The first batch of cold weather is here. While people up north may have had a snowy Halloween, us here in Texas just had cool one. One of life’s greatest pleasures is a warm bowl of soup after coming in from crisp, cool fall weather. This cauliflower and apple soup is the perfect soup for this time of year.
I “healthified” the soup by replacing the heavy cream with a milk and flour mixture, which gives the soup a creamy taste without any guilt. I also added in some cooked apples at the end to give the soup some more texture (and just because I love apples). A great thing about making soup is that it’s easy to taste and adjust as you go. Too thick- add more broth. Too mild- add more red pepper. Be careful with your red pepper though. As I was tasting on the stove, it didn’t seem spicy at all. Then when I sat down to eat, my mouth was on fire. It was an ordeal.
If I still trick or treated, this would be a perfect, hearty meal that would precede a dessert of breaking into my candy stash. Now as an adult, I can have candy whenever I want, but I also eat soup so my dentist won’t judge me.
1 cup milk
1/4 cup flour
Olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 teaspoons red pepper
1 small head cauliflower, chopped
3-4 apples (such as Jazz), chopped
3-4 cups chicken broth
Salt and pepper, to taste
White Cheddar cheese, optional
In a small saucepan, whisk together flour and 1/4 cup milk. Over medium heat, add remaining milk. Cook, whisking constantly, for about 5-7 minutes until thickened. Set aside.
In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion. Cook 4-7 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, until fragrant. Add cauliflower, chicken broth and 3 of the apples. Simmer 15-20 minutes, until apples and cauliflower are cooked and soft.
Puree soup mixture in a food processor or blender. Return to saucepan over medium heat. Stir in milk and flour thickener. Add remaining apples. Cook 5-7 minutes until apples are softened. Season with salt, pepper, and additional red pepper to taste. Top with cheddar cheese if desired.
Serves 4.
cinnamon freud 