Creamy Cauliflower & Coconut Soup

Have you ever tried Cauliflower and Coconut Soup? I had not tried any kind of coconut soup until recently when we visited a local restaurant and I thoroughly enjoyed a delightful Coconut and Yam soup. It was quite spicy and I decided to make my own at home but use plentiful and reasonably priced cauliflower instead of sweet potato. Here is my simple, made from scratch nutritious soup:

Creamy Cauliflower & Coconut Soup Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh cauliflower
• 2 - Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 medium / large onion, chopped
• 6 - 8 cloves garlic, chopped
• 4 cups Chicken broth (substitute Vegetable broth if desired)
• Ginger Powder - one Teaspoon  (or fresh if available)
• Turmeric - one Teaspoon
• Cumin - one Teaspoon
• Red Curry Paste (Mild) - one Teaspoon
• One 15 oz (400 ml) can Coconut Milk

Add to suit your taste: Salt & Pepper, and more (or less) of the above spices

Garnish to serve: Greek or plain yoghurt with chopped parsley, roast nuts, grated Asiago cheese, flaked coconut or additional spices such as Cumin seeds, paprika, etc.

Directions:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large saucepan and add onion, garlic & ginger and saute for 2 minutes on medium heat
2. Add turmeric, cumin, curry paste, mix in well and keep stirring so that mixture does not stick to pot - stir about 1 minute
3. Add broth and cauliflower. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes
4. When cooked whisk with an electrical hand blender
5. Add coconut milk; heat and simmer for 10 more minutes
6. Enjoy!

Liz's Notes & Tips:

• Recipe is for 4 persons
• To add more flavour to the soup, if time permits, the cauliflower can be roasted at 350 degrees for ½ an hour and then follow above directions
• Additional options are to substitute another vegetable, such as broccoli for variety
• Like most soups, it is more tasty the next day!
• This soup would suit those following a lower sugar and carbohydrate diet lifestyle
• Take advantage and use whatever fresh vegetables are available at your market

“Avoid food products containing ingredients that are
A) unfamiliar B) unpronounceable C) more than five in number or
that include D) high-fructose corn syrup”
~ Michael Pollan,
"In Defense of Food"

Nutrition Facts: (from individual ingredients) approximate per serving:
Sugar 3 grams / Fibre 3 grams / Fat 10 grams / Carbohydrates 12 grams / Calories 147 / Protein 6 grams

There you have it! Cauliflower & Coconut soup with its own unique flavour. Ten ingredients and a nourishing soup on a sunny winter's day. That's it for another quick and easy "Good-to-go" healthy recipe for today.

 "Will power is the ability to eat one salted peanut" (anon)

Links & References:

• "Forget Vampires - Garlic Could Kill Cancer"  by March Diederich
• Ultra-processed foods and cancer - The possibility of a link deserves further careful exploration - BMJ Editorial
• Video: Why Sugar is a Threat to our Health  with Dr. Aseem Malhotra
• Add Wild Blackberries to your summer menu this coming summer
• ... And remember to buy local oysters and seafood in season 

“Two of the most nutritious plants in the world - lamb’s quarters and purslane
- are weeds, and some of the healthiest traditional diets, like the Mediterranean,
make frequent use of wild greens.”
― Michael Pollan, Food Rules: An Eater's Manual