Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Parmesan

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A smooth, velvety cream of cauliflower soup with a handful of ingredients (no cream or potato). This is a pure and simple recipe that’s satisfying and comforting.

This cauliflower soup has the comforting, soothing vibe that I can only compare with my recipe for broccoli cheddar soup.

It has a pure taste of cauliflower, accented by the delicate onion flavor of leeks. You can use water instead of stock as a liquid base, and the addition of a good amount of grated Parmesan cheese adds a layer of savoriness.

• It only requires a handful of ingredients
• The soup tastes rich and satisfying and is ready to serve in about 30 minutes

The texture of the soup is lusciously dreamy-creamy but it doesn’t have any flour, cream or butter. For me, that translates into a soup without that gloppy, pasty texture you sometimes get when you make one thickened with a milk and flour base.

You can top off your bowl with a spoonful of fresh basil pesto for color and another layer of flavor.

Use a blender for the creamiest soup

Cooked cauliflower turns into a versatile puree with a smooth, velvety texture.

• The best way to achieve a light, smooth texture is to use a high-speed blender or a handheld blender.

My whole cooking life would be completely different without a few electric appliances, and my blender is one of those.

I bought my Vitamix almost ten years ago. Yes, it was quite an investment, but it’s still going strong, whipping up smooth pureed soups like this one, as well as daily smoothies and sauces. But you don’t need a fancy blender to make this soup.

It’s really the humble cauliflower you have to thank here. Cauliflower is a perfect stand-in for broccoli (I usually just roast it to make a super-tasty cauliflower salad).

Tips: For a soup with a perfect creamy texture, follow the ingredients ratio carefully, which is 5 cups water to the florets from a large (2-pound head) of cauliflower.

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Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Parmesan

Karen Tedesco

A super-smooth, comforting and creamy cauliflower soup that doesn't contain any butter, flour or cream. The recipe makes a beautiful pureed soup with the perfect texture.

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5 from 9 community reviews

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Soup and Stew

Cuisine Vegetarian

Servings 6 servings

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• ▢ 3 tablespoons (45 ml) extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for serving
• ▢ 2 leeks, white and light green parts chopped
• ▢ 1 large cauliflower, about 2 pounds, cut into florets
• ▢ ¼-½ teaspoon red chili flakes, to taste
• ▢ 5 cups (1.20 l) vegetable broth, or water
• ▢ 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• ▢ ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese or Pecorino Romano cheese, plus additional for serving
• ▢ ½ cup chopped fresh parsley

US Customary – Metric

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Instructions 

• Pour the oil into a large (4 or 5-quart) saucepan or Dutch oven. Place over medium low heat and add the leeks. Cover the pan, lower the heat and cook about 5 minutes, or until the leeks become meltingly tender without coloring.
• Add the cauliflower to the pan along with the chili flakes, water and salt. Bring to a simmer, then partially cover and until cauliflower is soft, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool 10-15 minutes.
• Stir in the cheese and puree the soup in a blender in 2 batches or with an immersion blender until it’s very smooth.
• Sprinkle with parsley and additional cheese before serving, and drizzle olive oil over each serving.

Karen’s Notes and Tips

• Feel free to omit the cheese to make this a creamy vegan cauliflower soup.
• If too much liquid evaporates during cooking, add more little by little to achieve the consistency you like, then check for seasoning (more water will dilute the flavors).
• For a delicious garnish, add a swirl of fresh basil pesto when serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 924mg | Potassium: 377mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 975IU | Vitamin C: 56mg | Calcium: 141mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition facts are calculated by third-party software. If you have specific dietary needs, please refer to your favorite calculator.

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Hey, I’m Karen

Creator of Familystyle Food

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I’m a food obsessed super-taster and professionally trained cook ALL about creating elevated dinners with everyday ingredients. Find simplified recipes made from scratch and enjoy incredibly tasty food! Read more about me here.