Description
Creamy cheddar cauliflower and roasted garlic soup delivers comfort in every spoonful, blending rich flavors from simple ingredients. Warm cheese notes and caramelized garlic create a luxurious experience you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 medium head cauliflower, chopped into florets
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 3 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
- 2 cups whole milk
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 bulb garlic, separated into cloves (with skins on)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cooking Fats and Garnish:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F (200C), preparing a baking sheet for roasting cauliflower and garlic simultaneously.
- Wrap whole garlic cloves in aluminum foil after drizzling with olive oil, keeping skins intact.
- Distribute cauliflower florets on baking sheet, coat with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
- Roast garlic and cauliflower for 25-30 minutes until cauliflower turns golden and tender, and garlic becomes soft.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and sauté diced onions until translucent and soft, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Transfer roasted cauliflower to the pot with sautéed onions, squeezing roasted garlic cloves directly from their skins into the mixture.
- Pour vegetable broth and milk into the pot, allowing ingredients to simmer gently for 10-15 minutes to develop rich flavors.
- Using an immersion blender, thoroughly puree the soup until achieving a smooth, creamy consistency. Alternatively, carefully transfer to a standard blender in batches.
- Return blended soup to pot and gradually stir in sharp cheddar cheese until completely melted and integrated.
- Taste and fine-tune seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed before serving.
Notes
- Roast the cauliflower and garlic at high heat to develop deep, caramelized flavors that enhance the soup’s overall richness.
- Use sharp cheddar for maximum flavor intensity, but consider low-fat options if watching calories.
- Adjust liquid consistency by adding more broth if the soup feels too thick, ensuring a smooth and creamy texture.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute milk with coconut milk and use nutritional yeast instead of cheddar cheese to maintain creamy complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 325 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg