Turn everyday vegetable odds and ends into a comforting bowl of goodness with this no-waste vegetable soup. Made with cauliflower florets, stalks and leaves, spinach stems, and stale sourdough, this clever recipe transforms ingredients that often end up in the bin into a rich, velvety soup. Finished with crispy cauliflower leaves, crunchy cumin croutons and a dollop of yoghurt, it’s a delicious way to save money, reduce food waste and make the most of every ingredient.
Serves: 6 | Prep Time: 20 minutes + cooling | Cooking Time: 50 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ cup oil
- 1 leek, coarsely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small cauliflower, leaves reserved, florets and stalk chopped
- 3 liters vegetable stock
- 1 bunch spinach, stalk and leaves separated, coarsely chopped
- 1 loaf stale sourdough bread, half sliced, half torn
- 2 tsp cumin seeds
- ½ cup double cream yoghurt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Grease and line two large oven trays with baking paper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large pot over low heat. Add leek and garlic; cook, covered, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until leek has softened.
- Coarsely chop half of the reserved cauliflower leaves. Increase heat to high and add the chopped leaves and cauliflower florets to the pot; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until ingredients are coated and heated through.
- Add stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, covered, for 25 minutes until cauliflower florets are tender. Add spinach stalks and whole slices of bread in the last 3 minutes of cooking. Stir in spinach leaves, then remove from heat and cool for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, toss remaining cauliflower leaves with 1 tablespoon oil; season. Toss torn bread with remaining oil and the cumin seeds; season. Spread leaves and bread evenly between trays. Bake for 10 minutes or until leaves are crisp and bread is golden.
- Blend or process soup in batches until smooth. Return soup to the heat and cook until warmed through; season to taste.
- Serve soup topped with yoghurt, crispy cauliflower leaves, toasted bread and black pepper.
