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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  1. Angela says

    Love this recipe. I make it every winter Friends and family that I serve it to who don't know what it is think it is baked potato soup specially when I top it with cheese and bacon

    Reply

    • 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

What makes soup more 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.

Why is my cauliflower soup tasteless? ›

How Do You Fix Bland Cauliflower Soup?
  • Season twice with salt and pepper: You'll start by seasoning the cauliflower florets with salt and pepper before roasting. Then, season again when the roasted florets are combined with broth on the stovetop. ...
  • Add lots of aromatics. ...
  • Finish with lemon.

How do you thicken cauliflower soup? ›

We thicken cauliflower soup by cooking flour and butter together to make a roux, but the soup will have a brothy consistency.

How do you fix soup that is too creamy? ›

Adding/mixing water in the soup makes the soup less thick. (discrepencies apply. You could use more vegetables/fruits/ingredients with water in them in your soup or just plain ol' pour in water, though ratio applies. Some ingredients have more water than others.

What can I add to my soup to make it creamier? ›

Knead equal parts butter and flour into a thick paste, and then whisk it into your soup until it has completely dissolved. Adding beurre manié is like a making reverse-roux, and it will thicken your soup in a similar way. 7. Add Flour, Cornstarch, or Other Thickener: Starches thicken soup and give it body.

What is the secret ingredient in soup? ›

It may sound a bit strange and unusual for some, but vinegar is a common ingredient in some soup recipes, and there is a good reason for it. If you think about it, vinegar is really a flavor-enhancer (umami). That's why it is so often used in cooking, sauces, and salad dressings. The same is true with soups.

How do you make cauliflower soup less 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 if my cauliflower soup is too thick? ›

If the soup is too thick for your taste, add more milk, water or stock (and more salt if needed).

How do you get the depth of flavor in vegetable soup? ›

The first is to caramelize the vegetables, either in your soup pot or in the oven, to sweeten them and condense their juices. Next, add plenty of aromatics to the pot — herbs, spices, garlic, onions and the like — and let everything simmer for a long time to blend the flavors.

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.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

Does adding milk to soup 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. If you want to make regular (non-creamy) chicken noodle soup, replace the milk with more chicken broth.

What makes thick creamy soups? ›

Traditional cream soups derive their smooth texture from liberal amounts of milk or cream, thickened with flour or cornstarch. Now when we make soups that are creamy, chances are they contain no cream at all: They're likely thickened with purees made from starchy vegetables.

Why is my cauliflower soup grainy? ›

Finally, we browned florets in butter and used both as a flavorful garnish. 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 can contribute to a grainy texture in the soup.

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.

Does sour cream make soup creamier? ›

Yogurt, Sour Cream, and Crème Fraîche – Dairy like yogurt, sour cream, and crème fraîche can add a creamy acidity to soups, but can curdle and be unpleasant if cooked over heat for too long, so swirl these in last.

What is the secret ingredient to thicken soup? ›

Soup Thickening Method: Cornstarch Slurry

About this method: One of the most common ways to thicken sauces and soups is with a starch-based slurry, and cornstarch is a popular choice. Cornstarch is flavorless, easy to mix up, and versatile, which makes it a go-to pantry ingredient.

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