Mashed Cauliflower with Kale & Bacon a.k.a. Low Carb Irish Colcannon

Like cauliflower, kale also contains glucosinolates, compounds that the body can convert into cancer-fighting compounds like indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane. These are just two examples of compounds provided by kale and other cruciferous vegetables that have been studied extensively for their ability to prevent and possibly even treat different types of cancer, such as breast and colon cancer. Check out this article from The World's Healthiest Foods if you want to know more. 

Since kale tops the list of the most nutrient dense foods, I could go on and on. But I'll conclude with two more facts, the first that the isothiocyanates and sulfur in kale have been shown to support the body's detoxification process, which is crucial in today's world of chemicals. In addition, the USDA recognizes kale as the richest source of lutein (out of over 5,000 foods), an antioxidant that research has demonstrated protects the eyes from glaucoma. You can see why kale is called a superfood!

In addition to providing even more of the same nutrients that kale and cauliflower provide, leeks are known to be one of the top 10 best prebiotics, or foods that feed the good bacteria in our intestines (source). Those good bacteria, better known as probiotics, are known to help regulate our immune system as well as our digestive system. Recent research is showing that probiotics do far more than that, so feeding those probiotics with prebiotic foods is very important!

I just went through a lot, so let me summarize the health benefits of this dish by saying that it contains ingredients that are not only very nutrient dense, they provide important antioxidants and fiber that feeds the good bacteria in your gut. Cheers to this nutritious, low-carb, keto, nightshade-free, Paleo and Whole30 friendly dish that you can enjoy on St Patty's Day! 

Helpful Hints, Ingredients & Products

• Kale: I use lacinato kale for this recipe. It's also known as Tuscan black cabbage or dinosaur ("dino") kale. Thankfully, it's widely available at supermarkets and easy to grow because I find it so much easier to work with and better tasting than curly kale! You can remove the rib, but I don't find it necessary since the ribs are smaller and more tender than the ribs in curly kale. If you read the Health Benefits & Nutritional Info section above, you also know that lacinato kale is more nutritious than curly kale, so use it if you can!
• Cauliflower: You could certainly purchase a head of organic cauliflower and chop it into pieces to make this recipe, but a 1-lb bag of frozen organic cauliflower would work, too! The good news about buying a bag of frozen organic cauliflower florets is that it has already been cut into florets. I have found frozen organic cauliflower at an affordable price at both Costco and, believe it or not, Whole Foods (365 brand).
• Bacon: You should always use bacon that is free of preservatives and comes from farms where the animals are treated humanely, such as any bacon you can buy at Natural Grocers or Whole Foods. But this recipe can also be made Paleo and Whole30 friendly by choosing a bacon without sugar. I have found two options, either U.S. Wellness Meats (an online retailer) or Wellshire Farms sugar-free bacon, which is available at Whole Foods.
• Mayo: the mayo you use to make the cauliflower mash in this recipe will also impact whether or not it's Paleo and Whole30 friendly. Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Mayo is Paleo-friendly, but Primal Kitchen Mayo is both Paleo and Whole30 friendly. If you need a mayo that is egg-free, I recommend Just Mayo by Hampton Creek. It's not Paleo or Whole30 compliant, but it is the best egg-free mayo I've tried.
• Butter: If you use real butter for this Irish Colcannon, do as the Irish do and use KerryGold grass-fed butter! It comes from cows grazing on green grass in Ireland, and it is surprisingly affordable at Costco. For the Paleo or Whole30 version of this recipe, chose a dairy-free butter alternative or non-hydrogenated, palm oil based shortening. Nutiva makes a red palm/coconut oil shortening that tastes surprisingly like butter. It can be purchased at most health food stores, but it can also be purchased at VitaCost by clicking on the link above.
• Last but not least is a good blender or food processor to make the mashed cauliflower part of this dish. I use the blender portion of my Ninja Master Prep and it works wonderfully! This handy gadget comes with both a blender and small food processor for less than $40. It has been one of the most useful kitchen gadgets I've bought!