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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I love Jenn’s Recipes, but I didn’t have a big success with this one. It was a bit watery (although simmering the purée helped some) and the flavor was only so so (my Asian curry powder?)
I’m a big follower of OUAC, have your cookbook and have directed many family and friends to your site as we absolutely love your recipes. Made this recipe as we love anything curry. Followed the recipe to a T and was extremely underwhelmed by the lack of flavor, watery texture and the addition of honey. I am hoping that perhaps letting it sit for a day or so in the fridge enhances flavors – still optimistic, Jen:)
Am surprised at the number of positive reviews; although noticed a number of the 5 stars were people who had not even made the recipe yet.?.
Love your recipes!!!! I was going to make your Curried Cauliflower and Apple Soup this afternoon. My problem is that the curry in my cabinet is probably 10 years old. I do have Red Curry Paste in the refrigerator but am not sure if I can substitute. Would you use the old curry or the curry paste. Thanks, Trish
Hi Patricia, I’d probably stick with the curry powder. It may not be as pungent so you could use an extra pinch. Hope you enjoy!
We’ve been greatly enjoying your recipes! Can I substitute whole milk yogurt for the cream in this recipe?
Sure, I think that should work (and glad you like the recipes)! 🙂
Delicious soup! My whole family loved it. A nutritious soup that feels rich. A great fun flavor change from basic soups.
I loved this soup, and have made it a dozen or so times with variations. Today we had only 2/3 the recommended amount of cauliflower and no spple, so we added a sweet potato and a handful of baby carrots to mimic the sweetness. I’ve made it with cream, without cream, with coconut milk, and substituted sour cream for the cream. All were delicious! This really is a flexible soup. At the end, I remove 3 cups of the broth, puree, and then add back the broth as needed to get the texture I want. A warming and delicious soup any time of year, easy for beginners, and minimal cleanup to boot!
Very good flavors but the consistency was too thin (my cauliflower was small so I put less liquid. I add more cream but it didn’t do the trick
Hi Annik, if you make this again, I’d simmer it a bit longer than the recipe indicates to give it an opportunity to thicken more.
Is it possible to use frozen cauliflower florets instead of fresh? If so, what amount do you recommend? Thanks.
Hi Karen, I’ve never used frozen cauliflower here but I suspect it should work. You’ll need about 2 1/2 pounds. Please LMK how it turns out if you try it!
Hi, I don’t have curry powder (and I’m avoiding going out), is there a spice I could use as a substitute?
Thank you!
Hi Lisa, Garam Masala would be a good substitute. 🙂
Excellent soup!