5 Ingredient Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Kale Pesto Recipe - Pinch of Yum
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5 Ingredient Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Kale Pesto

11 reviews / 4.6 average

I have two things to say today.

Thing #1: WE GOT A STUDIO. We, Bjork and Lindsay and Sage, have officially put down a deposit on a beautiful, huge, 12-window, dog-friendly brick and timber studio in Minneapolis. It will be an office, it will be a meeting space, it will be a workshop location, and if my wildest dreams come true, it will be a test and photography kitchen.

breathe breathe breathe breathe breathe!!!

I won’t go into too much detail in this post because some things are best saved for MOOOORE POSTS in THREE WEEKS when we actually GET THE KEYS! 😱🎉🙌‼️ Meaning I will probably now go on to write 800 paragraphs about the space. You know how this works.

Finding a studio has been a goal we’ve had for a while now. But wows, finding just the right space was super tricky. It had to feel right, the location had to be good… and the windows. There had to be good windows. For us, this has been a multiple-year-long process and there have been lots of near-misses, or actual misses? The ones where you think you found the perfect place and then between the time you literally walked up the stairs to see the space and walked straight down the stairs to sign the lease, someone else had gotten there first? Yeah, whatever you call those moments, we’ve had those. Multiple. I know, right? The pain. The struggle. Feel so sorry for us.

This space, soon-to-be OUR space, is a dream and half come true. Oh, the possibilities. With all the ideas and potential, my mind is in a perpetual state of happy-crazy.

HOW TO MAKE OUR CAULIFLOWER SOUP:

This 5 Ingredient Cheesy Cauliflower Soup is ultra creamy - and all you need is an onion, cauliflower, butter, broth, and cheese! SO EASY. | pinchofyum.com

The night before we signed the lease I couldn’t even sleep. I laid in bed and just scribbled pages of notes like a madbloggerwoman- how we could use it, what style we will choose to decorate, who we might want to collaborate with, when we’ll do our next workshops – and absolutely did not do what I was supposed to be doing which was sleeping and relaxing my brain like a healthy Normal.

Normals, I know you have no idea what this is like – and I know because I am married to a Normal who could fall asleep in about two seconds flat no matter the stress, excitement, or emotional state of being. Not infuriating at all.

But my neurotic-type friends – you know. You can more than identify with the notebook in bed with mind racing situation, right? I see you. UNITE.

This 5 Ingredient Cheesy Cauliflower Soup is ultra creamy - and all you need is an onion, cauliflower, butter, broth, and cheese! SO EASY. | pinchofyum.com

Thing #2: This soup. Like, whoa. This soup.

YOU NEED TO MAKE IT.

It’s like Creamy Cauliflower Sauce in soup form. But with more cheese. And a drizzle of truffle oil just to be fansay. And cubes of bread lightly fried in olive oil and a pop of fresh green better known as kale almond pesto. I mean, seriously. The flavor. The texture. It’s like eating a hug. Creamy, luscious, cheesy cauliflower soup with a few handfuls of melty cheese and that earthy (would you call it earthy?) truffle flavor.

And you know what? I know that the semi-fried olive oil crouton pieces are not, like, suuuuper healthy, but that’s okay because you don’t have to make them every time. Save those for when you make the soup on a special occasion, say, TONIGHT, and bask in their lovely golden brown crunchy-chewy texture and warmth with that pure, light olive oil flavor, knowing that you will top your soup with healthier dry croutons next time. Maybe.

Seriously, bread lightly fried in olive oil – divine.

This 5 Ingredient Cheesy Cauliflower Soup is ultra creamy - and all you need is an onion, cauliflower, butter, broth, and cheese! SO EASY. | pinchofyum.com

Friends, do you have a food processor for the pesto? YOU NEED ONE. I love mine so much that I wrote a full post showing off 12 magical ways that I use my food processor. Must must must. Go now.

May I also recommend this soup + a cozy grilled cheese sandwich on a blustery fall/winter day? I mean, it is just THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

This 5 Ingredient Cheesy Cauliflower Soup is ultra creamy - and all you need is an onion, cauliflower, butter, broth, and cheese! SO EASY. | pinchofyum.com

Super Nifty Tools and Things:

Print
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Cheesy Cauliflower Soup in a bowl with pesto and croutons.

5 Ingredient Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Kale Pesto


  • Author: Pinch of Yum
  • Total Time: 40 mins
  • Yield: 45 servings (2 cups per serving, because you won’t NOT be able to have 2 cups of this) 1x

Description

This 5 Ingredient Creamy Cauliflower Soup is ultra yummy and is the perfect blank canvas to layer your kale pesto and lightly fried chunky croutons!


Ingredients

Units Scale

For the soup:

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 large head of cauliflower (cut into florets – about 6 cups)
  • 3/4 cup half and half

Kale Pesto:

  • 1 1/22 cups packed kale leaves (stems removed)
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts (sometimes I also use almonds)
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (more to taste)
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (optional)

For topping:

  • 1 tablespoon truffle oil (optional, but seriously SO GOOD)
  • 4 slices of bread for croutons (see notes)

Instructions

  1. Heat the butter in a large Dutch Oven or heavy stock pot. Add the onions and cook over low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. When the onions become golden brown and fragrant, add the broth and cauliflower. Simmer for about 10 minutes or until the cauliflower is fork tender.
  2. Puree with an immersion blender, or transfer to a regular blender and blend until the soup reaches your desired consistency.
  3. Add the cream and stir until combined. 
  4. Add kale pesto ingredients to a food processor and pulse until you get a lightly textured paste (like pesto).
  5. Top soup with kale pesto, a drizzle of truffle oil, and croutons! YUM.

Notes

Skillet Croutons for topping: Cut the bread slices into cubes and just put some olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat and toss the cubes around in there until golden brown (they should be mostly coated with a thin layer of oil to prevent sticking and promote browning). Transfer to paper towel lined plate to absorb excess oil and sprinkle with salt. It’s kind of a cross between baked croutons and lightly fried bread.

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Sauté
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: cauliflower soup, cauliflower recipe, 5 ingredient recipe, vegetarian soup, cheesy soup

To make this vegetarian, skip the bacon grease. To make this gluten free, make sure you’re using a gluten free bread for the croutons.

Disclaimer: this post contains Amazon affiliate links.


One More Thing!

This recipe is part of our collection of best healthy soups. Check it out!

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113 Comments

  1. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Congratulations on the studio! That is super exciting and its nice to see a dream come true for you 🙂 I wouldnt be able to sleep either!
    On another note, can you please tell me where you got those gorgeous bowls that you have been using in your photography lately?

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      Thanks Julie! My father in law makes those bowls! Aren’t they awesome?! He’s actually working on making another “batch” of them that we will sell at future workshops if all goes as planned! 🙂

      1. Pinch of Yum Logo

        I was just thinking the same thing! I’ve wondered where you got those bowls a few times already. You (and your father-in-law) should totally sell them on your site, I bet a lot of people would be interested in them!

        Or, you know, run a workshop over here in the Jersey/NYC area. That works, too. I am pro-that. 🙂

  2. Pinch of Yum Logo

    This look s AMAZING! I see an onion on the ingredient but how was it prepped? I am guessing a fine dice?

  3. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Congrats! I can understand why you couldn’t sleep, there was something exciting coming the next day. To me it happend when I go on vacation and than I should be sleeping as traveling is exhausting. This soup looks super tasty and I would make the croutons everytime!

  4. Pinch of Yum Logo

    This soup sounds amazing, especially with the truffle oil! I ended up on this post because I’m listening to your food blogger pro podcast at the moment. Congratulations on getting the studio, that’s so exciting after years of “showing up everyday,” as you say. Looking forward to updates!

  5. Pinch of Yum Logo

    UNITE! I feel ya. Bolting up to scribble story ideas on the nearest scrap of paper at 2 in the morning is definitely A Thing.

    Can’t wait to read more about the new studio!

  6. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Congratulations on the new studio! That sounds incredible. I’m excited to see pictures! This soup looks so delicious. I love how simple and easy it sounds! And I’m totally on board with the grilled cheese suggestion. Yum!
    xx Sydney

  7. Pinch of Yum Logo

    CONGRATS on the studio- how cool! I’m looking forward to meeting you at the December workshop. Maybe it will be held at the new studio!? =) And the soup- um, yum!!

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      Oh my gosh, I SO wish! We are committed to our original space for Nov/Dec (it’s adorable, so no worries there) but maybe we could do a tour though! 🙂 It’s not far away.

  8. Pinch of Yum Logo

    I am definitely a member of the neurotic-type-friends tribe who sleep with a notebook beside the bed and can’t sleep because there are just too many ideas floating in your head and you have to write them all down before you explode. Sigh. But, I’m super excited for your new space and I’m looking forward to trying this recipe.

  9. Pinch of Yum Logo

    This soup is exactly what I need right now! It looks so creamy and delicious, perfect for fall! I love the video, I’ve already watched it about 4 times today, CREEPER ha!

    That’s exciting news about the studio! I’ve enjoyed your snapchats, the studio looks like a beautiful space. 🙂

      1. Pinch of Yum Logo

        Lindsay, I made this soup the other night for dinner. It was delicious. I didn’t have bread on hand so I crisped up some papitas with a little butter and salt. They were a delicious substitute. 🙂

  10. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Saw your studio on Snapchat and it looks incredible!!!! High five from another sliiiiiightly neurotic blogger. 🙂

  11. Pinch of Yum Logo

    OMERGAWSH – CONGRATS on the studio!!! I hope and pray your wildest dreams of it being a “a test and photography kitchen” come true SOON!!! If that’s the case – will you have photography lessons there??? Cannot wait to see how it all unravels and the success y’all achieve through it!
    As for this soup – swoon – so creamy – so luscious – so good4me too!

  12. Pinch of Yum Logo

    You’ve done it again! This looks so good. Between this and your cauliflower sauce, I think we should dub you the Cauliflower Queen. 🙂

  13. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Okay first of all CONGRATS!!!! I had this super awesome “congrats” message with an array of emojis that I tried sending via snapchat messaging and it failed me ugh. = party killer.
    But regardless…so excited for you guys…the place is incredible and I know magic will happen there!!
    This soup has me wondering why I am not leaving work to go home and make it.
    And your videos are just getting better!!

  14. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Congratulations! So excited for you guys! Fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong in those three weeks.

    I think I’m stuck between a Normal and a fellow neurotic… I can work myself into a tizzy sometimes, but for some reason, I can usually still get to sleep, if that makes sense. Maybe it’s because I was a teenager when most of the exciting things that have happened to me have happened, and I could sleep through anything. I don’t know, but I suppose I’ll find out!

  15. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Omg! A studio! That’s so exciting! Oh, the possibilities! Geez, I might be able to be the leader of your “tribe” since my brain is already reeling with all the cool stuff you can do with a studio and it’s not even mine! (And the soup looks delish!)