Monday, September 6, 2010

Cauliflower Soup - Blue Monday



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...We all lose our heads from time to time, but not with the same finality as Madame du Barry lost hers. While not a royal, the comtesse, once mistress to King Louis the XVth , was guillotined following the false testimony of her chef who detested her imperious behavior. Many dishes in classic French cuisine, especially those containing cauliflower, are appended with her name. Not because she lost her head, but because her coif resembled a head of cauliflower in color and appearance.This is a simplified version of Creme du Barry. Almost all the butter and cream have been removed from the recipe and caraway seeds are, instead, added to provide flavor. The soup is simple to make and uses only a handful of readily available ingredients. It is really quite lovely. I know those of you who try it will enjoy it. It's an easy way to use the cauliflower that is flooding markets at this time of year and it would be a perfect first course for a holiday meal. Here's the recipe.

Cauliflower Soup
...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 teaspoons caraway seeds
1 head cauliflower, broken into florets
1 medium all-purpose potato, cubed
6 cups chicken Stock
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
Garnish: Chopped chives or parsley

Directions:
1) Warm oil in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Add onions and caraway seed and cook, stirring, until onions are soft but not brown, about 10 minutes.
2) Stir in cauliflower, potatoes, and stock. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until vegetables are very tender. Remove form the heat and allow to cool slightly.
3) Transfer to a blender or a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Process until smooth. Transfer to a clean saucepan and place over medium heat. Bring to a simmer.Add lemon juice and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Thin soup with stock or milk if too thick. Pour through a fine mesh strainer. Pour into warm bowls. Garnish with chives or parsley. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
White Bean Cauliflower and Bacon Soup - Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice
Cauliflower and Potato Salad - Guilty Kitchen
French Cauliflower Salad - Pham Fatale
Cauliflower Curry - The Spamwise Chronicles
Curried Cream of Cauliflower and Apple Soup - One Perfect Bite
Gobi Manchurian - One Perfect Bite
Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry - Closet Cooking
Roasted Cauliflower with Tomatoes and Black Olives - The Recipe Girl

This post is being linked to:
Smiling Sally - Blue Monday

62 comments :

Rachel said...

Cauliflower at home means a stirfry or with gravy.. never ever thought of a soup..

Red Nomad OZ said...

Hi Mary! How fortuitous - we're shortly to be swamped by the cauli's that grew so well while we were travelling! Weird that OZ and US seem to be aligned for cauliflower maturity?!?!

tinyskillet said...

What a lovely soup. I love so many soups that have such simple flavors, brings out the star ingredient!

Deb in Hawaii said...

Your soup looks delicious. I have a cauliflower soup tagged to make this week too. Great minds! ;-)

Ginny Hartzler said...

Yum, this looks creamy and luscious! I love broccoli and cauliflower both, but usually make broccoli cheese soup. Sometimes I'll throw in some cauliflower,as well. I love the stories that accompany your recipes just as much as the recipes themselves, and this is the best so far!!

Bakericious said...

I nvr have cauliflower soup b4, usually we will stir fly. Sound yummy.

Pie said...

Sounds delicious!

My Blue Monday.

penny aka jeroxie said...

Cauliflower is an understated vegetables. I love it. It soaks up flavours.

pommes cannelles said...

a good soup for the coming winter evenings !
Cheers

Rachana said...

What a lovely Soup! Looks so creamy and delicious!

Honey @ honeyandsoy said...

Oh yum this looks warming and hearty, perfect for this un-Spring weather we are having down here!

Katerina said...

Cauliflower was not my favorite vegetable when I was a child. Of course since then a lot of time has passed. Now I really enjoy beautiful dishes like this soup.

Big Dude said...

I'm not sure I can get my mind around the idea of cauliflower soup, but it looks and sounds too good not to try.

Martha said...

I love cauliflower soup but mine is loaded with butter and cream -- I must try this -- I love the addition of the caraway!

Sushma Mallya said...

This is a very unique soup, but looks yummy

Simply Life said...

oh that soup looks so comforting and delicious!

Kim said...

I love cau.iflower soup!

black eyed susans kitchen said...

This recipe will be such a nice change for us from the basic cauliflower that I keep making. Have a wonderful Labor day.
♥, Susan

From the Kitchen said...

Thank you, Mary, and Madame. This will certainly go on my autumn shopping list. We're already dreaming of soups and stews.

Oh to be undone by one's chef. What an ignoble end. I wonder if he prepared her last meal?

Best,
Bonnie

JEANNE said...

Good morning Mary, I must try this soup. It is sooo easy all I need to buy is the cauliflower and some chicken broth. I usually steam cauliflower and put a bit of milk and cheese on top. The weather here has turned chilly already. We had 48 degrees on Sat. night and the days have been much cooler. Soup time and I LOVE making homemade soup. Smile.

I am happy to visit you today as always.
Have a great Labor Day.
Hugs, Jeanne

Janet Marie said...

I see it was another bloggers white bean and cauliflower recipe. What a nice addition, a list of recipe links with a common ingredient.

Joanne said...

European history is so sordid! Everyone was always being guillotined for the craziest things.

This soup looks delicious though. I can't wait to be bombarded with cauliflower so I have an excuse to make it!

Deana Sidney said...

I love cauliflower soup but have never had it with caraway seeds... great idea... thanks so much for sharing it!

Priya Suresh said...

Awesome bowl of tempting soup..looks very yummy..

The Words Crafter said...

I just LOVE the history you post with the recipes. I eat cauliflower but I've never had cauliflower soup....I'll keep this for the winter when I become a soup eating fiend!

I have something for you over on my blog....

Lisa McDonald said...

Looks delicious Mary! Perfect for those cool evenings that are just around the corner.

Lea Ann said...

I am one of those people who love cauliflower and have never made cauliflower soup. Thanks for this easy recipe and the history.

Jeannie said...

Nothing like having a bowl of warm soup on a cold day! Not to mention such a nutritious one too! Looks delicious!

Sarah said...

Mary, I will give this a try. Cauliflower is a favorite here, and I'm always ready to try a new recipe. This looks delicious and healthy.
Happy Labor Day on this Blue Monday. ~ Sarah
PS
My post to day is as guest blogger at the QCI Blog. Hope you'll stop by if you have time.

Anonymous said...

Looks quite lovely!
I'm a fan of any soup; this one looks like a winner.

☆Mama Ko☆ said...

Soup, perfect for the season. summer is almost over and it's getting cooler at night.

http://www.jnjmilestones.com/2010/09/blue-monday-snuggie.html

Pondside said...

I have bags of cauliflower in the freezer (who were we planting for?...a football team?) so this recipe will be a welcome change. I love the taste of caraway, and so does TGD.

SmilingSally said...

It looks yummy in that blue bowl.

Happy Blue Monday, Mary! Check out my book giveaway.

aipi said...

I love cauliflower but never tried its soup though..your recipe looks yum yum..will give it a shot!!..Thanks for sharing dear:)

US Masala

Soy @ honeyandsoy said...

Wow Mary, that looks like it's packing alot of beautiful flavours! Yum!

Sonia said...

Oh this looks so yummy and with cooler temperatures on the way I will definitely try this on a fall evening! Thanks for sharing!

Miss Bloomers

Biren said...

The weathere is cooling down fast and this soup with some crusty bread will be so good for a light lunch.

Unknown said...

I love that the butter and cream are not used, but you still get this amazingly creamy looking soup! It's still so warm here right now, but I could sure go for a bowl of that right now!

LV said...

I love most all soups. This sounds so good. I would love having a big bowl for my dinner. I am sure you always have a wonderful meal on any day.

Dewi said...

So simple, healthy and delicious. Nourishment soup, good for the soul.

Chef E said...

I think you just solved my 'What to do with the cauliflower' problem :)

Hope you are doing well...

Kath said...

That is a lovely soup. I never think of using cauliflower for soup. Thanks for the idea!

Torviewtoronto said...

delicious I made this once yet to post, following an Egyptian recipe
thanks for the comment and visit
keep in touch

StephenC said...

There's no way you could have known how much I've been thinking about cauliflower soup lately. It's still so warm here, do you think this would be okay served warm (as opposed to hot)?

Faith said...

I actually just bought a giant head of cauliflower and I was wondering how to use it all! It was so cheap, I couldn't resist. :) What a fantastic soup!

Valérie said...

I had cauliflower "au gratin" yesterday, but I also love it in a soup. I like the inclusion of caraway seeds!

Marguerite said...

Love this recipe! I used to order a cream of cauliflower soup from a favorite restaurant, when I lived in Maryland. Will have to try this one, as it looks fab! Great story, too!

PeggyR said...

We love cauliflower soup. I've also been known to mix broccoli in with the recipe.

Susi's Kochen und Backen said...

Simplicity at its best! The soup looks delicious :o) Love the little history lesson as well!

Pam said...

I am loving this cooler weather - time to make soup. The cauliflower soup recipe sounds amazing.

Elaine said...

This looks so yummy--I need to try it. Cooler weather is on the way and soup is goof on a cool day.

Unknown said...

never thought that a soup can be made out of cauliflower.....very innovative idea and recipe.....

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Boy, this looks like a yummy dish. I might have to try this for Mr. Magpie as he recuperates. Which brings me to a question, Mary... what would you substitute for bacon bits in a recipe? We aren't meat eaters, and I was wondering if there is some ingredient that would give a recipe the same kick. I'm going to make a recipe for black bean soup that called for them. Thanks for any help.

XO,

Sheila :-)

Adelina said...

always love reading your stories that precede the recipe- wish I had your skills...The soup looks tempting and bet it tastes great with those new additions!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

This is definitely a way I can learn to LOVE cauliflower Mary:D

D said...

Mary, the cauliflower soup sounds wonderful and I just happen to have a beautiful head waiting in the refrigerator. Something about that bit of lemon juice addition has my taste buds working.

I hope you've enjoyed your weekend.

TREAT AND TRICK said...

Healthy and yummy, can't wait to try this...

Lori said...

Something about the flavors of cauliflower and caraway. They just go together so well!

Carol said...

What a delicious looking soup. Such nice flavors together!

Jamie said...

I really never knew that story! Must look it up, it is fascinating! And this soup is beautiful! Will be perfect when the weather turns a tad colder. I love cauliflower!

Eliana said...

Love all the flavors in this soup and that it's so easy to prepare.

The Single Nester said...

I love cauliflower soup and sure could use some on this cold rainy day!

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