Vegetarian Cauliflower Chowder (Printable)

Creamy chowder with cauliflower, potatoes, carrots, and gentle seasonings. Comforting and satisfying in 45 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into small florets
02 - 1 large carrot, diced
03 - 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
04 - 1 stalk celery, diced
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Base and Seasoning

07 - 3 cups vegetable broth
08 - 1 cup whole milk or unsweetened plant-based milk
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil or unsalted butter
10 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/4 teaspoon ground white or black pepper
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives or parsley, chopped
16 - Shredded cheese or plant-based cheese

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil or butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and stir continuously for 2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
04 - Gradually whisk in the vegetable broth, ensuring no lumps form. Add diced potatoes and cauliflower florets.
05 - Season with dried thyme, smoked paprika, pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes until vegetables are very tender.
06 - Stir in the milk and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
07 - For a creamier consistency, use an immersion blender to partially blend the chowder directly in the pot, or transfer 2 cups to a blender, purée until smooth, and return to the pot.
08 - Taste and adjust seasonings as needed to achieve desired flavor balance.
09 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh chives, parsley, or shredded cheese if desired. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's ready in less than an hour, which means you can go from craving soup to actually eating it without the afternoon disappearing.
  • The smoked paprika sneaks in just enough flavor depth to make people ask what your secret ingredient is.
  • You can make it vegan, dairy-free, or gluten-free without losing any of the creamy comfort that makes it worth making.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooking the flour for those two minutes, even if it feels like overkill, because raw flour flavor will persist no matter how long you simmer and will haunt every spoonful.
  • Add the milk toward the very end because adding it early can make the soup break or taste separated, and simmering it too aggressively can scald it and create an off flavor that ruins the whole batch.
03 -
  • Dice your vegetables fairly small and uniform in size so they cook at the same speed instead of some pieces being crunchy while others dissolve.
  • Always taste at the very end before serving because salt levels can vary wildly depending on your broth brand, and you might need just a little more or absolutely none.
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