Cauliflower Soup with Chive Oil and Rye Crostini
A luxurious and creamy cauliflower soup topped with homemade chive oil and crispy rye bread. This elegant soup combines roasted cauliflower with butter and cream, finished with a vibrant chive-infused oil for both flavor and presentation.
Ingredients
- •2 bunches chives
- •1 to taste Kosher salt
- •¾ cup olive oil
- •8 slices rye bread
- •2 sprigs rosemary
- •1 head cauliflower
- •12 tablespoons unsalted butter
- •1 to taste Kosher salt
- •1 large onion
- •¼ cup heavy cream
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Set a coffee filter in a glass; set aside. Blanch chives for 10 seconds in a medium saucepan of boiling salted water. Transfer to a medium bowl of ice water to cool. Squeeze chives dry; coarsely chop and place in a blender. Add 3/4 cup oil; purée until smooth. Pour through coffee filter; let drain for 3 hours at room temperature, or overnight in refrigerator (do not press on solids). DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature before using.
180 min
- 2.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Brush bread slices (or toss bread cubes) with 1 tablespoon olive oil; toss with rosemary sprigs. Transfer to prepared sheet; bake until crisp, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely. Discard rosemary sprigs. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
12 min
- 3.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place whole cauliflower head in a large baking dish, rub with 4 tablespoons butter, and season with salt. Add 1/2 cup water to dish. Bake uncovered, tenting with foil if cauliflower begins to brown, until a knife inserted into the core meets no resistance, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove cauliflower from oven; let cool. Coarsely chop and set aside.
90 min
- 4.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft and translucent, about 15 minutes. Add cauliflower and 4 cups water. Simmer until cauliflower is very soft, about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly. Working in batches, purée in a blender until very smooth. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; chill.
25 min
- 5.
Return soup to pot and bring to a simmer, adding more water if too thick. Season with salt. Remove from heat and whisk in remaining 6 tablespoons butter and cream. Serve warm in shallow bowls. Rest crostini on edge of each bowl or scatter croutons over; drizzle with chive oil.
10 min
