Roasted Cauliflower Soup takes some time, but most of it is hands off. As the name suggests, you should absolutely roast the cauliflower (along with a whole head of garlic) instead of steaming or tossing it in raw. Trust - you'll be rewarded with the creamiest, most flavorful cauliflower soup you can imagine.
1headcauliflowerdivided into florets (about 6 cups)
1headgarlic
1tablespoonbutteror ghee, olive oil, or avocado oil
1largevidalia oniondiced to ½"
1largeyukon gold potatopeeled and diced
1teaspoonkosher salt
½teaspoonground pepper
4cvegetable brothor chicken broth or stock
1sprigfresh thymeplus more for garnish
¼c.toasted pine nutsfor garnish
Instructions
Heat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Toss the cauliflower florets with 2 tablespoon olive oil, then spread on the prepared baking sheet. Slice off the top of the head of garlic and rub ½ tablespoon of remaining oil into the exposed garlic cloves. Wrap the garlic in aluminum foil and add it to the baking sheet.
Transfer to the oven and roast the cauliflower and garlic until the cauliflower is golden brown and tender and the garlic is soft and squeezable, 40-45 minutes. The cauliflower may finish roasting before the garlic, so check it every 5 minutes after the 40-minute mark.
Reserve ½ cup of the smallest cauliflower florets for garnish. Allow the garlic to cool for a few moments, then squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of the papery shells.
Heat a large soup pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter or ghee and heat until it melts. Add the onions to the pot, stir to coat in the fat, and then cover and sweat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and translucent, 15-20 minutes.
Add the roasted cauliflower florets, roasted garlic, and diced potato to the onions. Season with salt and pepper, then add enough broth to just barely cover the vegetables (I used about 4 cups). Give everything a quick stir and then add the fresh thyme.
Increase the heat to medium-high, bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes.
While the soup is simmering, heat a small skillet over medium high heat. Add the pine nuts to the pan and toast, stirring continuously, until the pine nuts are lightly golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside.
Once the potatoes are soft, remove the thyme sprig. Blend the soup with an immersion blender (or in a traditional blender in batches, see notes) until smooth. If the soup is too thick, add a bit of extra stock or water, 2 tablespoon at a time. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.
Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with cauliflower florets, pine nuts, and fresh thyme leaves. Serve immediately. This soup keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in the freezer in an airtight container for up to three months.
Notes
Storing and Freezing
Fridge: leftovers will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in a soup pot over medium heat until warmed through.
Freezer: store in airtight containers in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Make It Your Way
Vegan: use vegan butter or substitute butter for olive oil.