Description
Roasted garlic cheddar cauliflower soup blends creamy Wisconsin cheddar with perfectly caramelized cauliflower for a luxurious winter comfort dish. Sharp cheese and roasted garlic create a rich, velvety experience you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large head cauliflower (about 4–5 cups)
- 1 head garlic
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cups (960 ml) vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 heaping cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 3 tbsps olive oil, divided
- 0.5 tsp salt, plus more to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Freshly ground salt
- Sliced green onion
- Extra cheddar cheese
- Croutons or toasted sourdough bread (or bread of choice)
Instructions
- Roasting Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss cauliflower florets with olive oil, salt, and pepper, ensuring even coating.
- Garlic Preparation: Trim the top of the garlic head, exposing cloves. Wrap in aluminum foil and drizzle with olive oil, placing alongside cauliflower on the baking sheet.
- Vegetable Roasting: Roast cauliflower and garlic for 30-35 minutes, rotating midway to achieve golden-brown coloration and develop deep, rich flavors.
- Onion Sautéing: In a pot, sauté diced onions in olive oil until translucent and aromatic.
- Blending Process: Transfer roasted cauliflower, softened garlic cloves, sautéed onions, broth, salt, and pepper to a blender. Puree until achieving a smooth, creamy texture.
- Cheese Integration: Return blended mixture to the pot, bringing to a gentle simmer. Gradually incorporate shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until completely melted and integrated.
- Flavor Melding: Simmer the soup for an additional 10-15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and intensify. Adjust seasonings to taste.
- Serving: Ladle soup into warm bowls, garnish with sliced green onions and an extra sprinkle of cheddar cheese. Serve alongside crusty sourdough bread for a complete, comforting meal.
Notes
- Roast Vegetables Strategically: Rotate cauliflower and garlic midway through roasting to ensure even caramelization and prevent burning, developing deeper flavor profiles.
- Blend for Silky Texture: Use a high-powered blender and blend thoroughly to achieve a smooth, creamy consistency without lumps or vegetable chunks.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Add cheddar cheese gradually and stir continuously to prevent clumping and create a uniformly creamy soup base.
- Temperature Control Matters: Simmer soup gently after adding cheese to maintain a velvety texture and prevent separation or grainy consistency.
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg