starting to incorporate a travel component into their blogs.
But the beauty of it is that these are our blogs, so they can become whatever we want them to become.
This past year, I had a lot going on in my personal life, plus I wanted to have some varied content on my blog that might be different from my typical recipes. I also thought it would be a nice opportunity to introduce these talented ladies to me readers, and maybe they would gain some new fans in the process.
But as we move into 2016, Cupcakes & Kale Chips is evolving a bit. I can’t thank these ladies enough for their help when I needed it. But I’m not going to be having regular recipe contributors next year. I have a really cool healthy recipe series with guest posters in January, I’ll still have the weekly roundups, and maybe you’ll see a guest appearance here and there, but for the most part, it’s going to be me. I want to bring back a more personal element that I feel was lost this past year as I was trying to just hang on for dear life after a major change that I had difficulty adjusting to.
So you’ll just have to follow their blogs to see all of their deliciousness (and my Facebook page, where I’ll feature them regularly). I want to thank my contributors and cohosts of this giveaway. Stop by and see them:
Nancy of The Bitter Side of Sweet | Stacey of Bake.Eat.Repeat. | Brooke & Bri of Gluten Free Anonymous
Serene of House of Yumm |Joy of The Joyful Foodie | Tammi of Momma’s Meals | Linda of Brunch with Joy
Terri of Love and Confections | Bobbi of Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen | Nichole of Casa de Crews
And you can find out more ways to follow them by checking out the awesome giveaway we have going on down a little further in this post.
Now on Thursdays, instead of their recipes you’ll have little old me. Maybe a recipe, maybe a fitness post, maybe just catching up on life and sharing some of my favorite things. We’ll see where this goes. But one thing is for sure, you’ll probably see more cauliflower recipes…
I love whipped cauliflower gratin, I love goat cheese, so naturally I had to combine the two into Whipped Cauliflower Gratin with Goat Cheese and Thyme. And as much as I love my original version and my Horseradish Cheddar Whipped Cauliflower Gratin, this might actually be my favorite. The goat cheese adds that tangy flavor you’d expect, but it adds such a velvety texture too. And that little fresh, lemony note from the thyme is just perfect. It’s actually so simple you can make it any day of the week, but it really is worthy of a special meal.
Or perhaps that velvety texture is because I made it in my Blendtec.
What would you make first in a new Blendtec?
Buy a Blendtec now! I also love to bake this Whipped Cauliflower Gratin with Goat Cheese and Thyme in my Corningware French White casserole dish.
Whipped Cauliflower Gratin with Goat Cheese and Thyme
A light and healthy but still rich and creamy vegetable side dish. Gluten free and low carb too!
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 egg
- About 4 oz. goat cheese
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme, plus additional thyme leaves for sprinkling on top, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F, and lightly coat a 2 quart casserole dish with oil or cooking spray.
- Cut the cauliflower into large florets, discarding the tough stem, and steam over boiling water until very tender.
- Drain thoroughly, and allow to cool slightly so that some of the excess moisture evaporates.
- Place the cauliflower, Greek yogurt, egg, cheese, salt, and pepper into a blender or food processor, and process until smooth.
- Stir in thyme.
- Transfer the cauliflower to the prepared dish.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until heated through and browned on top. Sprinkle with additional fresh thyme leaves, if desired.
Here are some more vegetable side dishes…
 |  |  |
- Browned Butter Whipped Butternut Squash
- Lemon White Wine Green Beans and Mushrooms
- Polenta Crust Creamed Spinach Tart
And some from my friends…
- Mashed Carrots and Turnips from Bake.Eat.Repeat.
- Green Beans with Bacon from House of Yumm
- Vegetable Stuffed Spaghetti Squash from The Bitter Side of Sweet
Want to see lots more yummy food from me and my friends, and cute pictures of my kids?
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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn a small percentage from any purchases you may make if you click on them. These companies have not contacted me. I use the stuff because I love it.
This is such a great idea! Looks absolutely delish!
Thank you! It is so good!
This sounds delicious! I’d make this for the holidays for sure.
Tammi @Momma’s Meals recently posted…Make Your Own Gifts
Go for it, my friend!
I would make coconut milk. I have 2 of my children who are allergic to dairy and one who is lactose intolerant so I’m looking for an alternative.
Great mom! I’ve wanted to try making almond milk but I haven’t yet.
I’ve made almond milk. It is really so much more tasty than the store bought stuff. Unfortunately, I’ve just found out my son is allergic to nuts so I’m rethinking my game plan here! LOL!
Oh wow! Yeah, I guess coconut or I’ve even heard of oat milk.
I’d use it to make creamy soup!
I love doing that!
Same!
I’d make a green tea smoothie.
That sounds yummy!
I would make some cream of broccoli soup!
Fabulous!
So that sounds amazing, I think I’d try making this recipe first
You should! 🙂
I’d make smoothies!
That’s what I do everyday!
I would make a chocolate peanut butter banana protein shake!
Nice!
i would make this for my husband. Looks great.
thank you!
Oh man! I would make this asap if I won because I am eating lower carb and sugar for health reasons and I loveeee goat cheese too! Yummm
First thing I would make is salsa.
I would make so many things if I won! I can’t choose just one thing!
Haha, sounds like me!
When I read the title of this I clicked through (from FB) and as I was clicking I said “YUM!” at the idea. And I love that’s how you started your post. Lol. Good for you for adding that personal touch back in and not being afraid to change the trajectory if slight of your blogs. As long as you stay true to yourself, your readers will follow. {And love this giveaway- I need one of these! I’d use it for soup!}
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes recently posted…broccoli and cauliflower casserole
Thanks so much!
I would have to make this recipe first but then a loooong list of recipes I have been wanting to try!
I would make potato leek soup. This cauliflower dish looks amazing as well.
This Whipped Cauliflower Gratin looks delicious! This is the first recipe I would try if I won a Blendtec.
I would make a berry protein smoothie.
I’d like to make my own nut butters, starting with Cashew!
First thing I do with a Blendtec is try my hand at milling flour. But OH the possibilities with a Blendtec!
My little ninja is trying to die. I so need a blender or my bulletproof coffee and whipped cauliflower mash will have to wait til tax refund time 😢
this recipe sounds fabulous …. can’t wait to try it
I would make some smoothies or this recipe on the blog!
The first thing that I would probably make is some nut butters. Yummy.
I’d make my green smoothies in it!
I would try these whipped cauliflower potatoes! OMG look so good!
I’d make a smoothie. Fruit smoothies are the best thing ever.
A soup sounds fun, or a nutritious smoothie!
I would make salsa!!!!!!
I’d make some red chili sauce foe shredded beef enchiladas.
I would make this whipped cauliflower gratin! It sounds like the perfect way to celebrate Christmas dinner without overdoing it on the carbs. 🙂
A “green” smoothie, haven’t been getting all my fruits and veggies in lately and can feel the difference.
I would make salsa! I’ve been wanting to make homemade salads for so long!
Green smoothie!!
I would make guacamole
This is awesome healthy comfort food, Brianne! I would love to own a Blendtec! I think I’d make a batch of soup in it first.
I would make nut butter
Almond Milk!
I’d made the Caulif. Gratin!
There’s so much I’d want to make, but I think I would start with milkshakes!
I would make a strawberry smoothie and some slushes. Thanks for the giveaway.
I would make a strawberry banana smoothie!
Smoothies and homemade nut butter.
We make a lot of cauliflower mash in our house and I usually use my immersion blender but if I win the Blendtec I will definitely be giving it a try 🙂
Tammy Northrup recently posted…Blue Cheese, Bacon and Cranberry Stuffed Mushrooms
The first thing I’d make would be my Chocolate Spinach Pancakes because I make them constantly. Now they’d just be smoother!
Michelle recently posted…Empower Yourself & Reduce Your Risk: Breast Cancer with Kris Sampson
I use my best friend’s Blendtec when I am in LA, I would love to win one! First thing I would make is a Pineapple Whip, healthified! Nettie XXOO The Whipped Cauliflower gratin looks amazing!
Nettie Moore recently posted…Pineapple Whip Smoothie
I would love to make some Milk Shakes or Smoothies!!
This recipe looks AMAZING and I’m definitely going to try it! I would probably make a smoothie as my first Blendtec effort, to try and get my kids to eat something healthy!
I’d make a squash soup!
This looks so good! Love the idea of adding goat cheese. I will definitely be trying this one. Visiting from Dream, create, inspire link party.
The first thing would be one of those green smoothies I’m always reading about.
Ummm i would be making these whipped cauliflower gratin!! Looks amazing
Sam @ PancakeWarriors recently posted…Low Carb Pumpkin Chocolate Pancakes
I would probably make a really nice thick shake for my wife!! She loves shakes!!
Excited for this giveaway 🙂
It’d be awesome to win. I would make this recipe just based on your love of it
This looks so great! I went to dip in it, like it was a delicious hummus.
I have been searching for more cauliflower recipes, so thank you very much for linking up to Merry Monday!
Megan @ C’mon Get Crafty recently posted…Bathroom Makeover with Nautica At Home
Some type of very berry smoothie!
I would make almond butter with maple
I’d make an orange julius!
Smoothies!
Sounds good, but how is this a gratin though? Doesnt that mean it needs a crust on top? Like breadcrumb/cheese.
I made this with dinner tonight and it was AMAZING. I used herbed goat cheese to add an extra kick and it worked beautifully! For the cauliflower I used steam-in-the-bag frozen, so prep only took five minutes. Extra points for the fact that my kids are currently inhaling their servings. Double win!
SO glad to hear that you enjoyed your dinner, Mandy, and YAY for it being kid-approved, too!
This looks really good, but the goat cheese isn’t mentioned in the directions. Pinned.
Never mind! LOL!
Thanks for sharing, Vicky, and no worries… I’m glad you found the goat cheese in the recipe. 😉