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    Home > Soups

    Creamy Cauliflower Soup

    Published: Nov 16, 2020 · Modified: Dec 3, 2020 by Nicky Corbishley

    Go to Recipe Go to Video Print Recipe
    White bowl on a wooden background with cauliflower soup inside. Further bowl in the background.

    My creamy cauliflower soup with cheddar is thick, rich and luxurious.
    The perfect comforting dinner on a cold day with a wedge of fresh bread.
    Just 7 ingredients and 25 minutes are all you need for the best cauliflower soup you'll ever eat.

    Two soup bowls filled with cauliflower soup on a wooden table. Soup is topped with chopped chives.

    In typical Kitchen Sanctuary style, I'm going all-in with cream AND cheese to make this soup taste luscious and rich. I'm not trying to make a diet soup that 'tastes creamy but with no cream' or 'fills you up with no fat'. 

    This is just a great tasting, hearty soup that will leave you sighing with happiness whilst you eat.

    Back in my youth, I used to work at a fried chicken shop where we'd get a free meal during each shift.  There was a sandwich shop across the road that did the best cauliflower soup ever.  If that soup was on special, I was straight over there.  Yes, a 17-year-old who preferred cauliflower soup to fried chicken and chips.  It really was that good.

    It was that soup I had in mind when I made this recipe.

    I told Chris I was making cauliflower soup for lunch, and received a look of dismay and an unintelligible, displeased grunt.  I could see his brain figuring out what he could have for his real lunch later.

    So I made it.

    ...and he finished every last drop. Then requested it for lunch the next day too.

    It tasted just like the soup from the sandwich shop. 

    What do we need?

    Ingredients for cauliflower soup on a wooden table

    How to make this cream of cauliflower soup

    **Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post**.

    • We start by chopping up the cauliflower. I use 3 medium cauliflower for this - which is enough to make 10 servings of soup. That's lunch for a few days and a few portions for the freezer.
    Chopped cauliflower on a chopping board
    • Fry chopped onion in a little olive oil in a large sauce pan (you'll need plenty of room for that cauliflower, so make sure it's a big pan). Add in cauliflower, stock and garlic salt. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
    cauliflower, stock and onions on a pan
    • Take off the heat and whizz using a hand blender. Put back on the heat, add in cheddar cheese and cream and stir until he cheese has melted. Season with salt and pepper.
    Blending cauliflower soup in a pan

    Serve with a sprinkling of cheese and a few chives.

    Overhead image of a large pan filled with cauliflower soup topped with grated cheese and chopped chives

    It's now on my go-to list of soups and will be making a regular lunchtime appearance.

    25 minutes to lunchtime happiness.......

    What to serve it with

    You can serve this cheesy cauliflower soup with:

    • Homemade Artisan Bread
    • Topped with Crispy Bacon
    • For a more substantial dinner why not serve them alongside Garlic Mushroom Stuffed Rolls or these Stuffed Cheesy Breads with Spinach and Bacon

    I don't like cauliflower, what can I use instead?

    You can replace the cauliflower with broccoli for an easy swap and make Cream of Broccoli Soup.

    If you're looking to use up multiple vegetables, you could also pile in a selection of veggies such as carrot, leek, sweet potato and onion (it's best not to mix green veg with red or orange veg, as you'll get murky looking brown soup). Simmer for 5 minutes longer if using carrot, as it takes a little longer to soften. Then blend, as with the cauliflower soup and add in the cream and cheese.

    Two white bowls filled with cauliflower soup, topped with cheese and chives on a wooden table

    More fantastic soup recipes

    Still hungry for more Soups? I've got a whole category devoted to soups here. Try my....

    • Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Soup
    • Pulled Pork and Bean Soup
    • Pork Ramen Soup
    • Creamy Tomato Soup
    • Spicy Parsnip and Sweet Potato Soup
    • Cock-a-Leekie Soup

    Watch how to make it

    Stay updated with new recipes!
    Subscribe to the newsletter to hear when I post a new recipe. I’m also on YouTube (new videos every week) and Instagram (behind-the-scenes stories & beautiful food photos).

    Close up of a white bowl filled with cauliflower soup and topped with chopped chives, grated cheese and black pepper

    Creamy Cauliflower Soup

    By: Nicky Corbishley
    Creamy Cauliflower soup - 7 ingredients and 25 minutes to the best cauliflower soup you'll ever eat. Gluten free too!
    4.93 from 14 votes
    Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Lunch
    Cuisine British
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories 220 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • 2 large onions - peeled and chopped
    • 3 regular heads of cauliflower - outer leaves discard, chopped into small florets
    • 5 cups (1200ml) hot vegetable or chicken stock - - either homemade or use 3-4 stock cubes with water. Use bouillon for gluten free
    • ¾ tsp garlic salt
    • 250 g mature/strong cheddar cheese
    • ⅔ cup (180ml) double/heavy cream
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • Heat the olive oil in a large pan, and fry the onion gently for 4-5 minutes until it starts to go translucent. Add in the cauliflower, stock and garlic salt. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
    • After 15 minutes, take off the heat and whizz using a hand blender. Put back on the heat, add in the cheese and cream and stir until he cheese has melted. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Serve with a sprinkling of cheese and black pepper and a few chives if you wish.

    Video

    ✎ Notes

    How to scale up and scale down this recipe
    You can scale down this recipe sticking to the same ratios.
    Can I make it gluten-free?
    Yes - this soup is already gluten-free - presuming you use gluten-free stock.
    Can I make it ahead?
    Yes, you can make ahead, cool quickly, cover and refrigerate for 2-3 days. Reheat in a pan, stirring regularly, until piping hot.
    Can I freeze this cauliflower soup?
    Yes. Cool quickly, cover and freeze. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat in a pan, stirring regularly, until piping hot.
    Nutritional information is per serving.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 301gCalories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 9gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 721mgPotassium: 517mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 485IUVitamin C: 74mgCalcium: 229mgIron: 0.8mg
    Keywords Cauliflower Recipe Ideas, Homemade Soup, Soup Ideas
    Tried this recipe?Mention @KitchenSanctuary or tag #KitchenSanctuary on Instagram!

    This post was first published in September 2014. Updated in August 2018 with new photos and additional tips. Updated again in November 2020 for housekeeping and with a video.

    Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.

    Hi I’m Nicky

    I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

    Read More
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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Katy says

      September 02, 2018 at 3:51 pm

      5 stars
      Cauliflower is my favourite vegetable and I love soup so win, awin for me. Delicious.

      Reply
    2. Miriam says

      September 01, 2018 at 6:17 pm

      5 stars
      This looks really good but I am puzzled - what would be in stock that could make it NOT gluten free?

      Reply
      • Chris Corbishley says

        September 07, 2018 at 11:38 am

        Hi Miriam, if you are making the stock from stock cubes some of them (including popular brands) contain gluten. Always best to check the label 🙂

        Thanks

        Chris & Nicky

        Reply
    3. Saz says

      February 12, 2015 at 5:41 pm

      Hi Nicky,
      I finaly tried this soup as well and again : great success !! You are so good with soups, it's completly uncanny. Thank you, this just became one of my winter "routine" soup : easy, warm and delicious. 🙂

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        February 13, 2015 at 10:49 am

        Yay! Glad you liked it Saz. I'll have to get some more soups on the blog 🙂

        Reply
        • Saz says

          February 15, 2015 at 11:58 pm

          well, so far i've tried 4 of your soup and loved every single one of them. You're such a soup genius i wouldn't mind discovering more soups of yours ! But now I have to be bolder and try non-soup recipes 🙂

        • Nicky Corbishley says

          February 19, 2015 at 4:32 pm

          Soup genius? I like that title 😀

    4. Jovana says

      October 03, 2014 at 2:04 pm

      I made this today but instead of using cheddar I used Parmesan. My hubby hates, hates cauliflower. He LOVED this...

      His exact words were: "If you had told me before I met you that I'd be eating cauliflower soup, I'd have called you crazy!"

      Was a total hit. Didn't have any chives but I definitely think it would have elevated the dish... 🙂 Thank you so much.

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        October 03, 2014 at 3:43 pm

        Thanks so much for coming back and letting me know how it went Jovana, I'm glad your husband enjoyed it. Sounds like the parmesan was a hit. I'll try that next time 🙂

        Reply
    5. milkandbun says

      October 02, 2014 at 8:42 am

      I do like soups and eat it pretty often! And this one looks really good! 🙂

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        October 03, 2014 at 3:37 pm

        Thanks Mila 🙂

        Reply
    6. Phillip || SouthernFATTY.com says

      October 01, 2014 at 6:45 pm

      I’ve been on a cauliflower kick lately. Tryyyying to ea ta bit better, and it seems like it can be used for so many things! This looks delicious.

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        October 03, 2014 at 3:33 pm

        It sure can. I love that you can make cauliflower rice or soup and it tastes sodifferent from normal boiled cauliflower. I guess the cream and cheese aren't so good for the health kick though 🙂

        Reply
    7. Lori says

      September 30, 2014 at 11:08 pm

      Sounds so delicious Nicky! And I love the name of your blog!

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        October 03, 2014 at 3:32 pm

        Thanks Lori 🙂

        Reply
    8. Amy says

      September 30, 2014 at 10:29 pm

      Cream and butter are sacred words in my house for sure 🙂 I made a vegan creamy cauliflower soup but sometimes you just need some dairy cheesy goodness. I can't wait to make this one very soon 🙂

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        October 03, 2014 at 3:31 pm

        Excellent, hope you enjoy it Amy. I've never tried a vegan version. I guess using something like almonds or coconut milk to give it the creaminess would work. I do like my double cream though 🙂

        Reply
    9. Raquel @ My California Roots says

      September 30, 2014 at 3:49 pm

      I love it when I surprise my fiance with foods he thinks he won't like! It's one of my favorites. I've also done it with cauliflower soup - which is now one of his favorites, too! This looks delicious!

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        October 03, 2014 at 3:28 pm

        Ha ha it's a good feeling 🙂

        Reply
    10. Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says

      September 30, 2014 at 2:14 pm

      It sounds delicious, I'm a big fan of cauliflower so I'm looking forward to making your soup!

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        October 03, 2014 at 3:27 pm

        Excellent! Hope you enjoy it Fida 🙂

        Reply
    11. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

      September 30, 2014 at 10:21 am

      Cannot remember the last time that I made cauliflower soup! Thanks for reminding me how delicious it is. You can definitely consider that i will be recreating your creamy version.

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        September 30, 2014 at 10:27 am

        Hope you enjoy it Thalia 🙂

        Reply
    12. Katie (The Muffin Myth) says

      September 30, 2014 at 5:32 am

      Sometimes you just gotta go for the full cream version. Life is too short not to! This soup looks really good, rich, creamy, and soul satisfying. Perfect for the colder months coming up. Thanks for the recipe, have pinned to make soon!

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        September 30, 2014 at 10:27 am

        Yep, a little of what you fancy certainly does you good. Thanks Katie, I hope you like it.

        Reply
    13. lapetitepanierel says

      September 30, 2014 at 4:44 am

      Nicky, I love your food and this one is superb 🙂

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        September 30, 2014 at 10:25 am

        Thankyou Linda 🙂 🙂

        Reply
    14. ahu @ ahueats says

      September 29, 2014 at 5:48 pm

      Such a fall classic - love cauliflower soup!

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        September 29, 2014 at 8:31 pm

        Yup, it's definitely going on my regular lunch list 🙂

        Reply
    15. apuginthekitchen says

      September 29, 2014 at 3:56 pm

      That sounds like a great soup. I certainly don't mind some cream and butter, the ratio is low compared to the other ingredients. Looks totally yummy!

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        September 29, 2014 at 8:30 pm

        Thanks Suzanne, it was totally yummy 🙂

        Reply
    Newer Comments »

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