Recipe: Vegan Creamy Curried Cauliflower Soup
A simple puréed soup is something I turn to often. Lately, I’ve been relying on a lightly spiced cauliflower soup to tide be over between the richness of the holidays.
The nice thing about this recipe is that it takes very little time to pull together. You simply cook down the onions and garlic with cauliflower, broth, and warm spices and ready your favorite toppings (I like crispy parsley, toasty cashews, and spicy red pepper flakes — all with a dash of olive oil).
Coconut Makes It Creamy!
You will likely buy a can of coconut milk (13.5 ounces), but this recipe only calls for one cup. I generally hate fussy recipes that leave you with odd leftovers, but I do find this to be the perfect amount of coconut milk to fold in toward the end. If you’d like to add the whole can, it will still be delicious (just a bit thinner). What to do with your leftover coconut milk? I save mine to stir into warm oatmeal or muesli in the mornings. Or you can always freeze it for a future cooking project, too.
Lastly, this recipe asks that you go easy on the salt during the preparation, but do feel free to season with additional salt and pepper once it’s done cooking. Because sodium levels vary depending on what kind of broth you’re using, I prefer to be conservative in the instructions, allowing you to adjust toward the end.
Testing Notes
This hearty vegan soup gets a hefty dose of pungent spices and a thick, velvety texture from cauliflower and coconut milk. It makes a perfect light dinner with some warm pita bread, but it’s also a great lunch the next day too. Be sure to taste as you go to find your ideal salt level.
– Christine, January 2016
Vegan Creamy Curried Cauliflower Soup
Serves 6 to 8
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons
extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to serve
- 2
medium white onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt, plus more to season
- 4
cloves garlic, minced
- 1
large head of cauliflower (about 2 pounds), trimmed and cut into florets
- 4 1/2 cups
low-sodium vegetable broth or water
- 1/2 teaspoon
ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon
ground turmeric
- 1 1/4 teaspoons
ground cumin
- 1 cup
coconut milk
Freshly ground black pepper, to season
- 1/4 cup
roasted cashew halves, for garnish (optional, see Recipe Note)
- 1/4 cup
finely chopped Italian parsley, for garnish (optional)
Red pepper flakes, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat until shimmering. Cook the onions and 1/4 teaspoon salt until onions are soft and translucent, 8 to 9 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add garlic, and cook for 2 additional minutes. Add cauliflower, broth or water, coriander, turmeric, cumin, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer until cauliflower is fork-tender, about 15 minutes.
Working in batches, purée the soup in a blender until smooth and then return the soup to the soup pot. (Alternatively, use an immersion blender to purée the soup right in the pot.) Stir in the coconut milk and warm the soup. Taste and add more salt, pepper, or spices if you’d like.
To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with a handful of toasted cashews, a few springs of parsley, sprinkle of red pepper flakes, and a dash of olive oil to top.
Recipe Notes
To toast the cashews: Preheat the oven to 350°F and lay cashews out on a baking sheet in a nice flat layer. Toast for 5 to 6 minutes, or until fragrant.
Updated from the recipe — originally published April 2013.