Curried Cauliflower Soup with Apples
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Cozy, a little sweet, a little spicy—this curried cauliflower soup is basically autumn in a bowl.
One of the things I love about cauliflower is that it’s essentially a blank slate, ready to take on whatever flavors you pair it with. In this curried cauliflower soup recipe, the mild nuttiness of the cauliflower, the tart-sweetness of the apples, and the aromatic heat of the curry come together in a silky, savory-sweet soup that feels both comforting and a little unexpected. Best of all, it’s easy enough for a weeknight but special enough to serve guests. And if you’re in the mood to keep the soup pot going, check out a roundup of my other favorite fall soups.
“OMG. This is delicious…Fortunately for me, my husband doesn’t eat cauliflower so I don’t have to share.”
What you’ll need to make Curried cauliflower soup With Apples
- Olive oil, yellow onion & garlic cloves: These are the aromatics that get sautéed first, building a savory base for the soup. The olive oil helps everything soften and release flavor.
- Curry powder, cinnamon, salt & black pepper: These spices provide the bulk of the soup’s warm flavor. Curry powder adds warmth and spice to both the soup and the curried apple garnish, tying everything together. Cinnamon brings a subtle sweetness, while salt and pepper keep all the flavors balanced.
- Cauliflower: The base of the soup that becomes ultra-creamy once blended. You’ll need one head cauliflower cut into small florets.
- Apple & Honey: The apple adds a touch of natural sweetness and brightness that keeps the flavor from feeling too heavy, while a drizzle of honey rounds out the flavors with gentle sweetness.
- Chicken broth: Provides the liquid base that carries the vegetables and spices while adding depth of flavor.
- Heavy cream: Gives the soup its silky, luxurious finish. The recipe only calls for ⅓ cup, which is way less than most cream soups. It may be tempting to omit it, but I highly recommend it—it mellows the spices and makes the soup silky.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Start the base. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot or Dutch oven, then add the onions and garlic. Cook gently until soft, about 4 minutes, then stir in the curry powder and cinnamon and cook until fragrant.
Step 2. Simmer the cauliflower and apple: Add the cauliflower, apples, chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until the cauliflower is tender.
Step 3. Purée the soup. Using an immersion blender, blend the mixture until smooth and creamy (or use a standard blender in batches). Tip the pot slightly when using an immersion blender to minimize splatters.
Pro Tip: If using a standard blender, always remove the center knob from the lid and cover loosely with a clean kitchen towel before blending hot soup—this lets the steam escape.
Step 4. Add the honey and cream. And blend again until incorporated.
Step 5. Make the garnish and serve. Toss diced apple with a little curry powder. Ladle the soup into bowls and spoon the curried apples over top.
Pro Tip: For an extra layer of texture on top, pair the apples with toasted pepitas, homemade croutons, or pomegranate seeds.
More Cozy, Comforting Soups for Fall and Beyond
Curried Cauliflower Soup with Apples
Ingredients
For the Soup
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2½ lbs cauliflower, cut into small florets (from 1 to 2 heads)
- 1 tart yet sweet apple such as Fuji or Honeycrisp, peeled and roughly chopped
- 6 cups (48 oz) low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons honey, plus more to taste
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
For Curried Apples Garnish
- 1 tart yet sweet apple, such as Fuji or Honeycrisp, peeled and finely diced
- Heaping ¼ teaspoon curry powder
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the curry powder and cinnamon and cook a few minutes more.
- Add the cauliflower, apple, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, and then turn the heat down to a simmer. Cover the pot and cook for about 20 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender.
- Purée the soup with an immersion blender until completely smooth. (Alternatively, use a standard blender to purée the soup in batches; see note.) Stir in the honey and heavy cream. Bring the soup to a simmer, and then taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and more honey. (For a sweeter soup, you'll need 2 to 3 tablespoons more honey.) Keep the soup warm while you prepare the garnish.
- For the garnish, toss the diced apples with the curry powder. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with a spoonful of curried apples.
Notes
- If using a standard blender to purée the soup, be sure not to fill the jar more than halfway; leave the hole in the lid open and cover loosely with a dishtowel to allow the heat to escape; and pour blended soup into a clean pot.
- Make-Ahead/Freezing Instructions: The soup can be frozen, without the cream, for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot. Once heated through, add the cream and bring to a simmer before serving.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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My husband says this is the best soup I’ve ever made !?! I make a LOT of soup. This is so easy and absolutely delicious. Don’t skip the curried apple garnish – adds just the right amount of texture and a hint of apple sweetness. Enjoy!
Am eating this as I type. It is perfection! Velvety and deeply flavourful. I thought the curry and cinnamon might overpower, but it’s delightful. I’m going to make the Paula Deen biscuits to pair with the soup, as suggested. Thanks for a fab way to give life to flabby ole cauliflower!
From the picture it looks as though you have bread croutons on top however the recipe doesn’t mention them? Is it apples I’m seeing?
Yep – they’re diced apples with a bit curry sprinkled on them. 🙂
How far in advance can this soup be made (without freezing it)?
Thank you,
Hi Deanna, I think this would probably last nicely in the fridge for three to four days.
I made this soup exactly as written. It came out perfectly and my teenager asked me to make it again tomorrow when her friends come over. I find your recipes straightforward, predictable and delicious! Thanks for sharing all of your experience!
I don’t have cream at home. What can I use to substitute?
Hi Betsy, There’s no great substitute for the cream unless you have half & half on hand. It’s fine to leave it out – you might just swirl in a few tablespoons of butter before serving to add some richness.
I made and did add extra honey but also extra curry and pepper…. soooooo delicious! Thank you for recipe!!!
Yum! It was amazing! Never liked cauliflower soup until this! This is a keeper! Thank you!
Can I make this in advance (up to adding the honey and cream) and freeze it?
Sure, Ann – it freezes beautifully.
A+ recipe. A perfect 10! The first soup I made this “fall” which just so happened to accompany the first rain we’ve had in NorCal after the fires we recently experienced. It was unbelievably easy to make, full of flavor and some great depth. The garnish was brilliant, especially with some fresh, local Fujis. I work in an all organic produce department and will be recommending this recipe for a long time to come. Thanks so much!
For years have been making a version of the soup without cream, cinnamon,apples and/or garnish, all of which gild the lily but make it really special. To make it thick and creamy I cube 2 russet potatoes and cook with the onions and they get smashed during the emersion blender process.No dairy needed, really. the curry with cauliflower is genius, and try the exact same recipe using broccoli and tarragon instead of cauliflower and curry. Just as genius! God bless you, congrats on your new book and many thanks for making me look like a really good cook now and then.
Made this soup as a starter for a fall dinner. We were 8 and everyone raved about this soup with its subtle flavours and pleasing texture. Only omitted the honey as most people around here (Newfoundland, Canada) prefer savoury veggie soups and I used Garam Masala rather than curry pwdr. as that what came out of the spice bin first.
Went apple picking last weekend, decided to have an apple themed dinner. This soup was the star, I served that with some crusty bread, and I
made your apple pancetta salad to go with it. For dessert I made your French apple cake. What a wonderful fall meal it was, everyone loved it.