Description
Creamy cheddar cauliflower and roasted garlic soup blends hearty comfort with elegant simplicity. Rich Wisconsin cheddar and caramelized garlic create a luxurious backdrop for warm winter meals you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 cups (473 ml) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 cups (946 ml) chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 bulb garlic
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Extra shredded cheddar cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Crumbled bacon
Instructions
- Roast Garlic: Preheat oven to 400F (200C). Coat whole garlic bulbs with olive oil, wrap in aluminum foil, and roast for 35 minutes until cloves become incredibly soft and fragrant.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large pot, melt butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent, then introduce cauliflower florets, allowing them to caramelize slightly for 5-6 minutes.
- Simmer and Infuse: Pour vegetable broth into the pot, creating a gentle simmer. Cook cauliflower until tender, approximately 12-15 minutes. Squeeze roasted garlic cloves from their skin and incorporate into the soup.
- Blend and Smooth: Use an immersion blender or transfer to a standard blender in batches to create a silky, uniform texture. Ensure complete integration of garlic and vegetables.
- Enrich and Season: Return pureed soup to low heat. Gradually add grated cheddar cheese and milk, stirring continuously until cheese melts completely. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
- Serve and Garnish: Ladle into serving bowls and enhance with optional toppings such as additional cheddar cheese shreds, finely chopped chives, or a delicate drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Notes
- Roast Garlic Perfectly: Wrap garlic bulbs entirely in foil to prevent burning and ensure even, caramelized roasting without drying out.
- Prevent Cheese Clumping: Add cheese gradually and stir constantly at low heat to create smooth, silky texture without grainy or separated consistency.
- Control Soup Consistency: Adjust liquid amount with vegetable broth or milk to achieve desired thickness – more liquid for thinner soup, less for heartier version.
- Dietary Modification: Swap dairy ingredients with plant-based alternatives like cashew milk and nutritional yeast for vegan version without compromising rich, creamy flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg