Hi everyone!
Do you ever have those days when all you really want to do is snuggle in bed watching a movie and eating a bowl of creamy soup? Well I do! Everyday! I love homemade soups because they are just so comforting and are really the perfect food to have around on those days. I was inspired by the many cauliflower soups available on the internet and created my own recipes based on these inspirations. I wanted something heartier so I added a can of chickpeas to thicken it up. You'll need a blender for this recipe.
Cauliflower-Chickpea Soup
1 Whole Cauliflower
2 Onions (yellow or white)
2 Peeled Potatoes (chunks)
1 Can of Chickpeas
2 Sprigs of Parsley
4 Cloves of Garlic
2 Celery Stalks (Optional)
1/2 Lemon
1 Carton of Chicken (or Vegetable) Broth
1 Cup of Water
1/2 Cup of Milk
3 Table Spoons of Half and Half Cream
2 Tablespoons of Curry Powder
2 Teaspoon of Paprika
1 Teaspoon of Chili Powder
1 Teaspoon of Cumin
1 Teaspoon of Butter (or Olive Oil)
Pepper & Salt
Garnish: Sprigs of Fresh Dill or Parmesan
Prep Work: Slice up all the vegetables roughly - imperfections are okay because we will be blending the soup! Cut up Cauliflower into small pieces and be sure to rinse thoroughly with water. (Alternative: You can chop the cauliflower into big chunks then rip apart with your hands). Cut lemon in half and toss in microwave face down for 10seconds, it will allow the juices to flow freely when it is warmed. Toss all the spices into one bowl.
Add butter or olive oil to the soup pot and sauté onions and garlic on medium-high. Add potatoes, parsley and celery after 3 minutes and continue sautéing for 3 minutes. Add the seasoning in the pot and toss veggies until coated. Add the cauliflower pieces into pot and sauté for a couple more minutes then add in chickpeas with liquid from the can. Squeeze lemon juice into pot and add chicken broth and water. Place lid on pot and bring to a boil. Once it is boiling turn down the heat to medium and let it cook for 15 minutes until veggies are soft. Turn down heat and ladle the soup into the blender cup. Blend until creamy and continue blending the rest of the soup. It is best if you have two pots on hand so you can transfer the blended soup into the second pot. Once blended, add in cream and milk to the soup while it is simmering on the stove. Turn off stove after five minutes. Add salt and pepper to your liking. I omitted adding salt because the broth already had high levels of sodium. Garnish with Parmesan or dill.
There you have it! A hearty healthy soup for those lazy days =) I had my soup garnished with Parmesan and accompanied with garlic naan bread.
