Creamy Cauliflower Soup Recipe | Elizabeth Rider (2024)

Creamy Cauliflower Soup Recipe | Elizabeth Rider (1)

If you have a big head of cauliflower and you’re not sure what to do with it, let me introduce you to this delightful and delicious creamy cauliflower soup recipe.

This crowd-favorite cauliflower soup tastes a lot like baked potato soup, but is healthy, low-carb, dairy-free & nutritious. Plus, it’s easy to make.

Packed with nutrients and boasting a naturally sweet, slightly nutty flavor, cauliflower is the chameleon of vegetables. It blends beautifully, takes on any seasoning, and delivers a velvety texture that rivals even the richest cream. This recipe showcases its versatility and transforms it into a creamy vegan soup (but no one has to know your secret!).

This incredible cauliflower soup tastes a lot like baked potato soup, but instead of being high glycemic and loaded with dairy like most creamy soups, it’s low glycemic and dairy-free.

Cauliflower Soup Benefits

This cauliflower Soup is low-carb, loaded with nutrients, and comforting.

This humble veg isn’t just a filler anymore. It’s a nutritional powerhouse, packing more than just flavor into every creamy spoonful:

  • Vitamins:A veritable army of vitamins defend your health,led by Vitamin C,the immunity booster,and Vitamin K,the bone builder.Vitamin B6 and folate join the fight,keeping your energy levels high and your mind sharp.
  • Minerals:Potassium and manganese lead the charge,regulating blood pressure and boosting metabolism.
  • Protein:Don’t underestimate this veggie!Cauliflower boasts a surprising amount of protein for a veggie,keeping you feeling satisfied and fueled.
  • Fiber:This dietary superhero promotes gut health,keeps you feeling full,and aids digestion.
  • Hydration:Don’t be fooled by its creamy texture,cauliflower is packed with water to keep you hydrated and refreshed.

This recipe is as simple as it is delicious. It’s perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekend meals. Gather your ingredients, and get ready to whip up a pot of pure comfort in under an hour. It strikes the perfect balance of being filling but not heavy on digestion.

And the best part? It’s incredibly versatile – adjust spices to your spice level, play with toppings, and make it your own.

Creamy Cauliflower Soup Recipe | Elizabeth Rider (2)

Beyond its nutrition praise, cauliflower is also a healthy kitchen’s secret weapon for delivering velvety textures to vegan and dairy-free dishes.

If you’re craving warm comfort food that’s delicious but still healthy, this one’s for you.

You can also find dozens of more delicious soup recipes here.

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Creamy Cauliflower Soup Recipe | Elizabeth Rider (3)

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star4.6 from 5 reviews

  • Author: Elizabeth Rider
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 35 mins
  • Total Time: 50 mins
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Simmer, Blend
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

This velvety cauliflower soup recipe is loaded with nutrition and easy to digest. Use veggie stock to keep it vegan, or use bone broth to add filling protein to this soup. We love it as a light lunch or as a starter or side with dinner. If you love it, please leave a star rating in the comments below to help other readers in our community.

Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 large leeks, root and tough dark green tops removed, cleaned and medium chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, cleaned and medium chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 large head of cauliflower, cleaned, green stem & leaves removed and cut into 2-inch florets
  • 1 quart (4 cups) vegetable stock (or low sodium chicken stock/bone broth if preferred*)
  • 3 cups purified water or more stock (more or less liquid as needed)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • about 1 tablespoon fine sea salt, more or less to taste
  • about 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper, more or less to taste
  • finely chopped chives for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a large soup pot or dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the leeks, celery, and a big pinch of salt and sauté until soft, about 5-6 minutes.
  2. Add the garlic, stir, and cook another minute until very fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
  3. Add the stock, 2 cups water, 2 teaspoons sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and the bay leaf, then bring to a boil.
  4. Add the cauliflower florets and turn the heat to medium; simmer 30 minutes until the cauliflower is fork tender.
  5. Discard the bay leaf. Puree the soup with a hand blender, or in small batches in a high-speed blender or food processor until very smooth. Add the pureed soup back to the pot and stir in vinegar and 1/2 to 1 cup more stock or purified water (depending on desired texture.)

Caution: Be very careful when pureeing hot liquid in a blender or food processor as hot liquid expands. Never fill the blender or food processor more than ¼ full with a hot mixture. Work in very small batches until all of the soup is pureed.

  • Garnish with fresh chopped chives and a few dashes of hot sauce if desired (Cholula is my favorite). The chives really make the soup amazing. Chopped parsley or raw pumpkin seeds are also great additions.
  • This soup can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight glass container for up to 3 days. It also freezes well.

Notes

I’ve been asked if this soup is great with frozen cauliflower florets. I have to admit I’ve never tried it but I do think it would be great. I’ll update here if I ever try it (or let me know if you do, I would love to know!)
For the cauliflower: cut away the leaves and green part of the cauliflower stem, but use the white part of the stem–it’s just as good as the florets.
For the leeks: first chop, then clean. Leeks tend to have a lot of dirt inside, so this is one veggie that you first chop then clean. Be sure to rinse them well so you don’t end up with dirt at the bottom of your soup.
You’ll need between 7 & 8 cups of liquid to make this soup and can use all stock or a combination of stock and water. If you use water, consider adding a vegetable bullion cube to the simmering soup.
Adding a small amount of liquid after pureeing will help avoid the baby-food texture. Add more or less liquid depending on the texture you prefer.
A Vitamix or other high-speed blender will turn this into a very smooth soup, but a food processor or hand blender will work, just be patient.
*Chicken stock/bone broth is of course not vegan, but if you prefer it or are indifferent it’s great to use here and adds protein to the soup.

Creamy Cauliflower Soup Recipe | Elizabeth Rider (4)
Creamy Cauliflower Soup Recipe | Elizabeth Rider (2024)

FAQs

Why is my cauliflower soup tasteless? ›

Bland cauliflower soup is a result of a lack of seasoning. Here's how to ensure every bowl is packed with flavor. Season twice with salt and pepper: You'll start by seasoning the cauliflower florets with salt and pepper before roasting.

How does Gordon Ramsay make cauliflower soup? ›

Directions
  1. Place the cauliflower florets, potato, and onion in a saucepan with the butter and oil. ...
  2. Add the stock and bring to a boil, then pour in the milk and return gently to a boil. ...
  3. Pour in half the cream, then puree in a food processor or blender, or blend in the pan with an immersion blender.

How do you thicken cauliflower soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

How long can you keep cauliflower soup in the fridge? ›

How long can you keep cauliflower soup in the fridge? This Cauliflower Soup will last about 4-5 days in the refrigerator. As always, use common sense and if it doesn't smell right, then throw it out.

What to do when your soup has no flavor? ›

6. Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples. Got a soup that tastes a little bland and unexciting? Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus.

Why is my soup not creamy? ›

One of the simplest ways to give your soup a creamy texture is to puree the vegetables that are in it. That said, certain vegetables lend themselves to this better than others. Vegetables like cauliflower and potatoes can be blended smoothly to achieve a creamy, almost buttery texture.

Why does my cauliflower soup taste bitter? ›

Cauliflower becomes bitter when exposed to too much heat. Over-cooking cauliflower can make it bitter. If your soup tastes bitter, you can add a little more salt to help with the bitterness. If you don't want to add any more salt, a little sugar or something sour, lemon juice, or vinegar to help offset the bitterness.

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

The separated florets have to be washed properly under a tap. This removes dirt and large parasites such as worms. The next step is cleaning the cauliflower in mildly warm water in which a little salt was dissolved. This process – which should last 10-20 minutes - destroys several microbes and large parasites.

What is the name of the French soup made from cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower Soup (Creme du Barry)

Is it OK to eat cauliflower everyday? ›

The fact that it's a vegetable makes cauliflower automatically good for you. Additionally, cauliflower is packed with nutrients that give it unique benefits, such as fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and choline. These properties give you a good reason to eat it frequently or even daily.

Will cream cheese thicken soup? ›

Cream cheese is an excellent addition to soups that you want to be exceedingly thick (thicker than what a glug of heavy cream or half-and-half will get you). Just be careful to add it in the proper way with a good whirl in the blender.

How do you get the liquid out of cauliflower? ›

The trick with cauliflower is: Don't cook it till is too soft. just 4 or 5 minutes but taste to be sure. then drain into a colander, (sieve with big holes) and leave to drain for a few minutes, asking every minute. tap dry with a little kitchen paper or a clean tea towel.

Is 5 day old soup ok to eat? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

Is homemade soup OK to eat after a week? ›

Like other leftover foods, homemade soup can safely be stored in the fridge for three to four days, per standard guidance from the USDA. This includes soups and stews that contain fish, meat, and poultry. If the soup will not be eaten within that time frame, store it in the freezer instead for up to four months.

Can you eat soup after 3 days in fridge? ›

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), soups and stews containing meat and vegetables will be safe to eat for three to four days if refrigerated. The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety (CFS) recommends setting your fridge temperature at 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit) or below.

What gives vegetable soup that depth of flavor? ›

Celery, carrot, and onion are the base vegetables for most preparations of this kind. That's because when you gently fry them in extra virgin olive oil, they become a tasty flavor base for your soup, adding depth of flavor.

What to add to flavorless vegetable soup? ›

Adding a parmesan cheese rind to the simmering soup infuses it with salty, umami flavor. This is SUCH an easy way to add tons of flavor to soup. Look for parmesan cheese rinds at the cheese counter in your grocery store.

Is cauliflower flavorless? ›

Raw cauliflower has a subtly sweet, slightly nutty flavor. It is delicate and mild with a hint of pepperiness. Cauliflower's crisp texture yields a pleasing crunch when included in salads or used as a vessel for dips.

Why does my soup taste plain? ›

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

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