When it comes to side dishes there’s nothing else quite like mashed potatoes. But, for a change of pace and to embrace a healthier lifestyle it can be good to switch things up. This low-carb option for mock mashed potatoes is easy, wholesome, and customizable. Plus, it uses one of my favorite vegetables: cauliflower.

To start making this recipe trim the leaves and stem from a whole head of cauliflower. Then drop it into a pot of boiling water and let it cook for about 7 minutes. At this point it should be fork tender. Pat this dry with paper towels. This is an important step in the process.

Chop this up into smaller pieces and then put them in a blender or food processor. Next comes the secret ingredient of cream cheese to give the mixture more creaminess without adding liquid.

Unlike mashed potatoes, which require liquid to become creamy, mashed cauliflower already has a lot of moisture and doesn’t contain the starches that potatoes do. This is why it’s so important to dry the cauliflower off after it’s done cooking.

In addition to some salt and pepper, a little parmesan cheese adds a lot more depth of flavor, too. The final flourish is to add some chopped chives on top.

Serve this alongside the protein of your choice and a salad and you have a really hearty meal that doesn’t rely on carbs for flavor.