This recipe cmae out of a brief discussion of what warming soup to make for the weekend. Someone mentioned Loaded Potato Soup and I countered with a cauliflower soup. But the loaded potato sounded so good that I went to look for the recipe. What resulted is the Loaded Cauliflower Soup. I admit it, cauliflower will never taste like potato, but it is still a scrumptious and filling cold winter’s night soup. It’s definitely on my do again and again list.
I started with Guy Fieri’s Fully Loaded Baked Potato Soup recipe at Food Network and made adjustments to make it low carb’d. The result is considerably different and you can make it with or without the additions of turnips and Daikon radish.
Loaded Cauliflower Soup
Adapted from a recipe by Guy Fieri
4 cups of Cauliflower, chopped
1 medium turnip, peeled and diced (optional)
1 cup daikon radish, peeled and diced (optional)
6 slices thick-cut Applewood Smoked Bacon
1/4 cup Onions, chopped
1 tablespoon Cornstarch
1 teaspoon Chicken Bullion or Better than Bullion or 1 cup Chicken Broth
1/4 Red or Green Bell Pepper, diced
1/2 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
1 cup Water
3 cups Unsweetened Almond Milk (not flavored)
2 cups sharp Cheddar, grated or shredded
Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
4 tablespoons Sour Cream
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Chives
Preheat the oven to 385 degrees F.
Place the bacon on a cookie rack and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes until it is crisp. Let cool. Pour 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat into the bottom of a large soup pot. Add 1/4 cup onions and cook until onions are translucent.
Mix 1/4 cup of the water with the cornstarch, then add to the rest of the water, cream and almond milk. Pour into the soup pot and stir. Add the cauliflower to the pot, turn to a simmer and cook for about 30 minutes until the cauliflower is fork tender.
Crumble the bacon, set aside 2 tablespoons, and add the rest to the pot. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cheese then add the rest to the pot and stir. Cook until the cheese is melted and the soup thickens.
Ladle the soup into bowls, put a dollop of sour cream on top, and sprinkle with remaining bacon bits, grated cheese and chives.
Makes 4 to 6 servings
Nutrition Info per serving: (4 servings) without optional ingredients
Calories: 436 Fat: 34 g Net Carbs: 7.6 g Protein: 23.3 g
Nutritional Info per serving: (6 servings) with optional ingredients
Calories: 341 Fat: 27.3 g Net Carbs: 8 g Protein: 14.2 g
Tip: Leftovers can be easily reheated. Store in the refrigerator up to three days. Just don’t add the sour cream and bacon and cheese extras until after it’s reheated.
For Vegetarians, omit the bacon. If you don’t use any animal products, then omit the cheese, sour cream and cream and add more almond or coconut milk. I’d also add some seasonings, such as rosemary, sage and thyme.