Remember how you hated cauliflower when you were a kid? Well, hate no more. This wonderful member of the Brassicae-family is the perfect ingredient for a blended soup. A recipe that’s both creamy and filling, but still fresh and with vibrant flavors.
Don’t throw the water away after boiling – it contains a lot of taste and will be essential to produce the best possible soup here. I also like to keep a few small pieces of cauliflower out of the blending process, and add them just before serving.
Step by Step Guide to Making Cauliflower Soup with Garlic Bread
Step 1 – Sauté the shallot
In a large pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook for 5 minutes until softened.
Step 2 – Deglaze with wine
Increase heat to high, add the wine, and boil for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
Step 3 – Cook the cauliflower
Cut the cauliflower into six pieces. Add to the pan, cover with water, and season with a pinch of salt. Boil until tender, about 15 minutes. Remove the cauliflower and shallots, leaving the water to reduce until halved.
Step 4 – Reserve and blend
Finely chop one cauliflower piece and set aside. Return the rest to the pot. Blend with an immersion blender until smooth. Add the cream and butter, then blend again. Simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 5 – Make garlic bread
Rub the bread slices with cut garlic, drizzle with olive oil, and season with sea salt. Sprinkle with parsley. Toast in a hot oven for 5 minutes, until crisp.
Step 6 – Serve
Stir the reserved chopped cauliflower into the soup before serving. Ladle into deep bowls, drizzle with a little olive oil, and serve with the garlic bread.
Recipe Notes
Wine: Use a dry white such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. Avoid sweet wines, which can make the soup heavy.
Texture: Reserving a few cauliflower florets adds contrast to the smooth soup.
Bread: Any rustic loaf works — sourdough, baguette, or rye. Day-old bread toasts best.
Vegetarian adaptation: Replace chicken-based stock (if using) with vegetable stock for a vegetarian option.
FAQ
Can I substitute milk for cream?
Yes, though the soup will be thinner. You can reduce longer to thicken.
Can I freeze cauliflower soup?
Yes. Cool completely, then freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat gently to avoid splitting the cream.
What if I don’t have a hand blender?
Transfer the soup carefully to a countertop blender in batches. Return to the pot after blending.
Can I add cheese?
Yes, stirring in parmesan or pecorino at the end adds extra richness.
What can I serve with it besides garlic bread?
Green salads, roasted vegetables, or grilled fish pair well.

Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Garlic Bread
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
Description
Cauliflower has the perfect flavor and texture for this kind of recipe. It blends beautifully, giving the soup instant structure, and its flavor is just as smooth as the texture. Serve it with some cheesy garlic bread for a bit of crunch, and you’ve got yourself a deliciously cozy little weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
For the soup
1 1/2 heads cauliflower (about 1.5-1.7 lb / 700-800 g)
1/2 cup (120 ml) dry white wine
6 cups (1.4 L) water
1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
1 tablespoon (15 g) unsalted butter
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 tablespoons (30 ml) extra virgin olive oil
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
For the garlic bread
4 slices day-old bread
1-2 garlic cloves, halved
1 tablespoon (15 ml) extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt, to season
Fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
In a large pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook for 5 minutes until softened.
Increase heat to high, add the wine, and boil for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
Cut the cauliflower into six pieces. Add to the pan, cover with water, and season with a pinch of salt. Boil until tender, about 15 minutes. Remove the cauliflower and shallots, leaving the water to reduce until halved.
Finely chop one cauliflower piece and set aside. Return the rest to the pot. Blend with an immersion blender until smooth. Add the cream and butter, then blend again. Simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Rub the bread slices with cut garlic, drizzle with olive oil, and season with sea salt. Sprinkle with parsley. Toast in a hot oven for 5 minutes, until crisp.
Stir the reserved chopped cauliflower into the soup before serving. Ladle into deep bowls, drizzle with a little olive oil, and serve with the garlic bread.
Notes
Wine: Use a dry white such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. Avoid sweet wines, which can make the soup heavy.
Texture: Reserving a few cauliflower florets adds contrast to the smooth soup.
Bread: Any rustic loaf works — sourdough, baguette, or rye. Day-old bread toasts best.
Vegetarian adaptation: Replace chicken-based stock (if using) with vegetable stock for a vegetarian option.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Main, Soup
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Scandinavian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 270mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
If you liked this recipe, you are going to love these favorite soups!
Creamy Green Asparagus Soup with Crispy Bacon
Velvety Cream of Mushroom Soup with Truffle Oil
Mohinga – How to Make Burmese Fish Noodle Soup
Ok my kids officially scarfed this down. How did this happen??
I am all in on this soup. Holy cow so good!!
So are we!!
Wow! Wow! this is so incredibly good, what a great way to start fall with a super delicious soup. I will be making this again and again, thank you thank you!
I love this recipe so much. Favorite soup!
Beautiful bowl of soup!
There are not many Cauliflower recipes that I like, except a few and I this has chance to be that Like list, it looks so great! I am going to make it! I have Cauliflower in fridge waiting for this recipe to be made.
Thanks Pam,
Let me know how it turns out – hope it’ll make it onto your “like list”.
All the best
Kalle
Beautiful and the soup sounds so comforting…I love white wine in my soup. It’s been raining for days and soup is definitely on my mind. Thanks!
Thanks Elizabeth, I really appreciate your nice comment! With fall approaching at a scary speed – I find myself cooking more and more for comfort. I’m sure you have the same “symptoms”.
All the best
Kalle