Ingredients
- ▢2 heads of cauliflower (about 4 pounds)
- ▢Kosher salt
- ▢Black pepper
- ▢Extra virgin olive oil
- ▢1 small yellow onion, chopped
- ▢5 garlic cloves, chopped
- ▢2 teaspoons ground cumin
- ▢2 1/2 teaspoons sweet paprika
- ▢1 teaspoon ground sumac
- ▢1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ▢32 ounces (4 cups) low-sodium vegetable broth
- ▢2 cups whole milk or unseasoned, unsweetened plant-based milk of choice
- ▢Juice of 1/2 lemon
- ▢1 cup chopped fresh dill
Instructions
- Get ready. Preheat your oven to 425°F. Cut the cauliflower in half from top to bottom through the stem, then use the tip of your knife to slice off each individual floret. Slice any larger florets into smaller pieces so all of them are about the same size.
- Season the cauliflower. Transfer the cauliflower to a large sheet pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle generously with olive oil. Toss to coat, then spread evenly without overlapping–use two sheet pans if you need to.
- Roast the cauliflower. Roast, turning at about 25 minutes, until the cauliflower is tender and deeply browned in some parts, about 45 minutes in total. Remove from the oven.
- Sauté the onions. In a large heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium until shimmering but not smoking. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, paprika, sumac, and turmeric and and stir just until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Simmer. Add 3/4 of the cauliflower (reserve the remaining for later). Stir to coat well with the spices, then add the broth and 1 cup of water. Turn the heat to high to bring to a boil, then lower heat to medium and cover part-way. Simmer until thickened slightly, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Blend. Uncover and remove from heat momentarily. Use an immersion blender to blend until you achieve your desired smoothness–I keep mine a bit on the chunky side. You can also transfer to a blender or food processor, just be sure to leave plenty of room at the top and blend with the steam cap off.
- Finish and serve. Return to a medium heat and stir in the milk, lemon juice, and reserved cauliflower. Cook briefly so that the soup is all warmed through. Test and adjust salt as needed. Finally, stir in the dill and serve hot.
