Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Pomegranates and Peanuts
For this soup, I wanted the toppings to offer two components to the soup: a different texture and a zip of flavor (the punch of color didn’t hurt either). Boy oh boy, did this soup deliver! There were fights over the last bowl. I literally had to scrape the pot clean. Everyone loved the burst of flavor that the pomegranates offered, as well as the salty crunch of the peanuts, to this velvety-smooth soup. It would make a gorgeous addition to any holiday spread and, yet, is simple enough for a weeknight meal. Can’t beat that.
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. butter or extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 1 head cauliflower cut into small florets and stalks chopped
- 32 oz. low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, sea salt, or another coarse salt
- ½ tsp. ground black pepper
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds
- ½ cup roasted salted peanuts
Instructions
- In a stock pot or large pot, heat the butter or oil over a medium-high heat.
- Turn the heat down to medium, add the onion and celery, and sauté until the onion is soft and translucent, 5 – 8 minutes.
- Add the garlic and thyme and stir well until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Increase the heat to high, add the cauliflower and stir well, then add the stock, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil and then cover the pot and turn it down to a simmer.
- Cook for 15 minutes, or until the cauliflower is soft, and then puree with an immersion blender or carefully scoop the soup into a blender, remove the little plastic cap that’s in the center of the blender lid to let steam escape, and blend in batches until smooth.
- Serve immediately, topping each bowl with peanuts and pomegranate seeds or, better yet, allowing each person to top the soup themselves.
Notes
Do Ahead or Delegate: Dice the onion and celery, peel the garlic, chop the cauliflower, or fully prepare and refrigerate or freeze the soup (keep toppings separate until serving).
Scramble Flavor Booster: Double the dried thyme and/or add hot chili flakes.
Tip: Did you know cauliflower is a nutritional powerhouse? It is packed with vitamins such as C, K, and even Folate. It also offers 3 grams of fiber per cup and is rich in antioxidants. Additionally, it can be prepared in lots of different ways from raw to serving as a low-carb rice or couscous substitute like in this cauliflower fried rice recipe.
Like this recipe? Check out The Scramble's family-friendly meal plans to see just how simple getting dinner on the table can be!
Nutrition
Calories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 13gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 448mgPotassium: 928mgFiber: 7gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 141IUVitamin C: 75mgCalcium: 103mgIron: 3mg
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