Cheesy Cauliflower Grits (Vegan)

Cheesy Cauliflower Grits are the BEST low-carb & vegan southern dish! Just pulse some cauliflower and cook it up. You'll get the exact same taste and texture as grits, way faster and way healthier! Make this stovetop or Instant Pot in under 15 minutes!

Growing up in the south, I learned to love a cheesy and buttery bowl of grits. In fact, I still love it! While I am by no means anti-carb, using cauliflower instead of ground corn can be a much more nutritious option. It is equally as hearty and delicious, but much lighter, and it cooks SO quickly!

In this recipe we use a food processor to pulse some raw cauliflower until it is a sandy grit-like texture. Then we cook it either on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot (1 minute cook time!) with vegan cheddar, vegan cream cheese, and some non-dairy milk. Let it thicken and then serve it hot and enjoy your lower-carb and calorie meal!

Why you'll love this recipe

• Extra Vegetables - Looking to get an extra serving of vegetables in your day? These grits will do the trick for you!
• Hearty & Filling - This meal is so filling even after just a few bites! The cauliflower is so satisfying yet light.
• Healthier Southern Meal - I love southern food but sometimes it can be very very heavy. This lighter version will keep you moving the rest of the day!

What you need for this recipe

Ingredients and Substitutions:

• Cauliflower Head - 1 head of RAW cauliflower. This recipe will not work with cooked cauliflower!
• Water - For boiling
• Vegan Cheddar - I like using Violife, but anything works!
• Vegan Cream Cheese - If you can't get this, unsweetened coconut cream or cashew cream will work!
• Non-Dairy Milk - Almond, cashew, pea, oat – anything works! Just make sure it is unsweetened and unflavored.

Equipment:

• Instant Pot or Stove Pot/Pan
• Large wooden spoon
• Food Processor

How to make this recipe in the Instant Pot

Step 1: Prepare the Cauliflower

Begin by chopping the cauliflower head into small pieces.

Add these cauliflower pieces to a food processor. Depending on the size of your processor, this may take multiple times to process the entire head.

Pulse until you get a texture that looks similar to uncooked grits.

Step 2: Pressure Cook

Add all of the pulsed raw cauliflower to your Instant Pot along with ½ cup of water.

Close the lid on the Instant Pot, set the valve to sealing position, and pressure cook on high for 1 minute.

Once the timer goes off, perform a quick release until the floating pin drops, then open the lid.

Step 3: Finishing Touches

Fluff the cooked cauliflower with a fork.

Add ¼ cup of non-dairy milk, 1 cup vegan cheddar, 1 tablespoon of vegan butter, and 1 tablespoon vegan cream cheese to the cauliflower grits.

Stir until well combined and until the cheese has melted.

Season with 1 teaspoon of salt.

Serve hot and garnish with more butter, black pepper, and chopped chives

How to make this recipe on the stovetop

Step 1: Cook the Cauliflower Grits

Follow the above listed steps for preparing the grits in the food processor.

Add all of the processed, raw cauliflower to a large non-stick pan.

To this, add ½ cup water and bring to a rapid simmer.

Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring continuously, until the cauliflower has cooked and the water begins to evaporate.

Step 2: Finishing Touches

Add the vegan cheese, cream cheese, milk, and butter to the pan and cook a few more minutes, until all of the cheeses have melted.

Season with 1 teaspoon salt, serve hot, and garnish with more butter, black pepper, and chopped chives.

Expert Tips

• If you like spice, add some chopped jalapeños to this recipe before cooking the cauliflower!
• Feel free to cook this in broth instead of water for extra flavor!
• Be sure to only use RAW cauliflower, not cooked. If you put cooked cauliflower in the food processor, it will become mushy.

Recipe FAQs

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