Description
Creamy cauliflower soup blends robust flavors with silky smooth textures, offering comfort in each spoonful. Hearty ingredients and simple techniques create a delightful meal you can savor with warmth and satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 medium cauliflower head, cut into florets
- 2 cups carrots, shredded
- 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup Mexican blend cheese
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Additional Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup celery, chopped
- 1/4 cup onion, chopped
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Prepare vegetables by combining cauliflower florets, shredded carrots, celery, and onion in a large pot. Cover with chicken or vegetable stock, ensuring vegetables are fully submerged.
- Heat the mixture to a boil, then reduce temperature to low. Simmer for approximately 15 minutes until vegetables become tender and cauliflower breaks easily with a fork.
- Create a roux by melting butter in a separate saucepan over medium heat. Incorporate flour, whisking continuously for 2 minutes to eliminate raw flour flavor.
- Gradually introduce milk into the roux, stirring consistently until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and fold in cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Transfer the cheese sauce into the vegetable pot, stirring thoroughly to integrate all components.
- Add bay leaves, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Allow the soup to simmer for an additional 10 minutes, enabling flavors to meld and intensify.
- Conduct a final taste test, adjusting seasoning as needed. Optional: enhance with a dash of hot sauce or smoked paprika for extra depth of flavor.
- Serve hot, ensuring a creamy, well-balanced cauliflower soup with rich, complex flavors.
Notes
- Blend half the soup before adding the cheese sauce to create a luxurious, velvety texture that coats your spoon perfectly.
- Replace chicken stock with vegetable stock to make the soup completely vegetarian-friendly without losing any rich flavor profile.
- Substitute dairy cheese with nutritional yeast and use plant-based milk to create a creamy, allergen-friendly version that maintains the soup’s comforting essence.
- Roast cauliflower florets before simmering to develop deeper, nuttier undertones that elevate the entire soup’s complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg