Jan 25, 2014

Cream of Cauliflower Soup

 

I am surprised that I have not posted a single recipe for a soup so far. Rather unexpected, because I do make soups so often. To make amends for that lapse, here is a recipe I made for my daughter. She is enduring a bout of viral fever and nothing like a hearty soup to perk her bored spirits up.

Soups are very versatile. They can be made with minimal ingredients, can range from clear to rich and creamy. A soup can stimulate appetite, can cure anything from cold, flu to heart breaks. Soups are especially welcome during chilly wintry evenings.

What are the benefits of eating soup during / before a meal?

  1. A soup combines dual advantage of being nutrient dense and not energy dense. In simple speak, soups offer more nutrients and less calories.
  2. Vegetable soups are a tasty way to include more vegetables to daily intake.
  3. Broth based soups help to lower hunger, manage food cravings, increase fluid intake.
  4. Having a soup before the main meal helps to decrease intake of calories by at least 20%.
  5. Homemade soups with fresh ingredients are the healthiest, most nourishing and wholesome.

Soup Bowl waiting for the soup

You Need

  1. White cauliflower – 10 medium florets
  2. Cabbage –1/4 cup, shredded
  3. Onion – 1/8 of medium onion, sliced
  4. Skim milk – 1 cup
  5. Fresh water – 1 cup
  6. Butter – 3/4  tsp
  7. Salt – 1/2 tsp
  8. Black /White Pepper – 1/2 tsp
  9. Oregano powder –  1/4 tsp

To Assemble

  1. Blanch cauliflower florets for only 2 minutes ( to remove unwelcome guests such as worms)
  2. In a pressure pan, heat butter, fry onion to light pink, add cabbage followed by cauliflower. Toss until all vegetables are coated with butter. Add 1/2 cup skim milk, pressure cook till 1 whistle.
  3. Cool the contents, reserve a couple of florets for garnish and run in a mixer till it becomes a smooth puree.
  4. Return to pressure pan, rinse out mixer jar with freshwater, add that to the pan too. Add the reserved 1/2 cup milk to adjust consistency. Add salt, oregano.
  5. Simmer the soup until it just comes to a boil. Keep stirring to avoid scorching the base of the pan.
  6. Add crushed black / white pepper to taste.
  7. Grate the reserved cauliflower, divide among soup bowls, pour hot soup over that and serve piping hot.

Variations -

You may add rosemary or thyme instead of oregano if you prefer.

A pinch of grated nutmeg at the end will also be great.

A few pasta shells can also be boiled and added if serving to a sick child (for some calories and to make it more appealing).

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

14 comments:

Saraswathi Iyer said...

Looks delicious and perfect for the weather Rajani!

Rajani said...

Saraswathi, that was real quick, thank you. It tastes as delicious as it looks. Do try it out.

Kaveri Venkatesh said...

That is a hearty and wholesome bowl of soup.

Chitra said...

sounds yummm ! !!!! should try this soon

Uj said...

This is one hearty bowl of soup.. Perfect for the -20F that we are having right now.. This will surely lift up our spirits and keep us warm and cozy

Gita Jaishankar said...

Healthy and delicious soup, looks very comforting :)

Hamaree Rasoi said...

It happens ...the things that we make almost everyday we forget to blog :-) Simple and healthy way to include fluid ..

Swathi said...

Delicious cauliflower soup love it.

Tahemeem said...

Wow... that is so creamy and delicious... hmm hmm good :)
Thank you for stopping by my blog.

Shanthi Krishnakumar said...

Looks fabulous and well clicked :)

Ushnish Ghosh said...

Dear rajani
How are you ? I am delighted to read your comment at my blog. I am trying to get back to blogging. Been away for quite some time and the FB is another nuisance, ha ha.
This is an amazing recipe ,and very new for me, cant wait to make it ,
and can see peanut chutney just down below ..cant wait to see what all I have missed here
have a nice week, 2 days left for the weekend, for me everyday is weekend

Sanoli Ghosh said...

very appetizing and filling soup.

Shobha Kamath said...

Perfect creamy soup for this weather.

Unknown said...

Healthy and creamy soup !