The Bored Vegetarian

Cauliflower Soup with a Parmesan Crisp and Truffle Oil

When I’m feeling a little uninspired in the kitchen, sometimes all it takes is a visit to an amazing restaurant or two to get the wheels turning again.  Usually it’s because I’ve had a new combination of ingredients or take that I hadn’t considered, but sometimes I get inspired to recreate a dish that isn’t as good as I think it could have been.  Case in point the cauliflower soup I had a place in Bushwick recently.  While it wasn’t terrible, I thought it was missing the rich silkiness (ew, that word) that cauliflower can create.  I decided I should try my hand at it at home to see if I could make a version that captured the comforting and warm feeling that soup should give in the deep hellish depths of winter (also known as February in New York.)

1 head Cauliflower, trimmed of stalk and leaves
1 cup chopped Onion
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1 1/2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
6 cups Vegetable Stock
1 cup Half & Half
Salt and Pepper to taste
Truffle Oil (optional)

In a large pot, saute chopped onion and garlic on low/medium heat until translucent.  Chop cauliflower into small, manageable pieces.  Add to pot and cover with vegetable stock.  Turn heat to medium/high until cauliflower is very soft, about 15-20 minutes.  Turn off heat and allow to cool slightly.  Using an immersion blender, blend the stock and vegetables until smooth.  Add half & half and continue to blend.  Salt and pepper to taste.  If soup is too thick, you can add a little water or more half and half.  If it’s too thin, continue to cook until to desired thickness.  Serve hot in a bowl with a drizzle of truffle oil and a parmesan crisp

For the Parmesan Crisp

1 cup shredded Parmesan Cheese

(for those asking, BelGioioso makes a rennet-free parm)

Preheat oven broil.  Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spread cheese in an even layer so that you can’t see the area of paper, about 4-5 inches around.  Broil in oven until cheese melts and begins to crisp and brown.  Remove from oven and allow to cool.  Break into pieces and serve with soup.  

Thanks to Mardi of Sprout & Pea for coming over for dinner and to share an amazing bottle of First Fruit from Shinn Vineyard on Long Island that I’ve been holding onto for far too long.  It’s time I made a trip back there…  

Sriracha & Sesame Brussels Sprouts

1 lb Brussels Sprouts, trimmed
3/4 cup Rice Wine Vinegar
2-3 Tbsp Sriracha
2 1/2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp Sesame Oil
1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds (I used bamboo smoked)
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt to taste

Depending on the size of your Brussels spouts, either cut in half, fourths or leave whole.  In a saute pan, heat olive oil.  Add Brussels sprouts, toss in olive oil and season with salt.  Begin to cook over medium/high heat, turning often to brown evenly.  It’s ok if they get a little crisp.  In a bowl, whisk together vinegar, Sriracha, sesame oil and sugar.  Once Brussels sprout are cooked through, turn down heat to medium/low and pour Sriracha mixture over the sprouts.  Toss to coat and turn up heat towards medium/high.  The sauce will begin to bubble, so be careful not too burn.  Once the sauce starts to reduce and get a little sticky to coat the sprouts, remove from heat.  Move to a serving dish and garnish with toasted sesame seeds.