Cauliflower, Quinoa and Spinach Soup. It’s perfect.
This soup has a few hidden nutritional advantages. I’ll tell you what they are in a minute.
Look I know…….
What a change this post is. Crazy don’t you think?. It’s a bit like the world weather. Cold one minute (when it’s supposed to be Summer) and hot the next ( when it’s supposed to be Winter), so I thought I would swing from my last post, Chocolate and Peanut Butter Truffles right over here to a soup. Pop.
I think it is the kind of soup you can take to work, or serve as a really good weeknight dinner. It’s creamy looking isn’t it?. Yes and it tastes like it too but there is no dairy in it.
Please take note if you are my sister and you are reading this ( she says she reads my dribble but does she?). She’s a non dairy eater. Are there any more of you out there?. No? Well I really didn’t have an intention of skipping dairy (because I love it) but this soup just evolved and quite honestly it doesn’t need it. It’s nice to have a break…..for a short while. It’s made with quinoa so their is no gluten either. Look, I told you it is a special soup. I am hoping for an award, at least for the next statement anyway. Are you ready? If you make it with vegetable stock it is not only Vegetarian but Vegan. I know. Special.
Here take a look at it again. I know you are intrigued now aren’t you?
I made this in the time it took to boil it and puree it with a stick blender. Do you have one of those?. They are an indispensable soup Genie. I love everything about this soup including the inclusion of two surprising secret ingredients and what?.. my favourite vegetable obsession– cauliflower.
I hit a soup bender last week when it was raining here. Now I am finding that leftovers make for the ultimate lazy week and that the flavour gets better with every slothful bowl I consume. If it is winter where you are now, then get cracking this should bring your nutritional quota back up from last weeks chocolate binge.
Ingredients |
Unit:
|
- 1 onion chopped smallish
- 1 Tablespoon ginger grated or chopped
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 800 gm cauliflower or 1 average average size cut
- 200 gm cooked tri colour quinoa or 1 cup
- 2 quarters preserved lemon chopped very finely pulp removed
- 1 litre chicken stock
- 150 gm raw cashews
- Sea salt and black pepper
- 4 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoon chopped parsley or basil
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin extra
- 20 gm or 2 cubes of frozen spinach. cut very small defrosted .
Instructions
- Heat a medium sized pot big enough to hold all of the ingredients
- Add 2 Tablespoons of olive oil and add onion, garlic, and cumin and saute till softened a little .
- Set aside 1/2 cup of the cauliflower, then add the remainder of the cauliflower, cashews, preserved lemon and stock and simmer till tender. ( about 10 minutes)
- Puree with a stick blender till smooth then add 1/2 a cup of quinoa and the spinach and stir on a low heat till it is mixed in and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Break the remaining cauliflower into tiny flowerettes. Heat a saute pan and add 2 tablespoons of oil add the small cauliflower, quinoa and extra cumin and saute till there is a bit of colour and crunch. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the chopped parsley.
- Serve on the top of the soup
The post Cauliflower , Quinoa and Spinach Soup first appeared on My Kitchen Stories
I think you described today perfectly! It was so hot and then it was freezing! 🙂
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Ladies & Gentlemen, The Best Buttercream Recipe EVER {With A Surprise Ingredient}
I need a bowl of this gorgeous and healthy soup right now!
Yes sometimes I am good at making healthy. Thanks for coming by to check it out
Talk about a nutritional soup! So many great power-packed ingredients in there and it still looks amazing! Yummy!
Thanks Shelby. It is perfect for cauliflower. I would normally add lots of cheese but there is no need here
This looks delicious! I love cauliflower, quinoa and spinach!
Oh me too Sophia, thanks for visiting to take a look. Now excuse me i have to finish my bowl of soup…….
Loving the looks and sound of this soup. Pinning so I remember to make it asap.
Cristie @ Lottle Big H recently posted..Raw Peach Tarts with Sweet Labneh
Thanks Cristie. I have just finished a pot of it. oops
What an interesting soup! I can imagine how creamy it would be due to the cashews. It’s summer in NZ right now but I’ll keep this one in mind for winter. Yum.
Hi Amber its summer here too but believe me today is soup weather
Oh this looks so good! Plus deliciously healthy 🙂
Thanks for sharing
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
Gourmet Getaways recently posted..Yummly or Pinterest which is Best?
Hi Julie
Thanks for visiting
Wow – delicious, comforting AND healthy. Perfect!
Valentina recently posted..Spicy Turmeric-Coconut Basmati Rice Recipe
Ha yes thanks valentina
The weather is so changeable here too!
I like the extra add of quinoa here. The soup looks so creamy and tasty, Tania.
I love dairy too, but, alas, it doesn’t love me and so I have to resort to non-dairy options and so this is my kinda soup! So creamy and luscious!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan recently posted..Comment on Leek & Bacon Sautéed Salad by Kelly
This summer certainly has been strange and there have definitely been days where it’s so cold I’ve been longing for a bowl of soup. Your presentation of the soup is gorgeous. It’s great that it’s vegetarian but can also be vegan xx
Hotly Spiced recently posted..Stuart’s Point, NSW
Thanks Charlie. I like soup anytime
This soup has all my favorite ingredients. Perfect for winter dinners. I’m envious of your summer now though.
Christine | Vermilion Roots recently posted..Shakshuka + The Language of Perfectly Cooked Eggs
Hi Christine. Yes these are pretty much all my favourite ingredients too. Our summer is a little strange this year but thats what to expect from the weather these days
This looks and sounds quite intriguing! I have never made any cauliflower soup..but the way it looks,its got me craving now 🙂
I think you may like cauliflower soup if you make it, Swayam.
Yet another recipe using cauliflower in unexpected ways. Well, your dish convinced me, Tania. I’ve put the veg on my grocery list. Maybe I’ll buy a few heads and declare a “Cauliflower Week” and try all of these recipes. This one will definitely be on the menu and I’ve pinned it to make sure.
Oh dear I think I may be labelled cauliflower absessive soon. I just keep buying them and have to use them up. lol
I don’t have a cauliflower obsession but I don’t think I can resist making this soup!
Oh thats nice, I think you might have one soon
Soup really does get better over time doesnt it!!! I absolutely love the sound of this soup and the quinoa would make it so much heartier than a usual cauliflower soup. Yum!
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile recently posted..Chocolate Ripple Cake
Hi Lucy!!!. Thanks visiting and having a look at my soup.
This soup sounds wonderful, and with all t epluses, who could resist? Who would want to? I adore cauliflower, so this one is right for me. I hope 2016 is treating you well, and i send my warmest wishes for a tremendously successful year.
Well I can’t resist cauliflower that is perfectly clear. So this week cauliflower next week ice cream. That’s the way to do it right?
Wow, I love the idea of making cauliflower soup, I am a huge fan of cauliflower, this soup looks delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe, pinning!
Sara @ Life’s Little Sweets recently posted..Mixed Berry Cheesecake
If you love cauliflower it’s a given you will like this soup. hope you try it, Sara
What a lovely soup, Tania! Very cool that this is gluten-free, dairy-free AND vegan. You seriously wouldn’t know it from the look of it, since, as you say, it really does look super creamy!
Lisa @ Chocolate Meets Strawberry recently posted..Comment on Bits and Pieces: April 2016 by Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
Hi Lisa thank you it is a goodie simple but tastes great
It’s just hot here but as that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon and I love soup I’m going to be whizzing this one up this week as I love the sound of it. Thanks for sharing it on YWF too.
Vicki @ Boiled Eggs and Soldiers recently posted..Your Weekly Feed #49
You are lucky it’s getting cod here now
Sunday night is soup night in our household all through Autumn/Winter. I am always on the look out for a great flavour combo and this looks delicious.
Shari from GoodFoodWeek recently posted..Recipe: Lamb Backstraps with Middle Eastern pumpkin and chick peas
Thanks Shari. I like and hope you do too.
This looks like a lovely creamy soup but so healthy! very elegant too I think it would make a great starter for a dinner party
Oh its a lovely soup give it a try!
I love these kind of meals. Warm you from the inside out.
Also being dairy free means I don’t have to take a tablet, being lactose interlorant its just one less thing to worry about.
Thanks for linking up to Your Weekly Feed hun. xx
Thanks Kim. You poor thing being lacto intolerant!