Name: Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Soup
Prep time: 13 min
Cook time: 31 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1.5 tablespoons olive oil; 1 large yellow onion (finely chopped); 4 null garlic cloves (roughly chopped); 1 medium-large cauliflower (cut into large florets (~750g of florets)); 1 cup raw cashews ((140g)); 10 null fresh thyme sprigs; 1 null large fresh rosemary sprig; 2 cans cannellini beans ((15-ounce/425g), drained and rinsed); 1 null bay leaf; 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth ((960 mL)); 1 cup water ((240 mL, or more vegetable broth)); 5 tablespoons nutritional yeast; 2 teaspoons kosher salt (plus more to taste); null null black pepper (Freshly cracked, to taste); null null lemon zest; null null red pepper flakes (Crushed (or Aleppo pepper for mild heat)); null null extra virgin olive oil (Good-quality); null null bread (for serving (optional))

Instructions

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1

Pour boiling water over the cashews to cover and let rest for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse. Prep remaining ingredients: cut [cauliflower], herbs, and [garlic].
2

Make the bouquet garni: use kitchen twine to tie up the 12 fresh thyme sprigs (8 to), fresh rosemary sprig (1 large), and leaf (1 bay).
3

Heat the olive oil (1.5 tbsp) in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add the yellow onion (1 large) with a pinch of [kosher salt] and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring, until golden brown. Add the cloves (4 garlic) and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring.
4

Pour in some of the low-sodium vegetable broth (4 cups) to deglaze the pot. Add the remaining [low-sodium vegetable broth], water (1 cup), soaked and drained [cashews], cauliflower (1 medium-large), cannellini beans (2 cans), nutritional yeast (5 tbsp), kosher salt (2 tsp), and [freshly cracked black pepper]. Stir. Tuck the bouquet garni into the broth.
5

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a rapid simmer. Cook for 15 minutes, or until the [cauliflower] is tender.
6

Remove the bouquet garni. Transfer the soup to a stand blender (in two batches) or use an immersion blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
7

Taste and adjust [kosher salt] and [black pepper]. Serve in bowls, garnished with [lemon zest], [crushed red pepper flakes], and a drizzle of [good-quality extra virgin olive oil]. Serve with [bread] if desired.