Winter weather calls for warming soups of all kinds. And for a simple yet flavorful meal, you can’t go wrong with this Super Simple Cauliflower Soup. Straightforward enough for a mid-week meal, and luxurious enough for a dinner party, this beautiful bowl of goodness will become a standard in your recipe box.
Cauliflower pizza crust. Cauliflower cheese bake. Cauliflower mashed with garlic. Cauliflower shampoo. OK, so that last one isn’t true (or maybe it is somewhere in the world, but I don’t want to know about it). But cauliflower seems to be the vegetable du jour, popping up all over the place. I see it in a variety of recipes like the ones mentioned above. So many things to do with this versatile vegetable!
Uncle! I give! With the full-court press of this ingredient showing up everywhere, I finally caved and started thinking more about how to use cauliflower, substitute it for other veggies, and add it to otherwise cauliflower-less dishes.
In a recent Sunday paper, a number of recipes were listed, including a “super easy cauliflower soup”. I figured if I was going to start down this road, a “super easy” entree to the world of cauliflower (is there a whole world to be had?) was a good place to start. But being, well, me, I had to doctor it up a bit to give it my own flair. Sure, that’s risky when trying a recipe for the first time, but the result was SO good that there was absolutely none left of the first batch. That’s a good sign, right? I am going to bet that you will have the same result that I had of clean bowls and an empty soup pot. At that point, vow to make a double batch the next time to assure you have tasty leftovers!
And yes, Virginia, wine does pair nicely with cauliflower. For a good starting point, Sauvignon Blanc is a great choice. However, I love (LOVE I tell you!) Albarino. It’s a crisp, refreshing, citrus-based Spanish grape that went beautifully with the soup. I had the Jacqueline Bahue Albarino Gomes Vineyard 2014 (I know, that’s a mouthful–literally and figuratively). If you can’t find that particular wine, ask your local wine shop for a good one to try. If you are a white wine fan, you will become a lover of this grape, too.
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 4 people | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 40 minutes |
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The original recipe I found for seemed just fine, but I wanted some extra depth of flavor. Hence the addition of the nutmeg. What a smarty I am--it's a perfect ingredient to add depth to a dish like this. Oh, and if there actually are leftovers, this is really good as a cold soup, too. Year-round recipe? Yes, please!
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- 1 head cauliflower, broken into florets
- 1 quart chicken stock or broth
- 1/2 cup fat-free half-and-half
- 1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
- 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. fresh cracked pepper
- Break the cauliflower into florets. Rinse them in cool water, and pat them dry before cooking.
- Place cauliflower in large pot and cover with chicken stock or broth.
- Boil cauliflower until tender, about 30 minutes. It should be able to be easily pierced with a fork.
- Using an immersion blender, blend cauliflower and remaining chicken stock in pan to create a thick but creamy consistency (yes, it will look like baby food at this point, but don't worry! We're not done yet!).
- Add Greek yogurt, half-and-half, nutmeg, salt & pepper.
- Blend again to incorporate ingredients. If it's too thick, add chicken stock to create desired consistency for soup.
- Serve immediately as a starting course, or as a main dish alongside crusty bread and a side salad.
Per usual, a few additional notes for this recipe.
1. As I mentioned, served cold this soup would make an elegant starter for a Spring or Summer dinner party. Top with fresh parsley or other herbs for a beautiful presentation.
2. At the point that the cauliflower is mashed but not thinned out for soup, you could add it to mashed potatoes or parsnips (or both!) for a healthy alternative to an all-taters side dish.
3. For an additional layer of flavor, add crushed garlic cloves to the boiling broth & cauliflower. When you puree the mixture, the garlic will give this soup a little bite. After all, garlic makes everything better.
4.Don't have an immersion blender? You can blend the ingredients in batches in a blender or food processor. But I will admit, the immersion blender really does the trick for a recipe like this. Aside from the fact that I wound up with soup all over me (hello, user error), it is the best tool for the job. I have 2 on hand, and can recommend the Cuisinart Smart Stick. Works like a champ to create perfectly blended dishes.
Simply perfection! I have a winter themed cauli-soup, but I definitely want to try your version. I love how simple and light it looks. Thanks for sharing!
Looks very creamy and luxurious!
I way prefer the idea of having cauliflower as… um… cauliflower! Beautiful soup!
Dee Dee,
Though I know I’m not supposed to say ‘never’, but I really cannot envision a day when I attempt to replace a perfectly good pizza crust with a lump of cauliflower. Ditto mashed potatoes.
Cauliflower can be delicious without trying to be anything it’s not!
This soup looks great–and the wine sounds amazing!–so when I get some in the farm share I’m on it.
Thanks!
I hear ya’, Kirsten. But I, too, have learned never to say never. I’m trying things I never thought I would–and MOST of the time that’s a good thing. LOL
I made cauliflower mash once as an experiment and while I felt I didn’t do a very good job, my husband loved it. Cauliflower soup, on the other hand, I can get behind anytime. Love the simplicity of your version and I can imagine how great it tastes!
This really was so darned simple, and really rich in flavor, which surprised my husband (he’s harder to please!). Next time I’ll add roasted garlic, too for even more punch. Hope you like it!
I LOVE cauliflower! I think I have made all the recipes you have mentioned (except the shampoo of course!) My favourite soup is a roasted cauliflower soup (vegan and non-vegan versions!)
Kacey, that’s what I love about recipes like this one. The versatility for just about any dietary restrictions or choices is awesome. Enjoy!
I love cauliflower! This soup sounds delicious!