Wisconsin Cauliflower soup made with a head of cauliflower, broth, seasonings & cheese! Creamy low cal soup that’s easy to make & goes well with grilled cheese. No one guesses it’s made with cauliflower!
This time of year, I enjoy feeding my family warm and filling soups that can help to combat the cold weather and bring a little hominess into the place. Wisconsin cauliflower soup is served at a favorite restaurant of mine- Cafe Zupas.
What is cauliflower soup?
It’s a wonderful almost chowder-like soup made from a cheesy base of blended cauliflower. The soup itself is very filling and delicious making it a perfect way to sneak veggies into kid’s diets and bring a comforting warmth during cold Fall nights. This soup is a great recipe for any occasion.
Cauliflower Cheese Soup Ingredients
-Butter: You will need 2 tablespoons of butter or margarine to help start your roux.
-Onion: Use one medium sized onion that has been chopped.
-Flour: To help thicken your soup you will need 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour.
-Salt Adding in 1/2 teaspoon of salt will make the soup flavors stand out more.
-Milk and Water: Use 2 cups of milk and 1 1/2 cups of water or one (12oz) can of evaporated milk and 1 1/2 cups of water.
-Chicken broth: For more liquid and flavor add in 1 can (13.75 to 14.5 ounce size) of chicken broth.
-Cauliflower: You will need 1 head (2 1/2 pounds) cauliflower, cut into 1-inch chunks.
-Mustard: Adding in 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard will add a nice flavor to the soup.
-Cheeses: Use 1 cup each of shredded sharp cheddar cheese and shredded pepper jack cheese.
How to Make Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup
In a large saucepan, melt the margarine or butter over medium heat.
Add in the onion and cook until golden (about 10 minutes,) while stirring occasionally.
Whisk in the flour and salt.
Gradually stir in the milk, chicken broth, and water.
Add the cauliflower and heat it to a boil over high heat. Then reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer until the cauliflower is tender, this should take about 15 minutes.
In a blender (with center part of blender cover removed to allow steam to escape), blend cauliflower mixture at low speed in small batches until very smooth.
If you have an immersion blender, use it- it literally takes less than a minute to blend.
My big tip here is to use an immersion blender if you have one, it will really cut down on the dirty dishes, make it faster, and make life a little simpler. While the blending may seem like a daunting task, it’s actually worth the extra 3 minutes that it might take to do.
Return the cauliflower mixture to the saucepan and heat over medium heat until it’s hot while stirring occasionally.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and then stir in the mustard and the 1 1/2 cups cheese until it’s melted and smooth.
Serve soup with the remaining cheese as a garnish.
Enjoy!
Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Butter or margarine
- 1 Onion chopped
- ¼ cup All-purpose flour
- ½ tsp Salt
- 2 cup Milk**
- 1 ½ cup Water**
- 14 oz chicken broth
- 1 head cauliflower ~ 2lbs, cut into 1" chunks
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 cup Sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup Pepper Jack cheese shredded
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, melt margarine or butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook until golden, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Whisk in flour and salt. Gradually stir in milk, chicken broth, and water.
- Add cauliflower and heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer until cauliflower is tender, about 15 minutes.
- In a blender (with center part of blender cover removed to allow steam to escape), blend cauliflower mixture at low speed in small batches until very smooth. {Don't let this step deter you from making the soup! Blending it is really easy and so worth the extra 3 minutes. The most annoying part is the added dishes!} If you have an immersion blender, use it- it literally takes less than a minute to blend.
- Return cauliflower mixture to saucepan; heat over medium heat until hot, stirring occasionally. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in mustard and 1 1/2 cups cheese until melted and smooth. Serve soup with remaining cheese as a garnish.
- **Can substitute 1 can {12 oz} evaporated milk and 2 cups water for the 2 cups milk and 1 1/2 cups water.
Nutrition
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How long does homemade cauliflower soup last in the fridge?
This soup is pretty filling or can be made in advance so it’s a good thing that when properly stored in an airtight container it can last up to 7 days inside your fridge.
Does cauliflower thicken soup?
Believe it or not, cauliflower is one of the great vegetables that can be used to thicken soups. Not only that, but they contain a lot of healthy vitamins and minerals that are good for you too (but you don’t have to tell the picky kids or husband that little fact).
How do you thicken cauliflower soup?
If you find that your cauliflower soup just isn’t thick enough to satisfy your chowder-like cravings, you can thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water, stirring until well mixed and then whisk it into your soup. Bring soup to a boil, and then reduce back down or remove from heat while stirring occasionally. Within a few minutes, you should notice a difference in thickness.
Can you freeze cauliflower soup?
If you choose not to use dairy in this soup you can safely freeze it in a sealed container for up to 6 months. The reason to avoid freezing is with dairy is simply because once thawed and heated the milk may separate and not look appetizing while also yielding a texture difference as well. Some people may not even mind these little differences so you can test freezing your soup in a small batch, thaw and reheat to see if it’s something you’ll feel comfortable doing.
Does soup taste better the longer you cook it?
Soups develop a much richer flavor profile when they simmer for longer times because everything can marry together and become a flavorful masterpiece. Unfortunately, overcooking soup is a real thing too, so it’s best to only simmer soups for the recommended time in a recipe to prevent any mishaps.
Looking for more great soups? Check these out!
- Creamy Vegetable Soup
- Classic Chicken Noodle Soup
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
- Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- French Onion Tomato Soup
Wisconsin Cauliflower soup made with a head of cauliflower, broth, seasonings & cheese! Creamy low cal soup that’s easy to make & goes well with grilled cheese. No one guesses it’s made with cauliflower!
Serena says
Mmm…I can't wait to try this one, once the weather here cools down! I love your step by step directions with all of the pictures…looks great!
Roy and Sarah says
It's cold outside? Where do you live?? <br /><br />Looks good – going to share this with my parents, who eat a lot of broccoli soup.
The Daily Smash says
This looks so yummy. Cant wait to try it. I just found your blog its so fun. Come and check out mine if you get a min. <br /><br />www.thedailysmash101.blogspot.com
Katy says
Love Zupa's and love cauliflower! Thanks for the recipe. BTW, an immersion blender can make your life a whole lot easier when making soups like this. I don't use mine often, but I'm glad to have it when I need it.
Katy says
Thanks for the recipe! I love this soup at Zupa's! BTW, an immersion blender can really make your life easier when making soups, salsas, etc. I don't use mine often, but I'm glad to have it when I do.
Hillary says
With the weather tuning cold i am excited to give this a try. How much soup does it make?
Megan says
I tried this and was not a fan. No one in my family cared for it either. I have since tried zupas and really liked it but this isn't the same….
EScott says
I agree! I just made this and I don't feel like it has much flavor. Any tips to make it more flavorful? I, too, love zupas.
Jessica Williams says
What kind of cheese did you use? If you used Pepper Jack, chances are it'd be plenty flavorful. I showed I used Colby Jack in my pictures- I have kids who aren't fans of anything with too much flavor. 😉 <br /><br />You really can do a lot with this soup if you want it more flavorful- add in a little hot sauce if that's your thing. I think it'd be great with a little Smoky Paprika
Sarah says
I tried this soup and I thought it was fantastic. I haven't tried Zupa's so I can't compare it. I used the pepper jack and I don't think I would like it as much without that extra kick- unless it had ham or veggies mixed in (or both). Thanks for sharing!
Nicole says
This was really good! It was close to Zupas but much more spicy. Next time i'll use colby jack or more cheddar and less pepper jack!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
Pinning! This looks so good! Cauliflower is one veggie I can tolerate 😉
The Long Life Journey says
Thank you so much for the awesome recipe! Hope it works out well!
Lauri says
I think there is a typo your recipe – it calls for 1 cup of Pepper Jack – though I think based on your picture and the way the soup is supposed to taste – that you meant Colby Jack. Super yummy that way!
Jessica Williams says
Hi Lauri- I stated at the top that I substituted Colby Jack for the Pepper Jack. My kids don't like Pepper Jack so I never have it on hand. I think it'd be fabulous in it though. Or maybe half and half… 😉
Melissa Prins says
Made this tonight and it tastes JUST LIKE ZUPAS!!! Thank you!
AdrianB says
Made tonight and my Wisconsinite fiancé approved!! It was very delicious. We both like heat and flavor so I used habanero pepper jack from WI and added just a little extra of both cheeses to help thicken the soup and flavor a little. I think the flavor would probably be a little bland without the pepper jack. I WILL be making this again. Couldn't detect the cauliflower at all!
Jenny says
This soup is so yummy! I made this tonight for the second time. Thanks for the recipe!
Alayna says
This is a perfect knock-off, it was just like Zupa's! My immersion blender made it super easy. I will make this again and again, and I've already recommended it to many. Thanks for the share
jess says
I use chicken stock instead of water. It makes it much more flavorful.
Lolly Jane says
This is my go-to soup recipe. Always a hit and a breeze to make. Love the blender trick to smooth it out. YUM!