Cauliflower Bisque: How to Make the Creamy Soup

Traditionally, bisque is a creamy French shellfish soup; however, you can make a delicious vegetarian alternative by swapping the seafood for fresh cauliflower. Cauliflower bisque, which you can serve as an entrée or side dish, contains a creamy base made from vegetable stock and whole milk and onions, garlic, and potatoes alongside cauliflower florets. Some cauliflower bisque recipes include extra vegetables such as sweet potatoes, red pepper, and leeks, although this changes the color significantly and can overwhelm the cauliflower's delicate flavor.
Cauliflower soup recipes may call for fresh cauliflower simmered in milk and stock, but you can also use roasted cauliflower. A roasted cauliflower soup will have a nuttier flavor and darker color.

Blended cauliflower and white potatoes create a creamy appearance, but plenty of dairy ingredients provide a decadent flavor. Here are a few tips and modifications to consider when making the soup:

• Add equal parts whole milk and vegetable stock. This will give the bisque a silky, creamy consistency.
• Use heavy cream. While you can omit heavy cream, it makes the soup more luxurious. Add it at the end.
• Make it dairy-free. With a few ingredient substitutions, you can make the bisque dairy-free. Oat, soy, or almond milk works well as a whole milk alternative, and you can switch the butter and cream with nut or soy-based vegan options. Additionally, you can add white beans, like butter beans, and a handful of cashew nuts to achieve a creamier texture if you can’t find dairy-free cream in the store.

Adding different toppings is a great way to add variety to your creamy cauliflower bisque and turn it into several unique meals if you batch cook a double quantity. Here are a few topping ideas:

• Croutons: Topping your bisque with homemade or store-bought croutons transforms it into a more substantial meal. You can add store-bought croutons or make your own croutons by frying cubes of leftover bread in butter for around 10 minutes until they're golden and crispy. Use a medium heat and turn the croutons frequently to keep them from burning.
• Fresh herbs: This adds a freshness to balance the creaminess of the cauliflower bisque, while also giving it a pop of color. Fresh thyme, chives, and finely chopped flatleaf or curly parsley are great options.
• Crunchy toppings: Consider adding crunchy toppings—toasted seeds, crispy fried onions, or even pomegranate seeds, for example—to add texture.