Cauliflower Soup

Name: Cauliflower Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 medium head cauliflower (cut into large chunks); 1 Tablespoon olive oil; 1 medium yellow onion (diced); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 4 cups water (vegetable, or chicken stock (plus more, as needed)); 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste); ½ teaspoon pepper (divided); ¼ cup fresh parsley and or chives chopped (for garnish); Heavy cream or coconut milk (for serving (optional))

By Brittany Mullins

4.89

Published Feb 15, 2022, Updated Feb 20, 2023

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This easy cauliflower soup is thick, creamy and packed full of flavor. It’s vegan, dairy-free and comes together in under 30 minutes with less than 10 ingredients.

These chilly winter days have me craving all the warm and comforting recipes… cue this cozy cauliflower soup! It’s so creamy and definitely hits the spot on a comfort level. Plus, it’s packed full of flavor and leaves me so satisfied after each bite.

A bowl of cauliflower soup topped with fresh herbs.

Why You Need to Make This Soup

It’s budget-friendly. You only need 5 simple ingredients, plus salt + pepper!
It’s a one pot meal. Yay for minimal dishes!
Great for meal prep – make one batch and enjoy this healthy soup all week long!
It’s plant-based and packed with nutrients.

Ingredients measured out to make cauliflower soup: pepper, salt, garlic, parsley, olive oil, cream/coconut milk, cauliflower, onion and veggie/chicken stock.

Ingredients Needed

cauliflower – the star of the show! You can use pre-chopped cauliflower florets to save time or 1 medium to large cauliflower head.
olive oil – to sauté the vegetables in your pot. You can also use ghee or butter.
yellow onion and garlic – the main source of flavor in this soup!
water, vegetable broth or chicken broth – the liquid base of the soup. I like to use low-sodium broth for flavor and so I can control how salty the soup is at the end.
seasonings and spices – sea salt and pepper to bring all the flavors together!
optional toppings – fresh parsley, chives and/or heavy cream or coconut milk.

How to Make Cauliflower Soup

Sauté vegetables: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Dice the onions and mince the garlic, then sauté the onion and garlic until translucent and fragrant – about 5-7 minutes.

Add remaining ingredients: Add salt, pepper, cauliflower, and water or broth to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until cauliflower is tender.

Puree soup: Once cauliflower is soft, use an immersion blender or regular blender to puree soup into a smooth consistency. Don’t forget to adjust the seasoning to your liking.

Serve: Divide into bowls and top with parsley and/or chives plus a drizzle of heavy cream or coconut milk if you like!

pro tip!
When chopping your cauliflower, chop the florets into small pieces all about the same size. They'll be easier to eat and cook faster.

An overhead view of a bowl of cauliflower soup.

What if I Don’t Have an Immersion Blender?

I prefer to use my immersion blender to smooth this soup, leaving some chunks for texture. That said, if you don’t have an immersion blender there are a few alternative methods you can use to smooth your soup.

Potato masher: This option is great if you prefer more of a chunky texture. Once your cauliflower is fork-tender use a potato masher to mash some of the cauliflower until you reach your desired texture.
High powdered blender: This option is great if you prefer a completely smooth soup! If you’re using a blender, just blend in batches, making sure to not fill your blender past the maximum fill line and be extra careful because the soup will be hot! You can still achieve a chunky soup with a blender. Just add about half of the soup to your blender and blend until smooth, leaving the rest of the soup as is.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I add more flavor to my cauliflower soup?

If you want more flavor in your soup, you can easily add in some spices like paprika, cayenne, chili powder, cumin, etc. A splash of fresh lemon juice and fresh herbs like chives, green onions or thyme will also add great flavor to your soup!

How do you thicken up cauliflower soup?

If you’d like to thicken your cauliflower soup you can add some arrowroot powder, corn starch or flour. To do this, you can make a roux with 1 part thickening agent to 2 parts liquid. I don’t recommend adding the thickener straight to the soup because it will clump up.

How much protein does cauliflower soup have?

One serving of cauliflower soup has 4 grams of protein.

Can I freeze cauliflower soup?

I haven’t tried it, but I don’t see why not! This soup should freeze well if stored in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

A bowl of cauliflower soup. A spoon is lifting a spoonful out of the bowl.

How to Serve

Here’s where it gets fun! Get creative with your toppings or set out a little topping bar for people to build their own bowls of soup. Here are some topping ideas:

shredded cheddar cheese – vegan if needed
“bacon” bits – coconut bacon or tempeh bacon would be perfect!
herbs – chopped green onions, chives, parsley
croutons
roasted chickpeas
heavy cream or coconut milk
spices – cracked pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder

This soup could be a meal on its own or it would be delicious served with toasted sourdough bread, crunchy almond flour crackers or even a side salad like this simple kale salad.

How to Store Leftovers

As I mentioned earlier, this soup is a great meal prep recipe. I like to make a batch at the beginning of the week and enjoy it for easy lunches or dinners throughout the week. Allow the soup to cool slightly and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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Be sure to check out all the cauliflower recipes as well all of the soup recipes on EBF!

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4.89 from 17 votes