Creamy Cauliflower Soup Recipe (2024)

Creamy Cauliflower Soup Recipe (1)

We finally got a littlerain here in San Diego, which ismy cue to bring out the ol' souppot and cook up some hot and comforting soup. Creamy cauliflower soup usually has cream as an ingredient, but not this one. The texture is silky-smooth and there isn't one drop of cream to attribute it to. All the credit goes toAmerica's Test Kitchenfor figuring out the secret; which is to undercook some of the cauliflower and overcook the rest. The overcooked parts will naturally create the creamy texture when puréed, and the undercooked parts contribute all delicious cauliflower flavor.

The garnish is what really makes this soup a winner. Brown butter, caramelized cauliflower floretsand sherry vinegar balance everything out perfectly and make for a stunning presentation. This soup is sure to impress your guests who will be asking for seconds and the recipe.Make it a day ahead for an easy heat and serve starter for your dinner party.

Creamy Cauliflower Soup Recipe (2)

Creamy Cauliflower Soup Recipe (3)

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

5 from 4 votes

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Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 6

Author: Justin McChesney-Wachs

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower 2 pounds
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into 8 pieces
  • 1 leek white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise, sliced thin, and washed thoroughly
  • 1 small onion halved and sliced thin
  • Salt and pepper
  • 4 ½ cups water
  • ½ teaspoon sherry vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons minced fresh chives

Instructions

  • Pull off outer leaves of cauliflower and trim stem. Using a paring knife, cut around core to remove; thinly slice core and reserve. Cut heaping 1 cup of ½-inch florets from the head of cauliflower; set aside. Cut remaining cauliflower crosswise into ½-inch thick slices.

  • Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add leek, onion, and 1 ½ teaspoons salt; cook, stirring frequently until leek and onion are softened but not browned, about 7 minutes.

  • Increase heat to medium-high; add 4 ½ cups water, sliced core, and half of the sliced cauliflower; and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Add remaining sliced cauliflower, return to simmer, and continue to cook until cauliflower is tender and crumbles easily, 15 to 20 minutes longer.

  • While soup simmers, melt the remaining 5 tablespoons butter in 8-inch skillet over medium heat. Add reserved florets and cook, stirring frequently, until florets are golden brown and butter is browned and imparts nutty aroma, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and use a slotted spoon to transfer florets to a small bowl. Toss florets with vinegar and season with salt to taste. Pour browned butter in skillet into small bowl and reserve for garnishing.

  • Process soup in a blender until smooth, about 45 seconds. Rinse out the pan. Return pureed soup to pan and return to simmer over medium heat, adjusting consistency with remaining water as needed (soup should have thick, velvety texture but should be thin enough to settle with a flat surface after being stirred) and seasoning with salt to taste. Serve, garnishing individual bowls with browned florets, a drizzle of browned butter, and chives and seasoning with pepper to taste.

Notes

White wine vinegar may be substituted for the sherry vinegar. Be sure to thoroughly trim the cauliflower’s core of green leaves and leaf stems, which can be fibrous and contribute to a grainy texture in the soup.

Recipe from America's Test Kitchen

Creamy Cauliflower Soup Recipe (4)

If you love cauliflower; be sure to check out my roasted cauliflower recipe.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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    • justin says

      People are so amazed by it and you wouldn't know that cauliflower is in it. Sounds amazing with cheese and bacon. 🙂

      Reply

  1. Mandy says

    Will be trying this recipe!! Looks delish!! Wondering how well it freezes?

    Reply

    • justin says

      Hi Mandy,
      It should freeze really well.

      Reply

  2. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

    This cauliflower soup definitely does look creamy and delicious.. a recipe I need to try!

    Reply

    • justin says

      HI Thalia,
      Definitely give it a try and let me know how you like it. 🙂

      Reply

  3. Claudia @ HomeMade with love says

    What a terrific idea to use buttery florets as toppings. I love cauliflower soup.. it was the first recipe my grandma taught me as a little girl...:) Next time I ll top my soup with your lovely idea.

    Reply

    • justin says

      Hi Claudia,
      So cool that the first recipe you learned was cauliflower soup. Do you make it often? Definitely try it with the florets on top. I always like to top creamy soups with a garnish that complements the bites to provide some nice contrast for alternating bites.

      Reply

  4. Gamma @BoilAndTrouble says

    I'm trying to lose some weight. This looks fantastic, easy to make and super appetizing! I can't wait to cook this one. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

    • justin says

      Hi Gamma. This is definitely a good one to add to your diet recipe list. Let me know how it turns out.

      Reply

      • Gamma @BoilAndTrouble says

        It turned out beautifully! Awesome flavor and the creaminess achieved certainly substitutes for any heavy ingredients i've skipped due to my diet.

        Reply

        • justin says

          Fantastic! So glad it's a good recipe for your diet.

          Reply

Creamy Cauliflower Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How can I make my soup more creamy? ›

Add Something Creamy

Possibilities include cream, coconut milk, yogurt, or even pureed avocado. If you choose coconut milk, be aware that it will impart a sweet, coconut flavor, which might not be right for every soup. Yogurt will add tanginess.

How do you thicken cream of cauliflower soup? ›

How to thicken cauliflower soup: Nobody wants an overly-thin soup. We thicken our cauliflower soup by blending the entire soup in batches using a blender or immersion blender once cooked. This (in addition to our heavy cream) helps thicken our soup up nicely to a hearty texture.

Why is my cauliflower soup bland? ›

If your cauliflower soup is bland, there's a good chance you didn't use enough salt! You can add more, just a 1/4 teaspoon at a time, until it tastes more flavorful. You can also brighten the flavor by adding a splash of lemon juice (just 1 to 3 teaspoons) or some ground black pepper.

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.

What makes a soup thick and creamy? ›

Add Flour, Cornstarch, or Other Thickener: Starches thicken soup and give it body. Whisk a few tablespoons of starch into a little of the broth in a separate bowl before whisking it into the main pot. This prevents the starch from clumping and helps it dissolve into the soup evenly.

Which cream to add to soup? ›

Add a swirl of heavy cream, sour cream, or Greek yogurt (or substitute coconut milk for dairy-free, vegan carrot soup) for a creamy carrot soup. If you have fresh herbs like chives or cilantro, use them as a garnish along with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.

Can I add milk to soup to make it creamy? ›

Milk or Half-and-Half: This is the other magical ingredient that turns your homemade chicken noodle soup into the creamiest soup ever. Use 1 cup of whole milk or 1 cup of half-and-half.

How do you make soup creamier and thicker? ›

6 ways to thicken soup:
  1. Blend all or part of it. If you've made a broth with chunks of vegetable in it, such as minestrone soup, then pour the soup through a sieve. ...
  2. Add cream or yogurt. ...
  3. Add flour or cornflour. ...
  4. Use a butter and flour paste. ...
  5. Blend in bread. ...
  6. Add lentils or rice.

What does cornstarch do to soup? ›

Cornstarch, or corn flour, can be used to thicken soup through its high starch content. Cornstarch is a great thickener for soup because only a little bit is needed to significantly thicken a soup, and it will not affect the flavor profile of the soup.

What brings out the Flavour of cauliflower? ›

There are two really simple techniques that bring out the best in cauliflower: grilling and pickling. Dumping cauliflower florets in a mixture of salt and lemon juice for 45 minutes to an hour turns them into spiky little flavor bombs, delivering high-pitched squeaks in salads, sandwiches or the stew recipe here.

Does cauliflower soup make you gassy? ›

Vegetables

Certain vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, and cauliflower are known to cause excess gas. Like beans, these vegetables also contain the complex sugar, raffinose.

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.

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

Cauliflower Soup (Creme du Barry)

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

Note these while using casseroles for keeping food warm

This process – which should last 10-20 minutes - destroys several microbes and large parasites. As cauliflower is highly susceptible to microbial attacks, it should be washed once again. This time, boil some water and put the cauliflower florets in it.

What do restaurants use to thicken soup? ›

Corn Starch

This completely versatile starch is used in savory and sweet dishes alike: gelatinizing fruit pie fillings or thickening your hefty, stick-to-your-bones soups.

How do you add richness to soup? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says.

Does adding heavy cream to soup make it thicker? ›

Heavy cream

Use heavy cream as a keto-friendly thickening option for your soups and broths. Heavy cream has more fat than regular whole milk, so you can add it to your soup recipes without worrying about it curdling.

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