Roasted Cauliflower Chowder
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This Roasted Cauliflower Chowder recipe features a luxuriously creamy texture and is positively PACKED with flavor! Chock full of vegetables, it’s a nutritious and delicious soup that will have your guests asking for seconds! Vegetarian and gluten-free and can be made vegan substituting olive oil and cashew milk.
This cozy chowder is packed with layers and layers delicious flavors. And the star of the show: Roasted cauliflower. This chowder is so good it will even make the cauliflower-haters rethink their position. Growing up I was always very lukewarm towards cauliflower and my preference has been raw over cooked (eg, with dip). But since discovering the transformative power that roasting has on cauliflower I’m sold hook, line and sinker.
This soup is simple and straightforward and you can do the prep work and get the soup going while the cauliflower is roasting. For texture, you can adjust however chunky or smooth you prefer the chowder by how much you puree it.
What to Serve With Roasted Cauliflower Chowder
This cauliflower chowder can be served as a starter or as the main course. As the main course you can serve it with:
- A leafy green salad
- Crusty bread
- Buttermilk Biscuits
- Spelt Buttermilk Biscuits
Roasted Cauliflower Chowder Recipe
Let’s get started!
Place the florets on a lined baking sheet and drizzle with some olive oil and a very light sprinkling of salt.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and roast for 20-25 minutes or until nicely browned. Give the florets a toss with a spatula after about 15 minutes.
Heat the butter in a stock pot over medium-high heat and cook the onions until soft and translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and remaining vegetables and cook for another 5-7 minutes until softened. This will also bring out their sweetness.
Add the roasted cauliflower. Add the stock, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Discard the bay leaf.
Use an immersion blender to puree the soup however smooth or chunky you prefer it. (I like to puree just part of it and leave the rest chunky.) Alternatively transfer a portion of the soup to a regular blender, puree it, and add it back to the pot.
Stir in the parsley and cream and heat through. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Note: If you prefer a thicker consistency you can dissolve some cornstarch in a little water (e.g., 1 tablespoon cornstarch in 3 tablespoons water) and pour it into the soup at the end. Let the soup simmer for a minute or two until slightly thickened.
Serve hot with a salad and/or some crusty bread, our best every Buttermilk Biscuits or our whole grain Spelt Buttermilk Biscuits.
Enjoy!
For more cauliflower recipe favorites be sure to try my:
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Roasted Cauliflower Chowder
Ingredients
- 1 large head cauliflower , washed and cut into florets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons butter , vegan/paleo: use olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion , chopped
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 2 medium carrots , chopped
- 2 celery ribs , chopped
- 1 large red bell pepper , seeds removed and diced
- 3 cups chicken broth , vegetarian/vegan: use vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1 small bay leaf
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup heavy cream , vegan/paleo: use cashew milk
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.Place the cauliflower florets onto a lined baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil and a pinch of salt. Roast for 20-25 minutes until nicely browned, turning with a spatula after 15 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.
- Heat the butter in a stock pot over medium-high heat and cook the onion until soft and translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add the remaining vegetables and cook for another 5-7 minutes until softened. Add the roasted cauliflower, stock, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Discard the bay leaf.Use an immersion blender to puree the soup to consistency you prefer (I like to puree just part of it and leave the rest chunky). Alternatively transfer a portion of the soup to a regular blender, puree it, and add it back to the pot. Add the cream and parsley and heat through. Add salt and pepper to taste.Note: If you prefer a thicker consistency you can dissolve some cornstarch in a little water (e.g., 1 tablespoon cornstarch in 3 tablespoons water) and pour it into the soup at the end. Let the soup simmer for a minute or two until slightly thickened.
Nutrition
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet February 12, 2016
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
A VERY good soup, lots of flavor. I’d never made cauliflower soup before, nor had I roasted cauliflower for any purpose.
I’m not a huge fan of bell peppers, and was tempted to skip it, but am very glad I didn’t. It adds a sweet undertone that isn’t quite identifiable as pepper, and it would be a poorer soup without it.
You might want to add a note about removing the bay leaf before blending. Being old is fraught with such dangers, and I’m sure the wine didn’t help. No, I didn’t blend it, but it was a near thing.
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed it, Joe, thank you very much! And I’ve added the note about removing the bay leaf – thank you for pointing that out! :)
Can the cashew milk be substituted with light coconut milk?
And what are the advantages to using cashew milk?
Thank you, Kimberly; I’m excited to try this recipe….I LOVE roasted cauliflower!
Hi Patricia, the cashew milk is just one of several options you can use and absolutely, light coconut milk is another good option. Oat milk is another nice option because of its creamy texture. Happy cooking and I hope you enjoy this chowder! :)
Lots of flavour that packs a punch! We roasted the garlic together with the cauliflower, and it was delicious Thanks for sharing!
Awesome, I’m so glad you enjoyed it and appreciate the feedback, thank you!
I personally don’t eat cauliflower but my wife love it . And when I show her about these Recipe, she just couldn’t resist to try it. Thanks you for the love idea.
This is delicious…cooked for my son who is vegan & the whole family enjoyed it
Wonderful, Cynthia, thank you!
It’s awesome . I am going to try it for our coffee shop tomorrow Dinner buffet. I hope all our long staying guest would love this. Thanks for sharing such a nice recipe.
Can this soup be frozen? I’m about to have surgery and I want to prepare some things in advance so I can chill out & still eat healthy.
Hi Miko, yes it can. Milk has a tendency to separate and so it’s generally recommended to let it thaw in the fridge and then to reheat it gently.