Curried Cauliflower Soup

Let’s say, for argument’s sake, that you need a break from the gout-inducing feasts of Christmas. You feel like you should eat a vegetable that isn’t swimming with bacon or a piece of fruit that hasn’t been caught studding a dense cake or garnishing a cocktail. This soup is just what the cardiologist ordered. You may even have an almost-questionable-but-totally-legit bunch of cauliflower languishing in the back of your fridge that you can use in this very situation. This soup makes a great light lunch that is still satisfying and delicious, so you won’t feel at deprived after all the happy-full-belliness of the holidays. You may find you are actually be able to keep your pants zipped or read a book without falling into a pork coma after consuming this meal. It seems strange now, just go with it.

Curried Cauliflower Soup

Ingredients

• 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
• 3 whole garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 onions, thickly sliced
• 2  cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 3 cups water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• salt and pepper
• 1 cup whole milk

Method

Toss cauliflower and garlic with oil and sprinkle with salt; roast on a baking sheet for twenty-five minutes at 425. Meanwhile, in a medium soup pot, melt butter over medium-high heat, add onions and cook until softened, about five minutes. Add to the soup pot the roasted cauliflower, stock, water, and spices. Cover and bring to a boil, uncover, lower heat, simmer five minutes, remove from heat. Use a slotted spoon to remove to a bowl two cups of cauliflower, then blend the soup. Season with black pepper to taste and pour in the milk. Garnish with chives, a dash more turmeric, and a tiny dollop of creme fraiche or Greek yogurt, if you so desire.

No pressure, but New Year’s Eve is less than a week away and you have to look good if you want to get kissed at midnight!

Tagged as: cauliflower, light, lunch, soup

About the Author: Jillian Bedell

Jillian grew up in Connecticut, went to university in Boston, college in New Haven, did some post-grad soul searching in New York, exiled herself to Mexico, married her longtime sweetheart, and lived in a house on the ocean. She suspected Maine might be the perfect place to raise a family, so she came back home to New England two years ago. Now a mom to Violet Maeve and living in Rockland, where she hopes to settle for a good, long while, Jillian reads, writes, walks, and practices Nia, when not watching Malcolm photograph sandwiches.