Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (2024)

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Learn how to make roasted cauliflower soup with this meatless Monday recipe – a healthy way to use cauliflower!

Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (1)

Craving something creamy, warm, and satisfying?

If so, a bowl of this roasted cauliflower soup has your name written all over it!

I know. Cauliflower soup may not sound appetizing if you haven’t had it before. But y’all, I’m here to tell you this soup is so good!

I can’t believe I eat cauliflower now. I used to despise it and did it up until the last several years. I couldn’t even stand the smell, much less the taste of it. Can you relate?

Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (2)

Believe it or not, making this soup doesn’t take long because it doesn’t have to simmer for hours like other soups. The soup starts with tender roasted cauliflower blended into a savory medley of vegetables, broth, and creamy cheddar cheese with a hint of smokiness from smoked paprika.

This soup is naturally creamy without heavy cream or milk, so the best part about making it is that you can eat it without all the calories that usually come along with it. It’s one of those soup recipes you’ll want to keep on hand this winter for Meatless Monday or any day of the week that ends in “Y.”

Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (3)

How To Shop For Cauliflower – What To Look For

When shopping for cauliflower, look for a firm head with compact florets. The leaves should be green, crisp, and fresh with no signs of yellowing or wilting. Avoid cauliflower with brown specks on the florets, which is a sign of aging. Any size is acceptable. The size of the head of cauliflower does not affect the quality.

Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (4)
Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (5)

The Best Way To Cut Cauliflower Into Florets

There are many ways you can cut cauliflower into florets, but many of them slice into the crowns of the floret, which causes little bits of cauliflower to get everywhere. I use the following method to cut cauliflower into florets and find it works the best.

  1. Remove and discard any leaves from the base of the cauliflower to expose the stem.
  2. Use a paring knife to cut the florets away from the stem, starting at the base of the cauliflower stem.
  3. Break the cauliflower florets into smaller pieces by hand or cut into the stems with a knife.
Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (6)

Ingredients You’ll Need To Make This Soup

Find detailed measurements in the recipe card below.

Cauliflower: the star of this recipe, giving this soup a thick, velvety texture without a roux. You can’t have enough, but you need at least a two-pound head.

Oil: Adds richness and keeps everything from sticking. You’ll need a little to roast the cauliflower and a little to saute the other veggies. Extra virgin olive oil is my oil of choice. Use whatever oil you prefer.

Veggies: chopped yellow onion, celery, and garlic add flavor and richness to the soup.

Liquid: Vegetable broth turns the pot of veggies into a soup.

Herbs and Spices: fresh parsley, thyme, and a bay leaf give this soup a fresh earthy taste.

Seasoning: salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste and enhance the flavors.

Cheese: shredded sharp white cheddar cheese for added flavor and extra creaminess.
You could also use Colby, Gouda, Gruyere Cheese, or parmesan cheese.

This soup is gluten-free; you can instantly transform this soup from vegetarian to vegan by leaving out the cheese.

Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (7)

How to Make This Roasted Cauliflower Soup Recipe?

Once the cauliflower is roasted, this soup comes together pretty quickly; roast the cauliflower, saute, simmer and blend the soup. Most of the work is done before the cauliflower finishes roasting. Get the full step-by-step directions in the recipe card below.

Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (8)
Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (9)

Step 1: Roast The Cauliflower

  • Core and chop the cauliflower into florets.
  • Place the floret on a baking sheet. Toss the cauliflower with olive oil. Spread the cauliflower into an even layer.
  • Bake in a preheated oven until golden, about 20 minutes.
Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (10)

Step 2: Saute the Veggies

  • While the cauliflower is roasting, saute the onion, celery, and garlic in olive oil with parsley, thyme, and smoked paprika until tender.
Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (11)

Step 3: Simmer the Soup

  • Transfer the roasted cauliflower to the pot. Pour in vegetable broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste and drop in a bay leaf.
  • Bring the soup to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low; simmer for about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat.
  • Spoon out the bay leaf and discard – Don’t forget to do this before blending!

Step 4: Blend Up the Soup

  • Use whatever kitchen appliance you have to blend the soup. Whether you have an immersion blender, a traditional blender, or a food processor, puree the mixture until velvety smooth.
  • Return the soup to the pot over low heat (as needed) and stir in the cheese until it melts and the soup thickens.

How To Serve Roasted Cauliflower Soup

Eat this soup itself as the main course for Meatless Monday or as a side dish. Serve warm, garnished with additional shredded white cheddar and freshly chopped parsley.

Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (12)

Storage

Cauliflower soup refrigerates well. Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.

To freeze this soup, allow it to cool completely. I recommend cooling it and storing it in the refrigerator overnight before freezing to ensure ice crystals don’t form in the freezer from the soup that was still too warm. Store in an airtight container or zip-top bag for up to three months.

Tips For Making This Soup

  • Line the sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper before roasting the cauliflower. This makes cleaning a breeze and makes it easier to transfer the cauliflower into the soup pot.
  • Add the cauliflower to the pot before pouring in the broth. This will keep your hands and arms safe from hot, splashing liquid.
  • For a chunky soup, blend only a portion of the soup while leaving the other solid. The original recipe said to blend a portion of the soup.
  • Crusty bread or homemade croutons is this soup’s best friend!

Recipe FAQs

Why does my cauliflower soup taste bitter?

Cauliflower becomes bitter when exposed to too much heat. Over-cooking cauliflower can make it bitter. If your soup tastes bitter, you can add a little more salt to help with the bitterness.
If you don’t want to add any more salt, a little sugar or something sour, lemon juice, or vinegar to help offset the bitterness.

Why is my cauliflower soup bland?

If your soup tastes bland, add more salt, pepper, or acids, such as a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a dash of yogurt or sour cream.

How can I thin my cauliflower soup?

Add more vegetable broth or water to the soup if your soup is too thick. On the other hand, if your cauliflower soup is too thin, simmer over low heat until it thickens.
You could also add more cheese or a cornstarch slurry (1 part cornstarch to 2 parts liquid) to help thicken it up.

I hope you will give this soup a try. I think you’ll enjoy it, too, on a cold and snowy Meatless Monday!

Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (13)

Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (14)

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Roasted Cauliflower White Cheddar Soup

Learn how to make roasted cauliflower soup with this Meatless Monday recipe – a healthy way to use cauliflower!

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 4

Calories 415kcal

Author

Ingredients

  • 1 large cauliflower (approximately 2 pounds)
  • 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup yellow onion finely chopped
  • 2 ribs celery chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped + extra for garnish
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 32 ounces vegetable broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 ½ cups sharp white cheddar cheese shredded, + more for serving if desired

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

  • Core and chop the cauliflower into florets. Place the florets on a baking sheet. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons of olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste; toss to evenly coat. Spread the cauliflower into an even layer. Bake in preheated oven until golden, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

  • Meanwhile, heat the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over. Add the onion, celery, and garlic to the hot oil along with the parsley, thyme, aqnd smoked paprika; saute until tender, about 4 to 5 minutes.

  • Transfer the roasted cauliflower to the pot. Pour in vegetable broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste and drop in a bay leaf.

  • Bring the soup to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low; simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Turn off the heat.

  • Spoon out the bay leaf and discard.

    Using an immersion blender (or work in batches using a traditional blender), puree the mixture until velvety smooth.

  • Stir in the cheese until it melts and the soup thickens.

  • Serve warm, garnished with additional shredded white cheddar and freshly chopped parsley.

Notes

  • Line the sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper before roasting the cauliflower. This makes cleaning a breeze and makes it easier to transfer the cauliflower into the soup pot.
  • Add the cauliflower to the pot before pouring in the broth. This will keep your hands and arms safe from hot, splashing liquid.
  • For a chunky soup, blend only a portion of the soup while leaving the other solid. The original recipe said to blend a portion of the soup.
  • Crusty bread or homemade croutons is this soup’s best friend!
  • Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
  • To freeze this soup:allow it to cool completely. I recommend cooling it and then storing it in the refrigerator overnight before freezing to ensure ice crystals don’t form in the freezer from the soup that was still too warm. Store in an airtight container or zip-top bag for up to three months.

Nutrition

Calories: 415kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 1266mg | Potassium: 793mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1212IU | Vitamin C: 107mg | Calcium: 372mg | Iron: 1mg

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About Debbie & David

We live on the side of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in Virginia. I am the author and photographer here at The Mountain Kitchen, where I share delicious homemade recipes using clean food ingredients, and stories about mountain life. Read more...

  • Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (19)
  • Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (20)
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Comments

  1. Julie at Hostess At Heart says

    This soup sounds delicious! I loved cauliflower with cheese sauce. What a wonderful day to be at home and inside just watching the snow fall.

    Reply

    • The Mountain Kitchen says

      Julie, it was so good! I hope you are getting any of this messy weather. The snow has turned into sleet and freezing rain ?

  2. Dana@IveGotCake says

    mmmmmmm!!
    I could have used some of this today, it was 6 deg when I left for work!!

    Reply

    • The Mountain Kitchen says

      Holy moly! Yep, this would have warmed your bones up! Been crapping winter on us all day. Turned to sleet and freezing rain. Supposed to warm up through the night and turn to rain. 50 tomorrow!!

  3. Rachel says

    I’ve been freezing my you know what’s off. I need to make a pot of this!!!

    Reply

    • The Mountain Kitchen says

      It will warm up your you know what’s. It is isn’t defrost! Hope you like it as much as we did!

Roasted Cauliflower Soup {A Meatless Monday Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why does my cauliflower soup taste bitter? ›

Cauliflower becomes bitter when exposed to too much heat. Over-cooking cauliflower can make it bitter. If your soup tastes bitter, you can add a little more salt to help with the bitterness. If you don't want to add any more salt, a little sugar or something sour, lemon juice, or vinegar to help offset the bitterness.

Why is my cauliflower soup tasteless? ›

How Do You Fix Bland Cauliflower Soup?
  • Season twice with salt and pepper: You'll start by seasoning the cauliflower florets with salt and pepper before roasting. Then, season again when the roasted florets are combined with broth on the stovetop. ...
  • Add lots of aromatics. ...
  • Finish with lemon.

How do you thicken cauliflower soup? ›

How to thicken cauliflower soup: Nobody wants an overly-thin soup. We thicken our cauliflower soup by blending the entire soup in batches using a blender or immersion blender once cooked. This (in addition to our heavy cream) helps thicken our soup up nicely to a hearty texture.

What is the name of the French soup made from cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower Soup (Creme du Barry)

How do you reduce the bitterness in cauliflower? ›

Another way to reduce the bitterness is by lightly blanching cauliflower. Place the cauliflower florets in a bowl, cover with boiling water for about 45 seconds. Drain and rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process.

What cuts bitterness in soup? ›

The best way to reduce or get rid of bitter flavor in broth is to add sugar and acid to offset the bitterness. Adding sugar and acid doesn't just mask the bitter flavor; it actually changes the chemistry within the broth!

Why does cauliflower taste weird? ›

Bitter tasting cauliflower can be caused by too much heat or sun. It can also taste bitter from a lack of moisture, uneven watering, waiting too long to harvest, or overcooking. If bitter cauliflower has been a problem, try growing purple varieties (they tend to be less bitter).

What gives vegetable soup that depth of flavor? ›

Tips for Flavorful Vegetable Soup

Flavor the base: We add Italian seasoning and tomato paste to the aromatics and warm them up to bring the seasonings back to life. You could use fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary, or even add a Parmesan rind for more flavor.

How to make soup really flavorful? ›

"Ground paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, ground ginger, and other powdered spices add a touch of color and spiciness to broths," she says. As a general rule, use fresh herbs at or near the end of cooking and dried herbs and spices early on. This helps you get the flavors you're looking for in the right balance.

What if my cauliflower soup is too thick? ›

If the soup is too thick for your taste, add more milk, water or stock (and more salt if needed).

Is it OK to eat cauliflower everyday? ›

The fact that it's a vegetable makes cauliflower automatically good for you. Additionally, cauliflower is packed with nutrients that give it unique benefits, such as fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and choline. These properties give you a good reason to eat it frequently or even daily.

Does sour cream thicken soup? ›

Another option for thickening soup is by using dairy like sour cream or yogurt. Start with a small dollop and stir before checking the consistency and adding more. We recommend using plain yogurt so you don't alter the taste of the soup. You can also use cream if you prefer.

What is the best ingredient to thicken soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

What is the national soup of Italy? ›

Minestrone Soup - This is a traditional soup from Italy make with a combination of seasonal vegetables and pasta. It makes a complete meal with a slice of bread.

Why is it called creme du barry? ›

Called Crème du Barry in France, its name lies in history, like many good French recipes. This easy, rich and creamy soup was named after Madame Jeanne Bécu, comtesse du Barry, a famous French beauty who was the last official mistress of the ill-fated king, Louis XV.

What are the benefits of cauliflower soup? ›

High fiber, protein-packed, no added sugar creates the balance in this soup to deliver optimal support and ultimate taste bud satisfaction. This soup is a powerhouse rich in vitamins C and K, as well as calcium and magnesium. These vitamins and minerals work hard behind the scenes to hydrate and nourish your body.

What does baking soda do to cauliflower? ›

Baking soda is often used as a natural cleaning agent, and it can be used to brighten up your veggies too. Sprinkle a little in the water before boiling to prevent cauliflower from yellowing and make corn look more vibrant.

Why is my roasted cauliflower mushy? ›

Why is my roasted cauliflower soggy? Crowding the cauliflower on the pan could make them cook up mushy and a bit soggy. Leave some space between the florets. Be sure not to use too much olive oil to cook them.

Why do you soak cauliflower? ›

This process – which should last 10-20 minutes - destroys several microbes and large parasites. As cauliflower is highly susceptible to microbial attacks, it should be washed once again. This time, boil some water and put the cauliflower florets in it. Keep for five minutes and remove from the hot water.

How to thicken cream of cauliflower soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

Is it healthier to steam or bake cauliflower? ›

It's easy to cook, which gives it a creamier, nuttier taste that takes on the flavor of whatever you use as seasoning. How you cook cauliflower matters. You can keep more of its nutrients if you steam, roast, or stir-fry it.

How do you counteract a bitter taste? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

How do you reduce bitterness in cabbage soup? ›

Salt helps to counteract bitterness. Cooking it can also help to an extent. Brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, etc) actually taste extremely bitter to some people due to a genetic factor, similar to cilantro tasting like soap.

How do you take the bitterness out of broccoli soup? ›

Blanching your greens is key to getting that bitterness level down. Because glucosinolates are water-soluble compounds, a lot of them are leached out into the water, allowing for a less bitter green.

How do you reduce the taste of bitter leaf in soup? ›

To soften the leaves and further remove the bitter taste, it is advisable to boil alone in ordinary water for 10 to 15 minutes, most people like to add a little quantity of edible potash to hasten this process but I highly advise against it.

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