Curry Cauliflower Soup with Cilantro Oil
Puréed cooked cauliflower has a velvety texture that produces deliciously creamy soups. This Asian-influenced version is sure to leave bowls empty quickly. The cilantro oil adds restaurant-worthy visual appeal. For a splash of added colour and extra flavour, use orange cauliflower if available.
2 tsp (10 mL) + 1/4 cup (60 mL) grapeseed oil or sunflower oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
1 head cauliflower, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 in (2.5 cm) piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
1 Tbsp (15 mL) yellow curry paste
2 tsp (10 mL) ground coriander
1/4 tsp (1 mL) black pepper
3 cups (750 mL) low-sodium vegetable broth
1 - 14 fl oz (400 mL) can light coconut milk
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/3 cup (80 mL) unsweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup (125 mL) cilantro
Pinch of salt
Heat 2 tsp (10 mL) oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and salt; cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add cauliflower, garlic, and ginger to pan; heat for 3 minutes. Stir in curry paste, coriander, and pepper; heat for 30 seconds. Pour in broth and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer covered for 20 minutes.
Stir in lime juice. Using blender or food processor, carefully blend soup, in batches if necessary, until very smooth. If soup is too thick, blend in some additional broth. Return to saucepan and warm for an additional 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325 F (160 C). Spread coconut flakes on rimmed baking sheet. Bake, stirring at least once, until just beginning to brown, about 7 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
To make cilantro oil, add cilantro, remaining oil, and a couple pinches of salt to blender container and blend together. Add more oil if necessary to help with blending. Pour mixture into fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl and let drain for 15 minutes. Discard solids.
Divide soup among serving bowls and garnish with cilantro oil and toasted coconut.
Serves 6.
Each serving contains: 223 calories; 4 g protein; 18 g total fat (7 g sat. fat, 0 g trans fat); 13 g total carbohydrates (5 g sugars, 8 g fibre); 428 mg sodium
source: "Cauliflower", alive #389, March 2015
Curry Cauliflower Soup with Cilantro Oil
Directions
Matthew Kadey, MSc, RD
Matthew Kadey is a dietitian, nutrition writer, and recipe developer. He is also the author of Rocket Fuel (VeloPress, 2016) and Muffin Tin Chef (Ulysses Press, 2012).
READ THIS NEXT
SEE MORE »
Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprout Tempeh Stir-Fry
This Asian-inspired stir-fry takes full advantage of the crunch Brussels sprouts achieve when they’re heated quickly. The sweet-and-sour sauce delivers a tangy edge, and tempeh offers plant-based protein and a blast of umami. If you want meat in the dish, you can replace tempeh with ground pork. Ready, set, go Stir-frying is a cooking method that thrives on speed. That means you want to have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go into the pan. That also means no chopping on the fly.
Rutabaga Chard Cakes with Smokey Cashew Cream
Two fall stalwarts—rutabaga and Swiss chard—team up to bring seasonal flavour to these baked savoury cakes. A topping of velvety cashew cream adds a little extra spark. Rutabaga burgers, anyone? You can also prepare these cakes burger-style in a skillet. Simply form rutabaga and chard mixture into burger-sized patties and cook in greased skillet over medium-high, until golden brown on both sides.
Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl with Maple Fall Fruit
If you’re feeling a bit burnt out when it comes to your typical morning repast, consider pivoting to this bowl of nutrition and quintessential fall flavours. It might just be the cozy sweater of the breakfast world. If you need extra energy to power your day, you can scatter on some crunchy granola. The sweet potato mixture can be made a day or two in advance and reheated in the microwave before serving. Pick of the crops For sautéing purposes, you want to use pears that keep their shape when heated. Bosc and Anjou are two good options. Fuji, Cortland, Honeycrisp, and Empire are excellent apple choices for heating in the skillet, as they won’t turn too mushy.
Lentil and Shiitake Mushroom Potato Bake
A plant-based spinoff of shepherd’s pie makes an ideal use for those surplus starches. Flavour-rich shiitake mushrooms and saucy lentils meet creamy potatoes in a protein-filled and satisfying comfort meal packed with nutrition and perfect for any cool-weather dinner. Mash it up Do you have other kinds of leftover mash on hand? Any mash befits the top of this comfort food. Try substituting potatoes with mashed sweet potatoes or yams. For lower carb options, try celeriac or cauliflower mash!