Creamy Spiced Cauliflower Soup

Keto, Paleo, and Vegan Friendly

This soup is warming on a chilly day plus it’s full of nutrients and quite filling. It’s a favorite potluck dish of mine and always gets rave reviews. It’s easy to freeze and heat up later.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head cauliflower (about 2 lbs) trimmed and broken into florets (use white stalk too)
  • 2 celery stalks
  • 2 medium leeks, trimmed, washed and sliced (about 2 cups)
  • 4 cups vegetable or fatty chicken broth
  • 1 Tbsp cumin seed
  • 1 Tbsp coriander seed
  • 2 tsp fennel seed
  • 1 Tbsp avocado oil or ghee as needed
  • 2 clove garlic minced
  • 2 tsp minced fresh ginger root or 1 tsp ginger powdered
  • ½ tsp sea salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 Tbsp freshly chopped chives or cilantro
  • ½ lime
  • ¼ cup toasted sliced almond
  • pinch of cayenne
  • ½ cup can full fat coconut milk

Preparation

  1. Combine cumin, coriander and fennel seeds in a small skillet over medium heat. Toast, shaking the pan frequently, until fragrant and beginning to darken, about 3 minutes. Let cool. Grind to a powder with a mortar and pestle or spice grinder.
  2. Heat oil in a large saucepan or soup pot over medium heat. Add leeks and cook, stirring frequently, until beginning to soften, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the ground spices, garlic, ginger, salt and cayenne. Stir to combine. Stir in cauliflower and celery and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add broth and bring to a gentle simmer. Partially cover, reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the cauliflower is tender, about 20 minutes.
  3. Use a slotted spoon to remove about 1 cup of the cauliflower. Let cool slightly. Chop into small florets.
  4. Working in batches, puree the rest of the soup in a blender and return it to the pot or puree in the pot with an immersion blender. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Add a squeeze of lime juice to taste.
  5. Add ½ can full fat coconut milk to the puree, Serve garnished with the reserved florets, almonds and chives (or cilantro).

Tip: For the best flavor, toast chopped nuts or seeds. Heat a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Add nuts or seeds and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes

Bon Appetit!