Although Olav had to ask me who I was when I originally "friended" him on Facebook (short answer: We were in a communications class together - public speaking, I believe. Olav recited Allen Ginsberg's "Howl." It was inspiring.) this cauliflower soup recipe reminds me why I always like to keep in touch with acquaintances. Olav emailed this to me after coming across my request for soup recipes. And what I loved about it was Olav sent me my kind of recipe - the kind with suggestions rather than hard and fast instructions (i.e. - fair amount of olive oil, cover with chicken stock, etc.). That's how I like to cook, although I usually type out directions for the blog. So know that the emailed version of this recipe is probably way cooler than what it here. Regardless, if you like cauliflower, this soup is a must.
Cauliflower Soup
[olive oil]
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, coarsely chopped
1 stalk celery, coarsely chopped
1 head of cauliflower, chopped
[chicken stock]
1 potato, chopped coarsely
1 tsp. tarragon
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (adjust for heat as needed)
1/2 tsp. black pepper
[tumeric]
Using a sturdy pot, soften the garlic, onions and celery in olive oil until tender. Add cauliflower and potato, cover with chicken stock (you can also use vegetable stock for a vegetarian version of this soup). Simmer the vegetables until they are tender. Season with tarragon, cayenne pepper, black pepper and tumeric. Run a mixer through the soup at the end to create a "soupy" consistency. (I used the food processor ... and got soup all over the counter. Ryan loves me.)
Serve with some fresh shaved Parmesan on top and serve with crusty bread.
Verdict: I gotta be honest, when this first hit my bowl I thought I was stuck with one fugly prom date. You know the kind - she's the girl from church that your mom insisted you take because she's a really nice girl, but she's just not as hot as the cheerleader who would never give you the time of day anyway. As I started reading this description to Ryan, he chimed in ... "but at the end of the date, this soup really puts out."
You get the picture. It don't look like much, but damn this is a good, humble soup. Kind of sexy for a cruciferous vegetable.
3 comments:
How I wish I could be a fly on the wall at your dinner conversations between you and Ryan...
He's actually my best and fiercest critic. :) And aside from his "putting out" comments, he's pretty articulate when telling me what's good or what's bad about a creation.
Soup is the only form of cauliflower that I like. "Howl" is always palateable, though!
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