If you celebrate Thanksgiving this year you probably have the whole menu set up by now; if not, this quick soup made with simple ingredients may save the day.
I used cauliflower and ripe pear, but you might use parsnips, parsley root or celeriac, and apples or nashi pears. Add leeks or white onions, if you feel like. Use whatever you can get fresh at the market. I found a beautiful organic cauliflower and decided to make a feast. The soup turned out very mild and slightly sweet. The pear added a very nice fruity accent, the cranberries a beautifully tart touch. Both, nutmeg and pepper are warming spices that seem just perfect for a raw, late fall soup.
Ingredients:
- florets of 1 large cauliflower
- 1 ripe pear, peeled and cored
- 1 1/2 cups almond cream
- 1/2 cup almond milk (add more if the soup is too thick)
- 1 Tbsp virgin olive oil
- generous pinch of ground nutmeg, to taste
- pinch Celtic sea salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
for the garnish
- 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 Tbsp virgin olive oil
- 1/2 Tbsp maple syrup
- pinch of Celtic sea salt
- fresh basil or mint leaves
Method:
- Wash and pat dry the cranberries. Cut each berry in half. Toss cranberries into a small mixing bowl, add olive oil, maple syrup and salt. Mix well and set aside to marinate.
- In a blender whiz the cauliflower, pear, almond cream and almond milk into a silky smooth soup. Add spices and olive oil, and whiz again. Adjust the taste to your personal liking. If you are using Vitamix, follow the instructions to keep the soup temperature within the raw food range. If you are using a less powerful blender, you may want to warm up the blended soup in a pot. Use kitchen thermometer to make sure that the temperature does not rise above 118°F or 47°C.
- Portion out the ready soup into soup bowls, garnish with marinated cranberries and basil or mint leaves. Serve right away and enjoy in good company!
Tip: For a more "earthy" taste you can substitute cauliflower with celeriac and use pomegranate arils for topping.
Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving - Dominique
"Thanksgiving is a joyous invitation to shower the world with love and gratitude." - Amy Leigh Mercree
Dominique Allmon©2021