Description
Ina Garten’s cauliflower soup blends creamy richness with delicate flavor profiles from roasted vegetables. Home cooks can enjoy this elegant French-inspired recipe that delivers comfort and sophistication in each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 cups yellow onions, chopped
- 2 cups celery root, diced into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cups fennel, diced into 1-inch pieces (core and stalks removed)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil, plus extra for serving
- 2 cups (473 ml) chicken stock
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) heavy cream
- Kosher salt to taste
- Homemade croutons for serving
- Fresh chives, chopped for serving
Instructions
- Sauté Foundation: In a Dutch oven, warm olive oil over medium-low heat. Gently cook yellow onions until translucent and soft, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes.
- Layer Aromatics: Introduce diced celery root and fennel to the softened onions. Sauté for 5 minutes, allowing vegetables to release their fragrant essences and gradually tenderize.
- Build Soup Base: Add cauliflower florets, chicken stock, and kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and let ingredients meld together for 25-30 minutes until vegetables are completely tender.
- Intensify Flavors: Pour in water and continue simmering uncovered for 20 minutes. This process concentrates the soup’s depth and breaks down vegetable fibers, creating a more robust flavor profile.
- Smooth and Finish: Purée the soup using a blender until achieving a silky, uniform texture. Reintroduce to the pot, gently stir in heavy cream, and season to taste. Warm through carefully to preserve the delicate consistency.
- Elegant Presentation: Ladle the steaming soup into bowls. Garnish with crisp croutons and a sprinkle of freshly chopped chives, transforming this rustic vegetable soup into an elegant culinary experience.
Notes
- Sauté Secrets: Avoid browning onions to maintain a delicate, sweet flavor profile that won’t overpower the subtle cauliflower essence.
- Vegetable Layering: Cook root vegetables in stages to develop deep, complex flavors and ensure each ingredient reaches optimal tenderness.
- Blending Brilliance: Work in batches when puréeing to achieve a silky-smooth texture without overwhelming your blender.
- Cream Caution: Add heavy cream at the end to preserve its delicate flavor and prevent potential curdling during prolonged cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg