Fall recipes: Cream of cauliflower soup with herbs and toppings

Cream of Cauliflower Soup with Herbs and Olive Oil

A hearty bowl of Cream of Cauliflower Soup drizzled with oil and herbs

Cream of Cauliflower soup might not sound so sexy, but hold on to your stock pot....she's here and you're going to fall in love with her! Rich and silky, this soup warms you up and packs a wallop of a nutritional punch. Plus, it is filling and ridiculously fast to prepare (would 30 minutes be alright with you?) Pair it with a simple green salad and you have a match made in heaven.

What's to Love? Cauliflower is one of those vegetables that really gets a bad wrap for being "too fragrant", perhaps overpowering and a repeat customer. It has a big personality. However, when you treat it properly, it mellows in flavor and texture, is easy to digest and complements many other ingredients and courses you might serve with it. The bright, whiteness of the florets stand out like a canvas when you add other ingredients such as colorful cayenne pepper or cheddar cheese. Cauliflower is low in calories (only 14 per 1/2 cup cooked) has no fat, is low in carbs and sodium. Cauliflower contains Vitamins C and E and is known to contain important disease fighting antioxidants!

Give me a break. The kid's would never eat this! Wrong. This creamy soup is the perfect backdrop for a fun slew of toppings added at the table. Try Goldfish Crackers...entice them with Pizza or new Garden Cheddar flavor or put out a bowl of shredded mild Monterey Jack Cheese by Cabot (a Vermont Cheese Cooperative that makes superb products) to sprinkle in. Kids love toppings and here is a way to give them a serving of calcium they certainly need.

I'm an adult. It's O.K. to love toppings too, so why not add a complimentary drizzle of Olive, Truffle, or Walnut oil? Add an extra splash of dry sherry, sprinkle the top with toasted nuts such as Pepita's, swirl in some warmed canned pumpkin puree or saute some asparagus tips and top with that! This soup is open to it all.

Cream of Cauliflower Soup with Herbs and Toppings

Ingredients

1 medium head of Cauliflower, cut into small florets
1 small white onion, minced
1 shallot, finely minced
1 tbs. olive oil plus 1 tsp. to garnish
2 cups of Chicken (or Vegetable) Stock (Try Kitchen Basics for a superior, all natural brand. Look for their NEW no salt added variety)
1 cup milk (use any variety- Whole for a richer product, Skim for a lower in fat end product)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup Dry Sherry (optional)
1 tbs. Dijon mustard (Grey Poupon or Maille)
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. coriander seeds (lemony fresh and peppery at the same time)
1 tsp. white pepper (has a bit of a bite, but will not add any flecks of black to soup!)
1 tbs. sea or Kosher salt (or more to taste)
2 fresh sage leaves (a true fall flavor!)
1 tbs. fresh chives, for garnish
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper to garnish (optional)

Directions

In a 6 qt. stock pot, heat onion and shallot over medium high heat just until onions become translucent. Season with a bit of salt and white pepper. Add cauliflower florets, bay and sage leaves. Toss to incorporate. If adding sherry, add at this point and cook for 3 minutes or until liquid has just about evaporated. Meanwhile, whisk together milk, cream and Dijon mustard in a separate bowl. Add milk liquid to stock pot along with chicken stock. Re-season with more salt and white pepper. Bring soup to boil and then lower heat to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes. Remove bay leaf. In 2-3 batches, add to blender and blend until completely smooth being extremely careful as to not burn yourself by holding down the lid with a clean cloth. Place blended soup back in pot, taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper as needed. At this point, check the consistency of the soup adding a touch more milk or stock to thin out.

Serve with toppings such as:

shredded cheese or for a bold taste... Gorgonzola!
fresh herbs
infused oils
nuts such as toasted pignoli or Pepita's
OR for a wild, but winning combination add one crushed amaretti originali cookie

For the Side:

Try Wheat Thins Artisan Wisconsin Colby Cheese Crackers for a perfectly delicious, nutty and crunchy foil to the smooth and warm flavors of cauliflower and sage.

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