This soup is perfect on a chilly day when you want to warm up with something smooth and satisfying. There are no dairy products, yet the soup is rich and creamy. The secret is using hummus and cashews soaked in water which is a great trick if you’re trying to avoid dairy products. And using roasted garlic and cauliflower as your flavor profile give the soup a luxuriously deep, nutty taste.
When roasting the vegetables, you’ll want to give them enough time to develop as much flavor as possible. The garlic should be soft and buttery, and the cauliflower should have a bit of char on the edges which will add a wonderful smoky flavor.
Ingredients:
2 Yukon Gold potatoes
1 medium-sized head of cauliflower
1 large bulb of garlic
4 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup raw cashews soaked in water overnight
1/2 cup roasted garlic hummus
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons nutritional yeast
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Optional Garnish:
Toasted bread croutons
Fresh chopped parsley
Directions:
1) Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2) Tear off an additional piece of aluminum foil about two sizes bigger than the diameter of the garlic bulb. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice off the top third of the garlic bulb, exposing the cloves.
3) Drizzle one tablespoon of the olive oil over the garlic and season it with salt and pepper. Wrap the foil around the bulb to seal out any air and place it on the rack inside the oven. Roast the garlic for 1 hour until tender.
4) Chop the cauliflower florets into 1-inch pieces and arrange them on the baking sheet. Peel the potatoes and slice them into 1-inch pieces. Arrange them on the foil with the cauliflower.
5) Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the vegetables, and season them with salt and pepper.
6) Place the baking tray in the oven and roast the vegetables for 30 to 40 minutes until the cauliflower is starting to brown and the potatoes are soft. Remove the pan and the garlic from the oven and allow them to cool slightly.
7) Pour half of the vegetable broth into the jar of a large blender then add the vegetables, hummus, cashews, yeast, and the roasted garlic cloves. (You’ll need to squeeze the cloves out of their skins.)
8) Blend the mixture on high power until the smooth.
9) Transfer the mixture to a deep soup pot over medium heat. Add the remaining vegetable broth and season with salt and pepper to taste.
10) Cook the soup for 30 minutes, occasionally stirring.
11) To serve, spoon the soup into bowls. Garnish with croutons and chopped parsley.
