Delia Smith Cauliflower Soup Food

CAULIFLOWER SOUP WITH ROQUEFORT

Steps:

• The stock for this is very simply made with all the cauliflower trimmings. All you do is trim the cauliflower into small florets and then take the stalk bits, including the green stems, and place these trimmings in a medium-sized saucepan. Then add 2½ pints (1.5 litres) of water, the bay leaves and some salt, bring it up to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes with a lid. Meanwhile, take another large saucepan with a well-fitting lid, melt the butter in it over a gentle heat, then add the onion, celery, leek and potato, cover and let the vegetables gently sweat for 15 minutes. Keep the heat very low, then, when the stock is ready, strain it into the pan to join the vegetables, adding the bay leaves as well but throwing out the rest. Now add the cauliflower florets, bring it all back up to simmering point and simmer very gently for 20-25 minutes, until the cauliflower is completely tender, this time without a lid. After that, remove the bay leaves, then place the contents of the saucepan in a food processor or liquidiser and process until the soup is smooth and creamy. Next return it to the saucepan, stir in the crème fraîche and cheese and keep stirring until the cheese has melted and the soup is hot but not boiling. Check the seasoning, then serve in hot bowls, garnished with a little more crème fraîche, if you like, and the chives.

CAULIFLOWER SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Toss the cauliflower florets in a roasting tin with 1 tbsp olive oil, the cumin and the thyme. Roast for 15 mins or until golden and tender. Discard the thyme.
• Heat the remaining oil in a saucepan with the onion and celery and fry over a medium heat for 10 mins or until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 min. Stir through most of the cauliflower, reserving some to top the soup with later. Add 750ml of the stock to the pan and bring to a simmer. Cook for 10 mins.
• Blitz the soup until smooth using a hand blender or food processor. Stir through the cream and season to taste. Add extra stock if you like your soup a little thinner. Ladle into bowls and top with the parsley, reserved cauliflower and an extra drizzle of olive oil.

TWO CHEESE CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to its highest setting.
• Place the florets and a few of the inner leaves in a steamer with the pieces of bay leaf tucked amongst it.
• Pour in some boiling water from the kettle, sprinkle over some freshly grated nutmeg and salt, then cover and steam until tender.
• This should take about 12 minutes.
• After this time, test the thickest parts with a skewer to see if they are tender, then remove it to the baking dish and cover with a cloth to keep warm.
• Now pour 3 fl oz of the steaming water into a saucepan, add the crème fraîche and simmer.
• Whisk well until it has thickened very slightly, then add the cheeses.
• Heat this gently for about a minute, whisking, until the cheeses have melted.
• Season the sauce to taste and pour over the cauliflower.
• Scatter the spring onions and remaining parmesan over the dish, then sprinkle with the cayenne.
• Finally, place the dish under the hot grill until the cauliflower has browned and the sauce is bubbling.