Roasted cauliflower soup is a comforting and hearty remedy for the cold winter nights ahead! Made with caramelized cauliflower, garlic, and a savory broth, this easy soup is ready in minutes.
With a deep roasted flavor, you might be happy to eat this as your meal. But I like to enjoy it as an appetizer or with a big piece of crusty bread and lots of soup toppings.
Benefits of cauliflower
Cauliflower has a fairly bland flavor (raw) and is versatile in the kitchen. As a vegetable that’s great both raw and cooked, there are endless ways to enjoy it from these cheesy cauliflower bites to a hearty spicy peanut cauliflower stir fry.
It also has some major nutrition benefits. If anyone has ever told you to skip white foods, ignore them.
Like other cruciferous vegetables, cauliflower is chock full of glucosinolates, the compounds that might help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. It’s an excellent source of vitamin C, which we all need daily and especially during the winter season to support immune health.
Plus, it’s a good source of folate which may help with heart health and is especially important for proper tissue growth and development.
Tips for the best cauliflower soup
- Roast the cauliflower. Yes. You could boil or steam the cauliflower for a faster finish. But roasting adds a sweet, caramelized flavor to cauliflower that is just incomparable.
- Layer on the flavor. Starting with sauteed shallot and garlic in flavorful olive oil will build flavor to carry throughout the soup. I like to blend in some fresh herbs. Chives go well with cauliflower but you can also try fresh thyme – but only a little as it’s quite bold.
- Add creaminess. Pureed cauliflower is a naturally creamy base. You can add a splash of half and half, whole milk, or cashew milk to add even more creaminess. To keep the soup vegan (and don’t have cashew milk), add a bit more olive oil to give the soup more body. This adds a silky, smooth texture similar to what you’d get with heavy cream.
How to make cauliflower soup
Break the cauliflower into equal-sized pieces for even cooking. Spread the florets and stalks onto a half sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Though it’s tempting to skip roasting, it’s essential for the flavor profile of this soup. If you boil the cauliflower, I promise it will not be the same.
Blend the soup with an immersion or stick blender to save one step. If you don’t have a stick blender, transfer the soup in batches to a blender to puree.
TIP: Use a full blender if you can. A blender will yield the best texture – whether a standard blender or an expensive Vitamix.
Once the soup is blended it will be silky smooth and easy to just slurp down. But it will also be quite boring to look at.
Top the soup with chopped chives, fried or roasted garlic, or small pieces of roasted cauliflower and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
The toppings make it fun and add some texture to the soup. Speaking of toppings, my vegetarian lasagna soup is loaded with a generous dollop of herbed ricotta and fresh herbs for a flavor just like what you get in the classic recipe. I think you should make that next!
Healthy soup recipes to make tonight!
Spicy Black Bean Soup with Ancho Pepitas
Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup
Ingredients
- 1 large head cauliflower (about 7 cups florets removed)
- 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (divided 2 tablespoons + 1 tablespoon)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 3½ cups vegetable or chicken broth
- ¼ cup half and half (warmed)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spread the cauliflower florets onto a half sheet pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and add salt and pepper to taste. Roast the cauliflower at 400°F for 15 minutes, turning once. Remove from the oven when done.
- In a large stockpot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the shallots, garlic, and thyme just until fragrant. Add the roasted cauliflower and broth to the stockpot. Cover and simmer until the cauliflower is tender (about 20-30 minutes). Stir in the half and half.
- Using an immersion blender (hand blender), puree the soup in the pot until smooth. If the soup is too thick, thin with hot broth, as needed. Garnish with leftover herbs, extra cauliflower, and extra olive oil. Serve warm.
Notes
- Break the cauliflower into the same sized pieces for even cooking.
- Swap in a sweet onion if you cannot find shallots.
- Go dairy-free or omit the half and half for a vegan recipe. The soup will still be creamy thanks to the cauliflower and oil.
Vasu Manimaran
This looks great! Definitely want to try it out soon.
Marisa
Thanks Vasu! It’s such a heart warming soup. Perfect for these cold days we’re having!