Comforting, creamy, cheesy soup to cheer you up and warm you up. Made with cauliflower, ham, and white cheddar cheese, this soup is filling but light.
Cauliflower Soup
I am so tired of the yo-yo weather! It’s two days of cold, four days of hot, two days of freezing, four days of hot. My air conditioner tells me to make up my mind already and the plants are going crazy. It’s the second year in the row where temperatures are that crazy.
I mean, we never get an early winter here, in FL, but we at least get steady cooler temperature by Christmas. This hot/cold weather tantrum is really messing with my head and health.
‘Tis surely is the season… for colds. Between most of the country dealing with snow storms and this crazy weather pattern in FL, it’s officially time for some cozy hot cocoa and soup. Half the family has been having colds non-stop for weeks and I was really hoping that I could avoid it but it found me, and it found me hard. All I want is some hot tea and soup.
Although, to be honest, what I really want is some ooey-gooey macaroni and cheese but I can’t have that because gluten-free pasta is just not the same and I don’t like it. But, you know what?
This creamy, cheesy soup has been satisfying my craving beautifully. I love the great flavors that come together in this simple soup and I love that it’s hearty enough without having any pasta or potatoes packed in it. It’s just what the doctor ordered!
Check out more ham recipes you’ll love:
White Bean and Ham Soup from Simply Recipes
One Pot Bean Ham and Tortellini Soup from Carlsbad Cravings
Ham Mac and Cheese Soup from The Food Charlatan
Ham and White Cheddar Beer Cheese Soup from With Salt and Whit
Chicken Meatball and Orzo Soup
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Creamy Cauliflower Ham and Cheese Soup
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil for cooking
- 1 small yellow onion
- .75 lb ham
- 2 garlic cloves pressed
- 2 lb head of cauliflower
- 1 1/2 Tbsp flour
- 1 tsp dry sage
- Salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- 3-4 cups chicken stock
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 oz sharp white cheddar cheese grated
Instructions
- Dice onion and set aside. Dice ham into small pieces and set aside. Cut cauliflower florets off, discard the stem, and chop florets onto small pieces. Set it aside as well.
- Preheat a medium pot over medium heat with some oil. Add diced onion and saute until transparent. Add ham and cook for a few minutes. Add pressed garlic, mix, and cook until fragrant.
- Add prepared cauliflower, mix well and cook for a few minutes.
- Sprinkle flour over veggies and ham and mix well.
- Pour in chicken stock, while slowly stirring. Enough chicken stock to just covers the cauliflower mixture.
- Add bay leaf, salt, pepper, and sage. Stir and cover with a lid, leaving a crack for steam to escape. Cook for 20-25 minutes.
- Stir in heavy whipping cream and grated white cheddar cheese. Cook for a few more minutes and serve.
- **To make this soup gluten-free, substitute flour with either gluten-free flour or 1 tbsp of corn starch.**
Tammy
I made this soup tonight and it was a winner! My family doesn’t like cauliflower but they all gobbled up this soup! Thank you for the recipe.
Lyuba
Thank you, Tammy, that’s great to hear 🙂
Caitlin
Mmmmm. I made this over the weekend but didn’t have any till Monday for lunch. Very good! If I didn’t know better, the taste really is potato soup! Happy low carb camper here. I ended up using 1/2 chicken stock and 1/2 veggie stock because that was all I had, but otherwise followed the recipe. I will certainly be making again!
Lyuba
Sounds great! Thank you, Caitlin!
Carol
This soup is delicious! Perfect for low carbing and very satisfying!
lyuba
Awe, I’m so glad you liked it! Thank you 🙂
Erika
I’ve never commented on a recipe before, but this one I just HAD to!! It was an absolute hit with my family, even the 2 year old scarfed it down! I substituted frozen cauliflower rice instead of the floret, and added a little extra garlic. DELISH!
Susan
Can you freeze left overs?
lyuba
Hi Susan! Yes, you can freeze this soup because there is not too much cream here. When freezing soups, it’s best to get them to cool as quickly as possible after cooking. You can use an ice bath to bring the temperature down.
You can find some tips on freezing here: https://www.willcookforsmiles.com/2017/08/freezer-meals-new-moms-tips.html
T.G. Gubbins
I’ve been looking for more hearty, satisfying vegetable recipes to help lower my carb intake. Made this today and it is very satisfying and filling. I pulsed the cauliflower in my food processor a couple of times to get a finer texture. If I didn’t know better I would say I’m eating potatoes! I’m not a fan of sage, so I used marjoram instead. Just perfect! Thank you!
lyuba
Oh yay! I love hearing that 🙂
So glad it worked out for you.
Ashley
I made this soup tonight because I was craving a creamy cheesy cauliflower soup. I’m doing Keto and this fits in perfect! I don’t care for sage but substituted thyme and I was sooooo awesome!
Ashley
I thought of doing dill but will try next time
Adrienne
I feel like this may be a silly question..but as a brand new keto dieter suffering through an intense cold winter…can I use almond flour in here?
Emily
I’m assuming the calorie count is incorrect?? 1683 calories? 106 grams of fat??
Tracy
It does say that the nutritional values are for the whole recipe, however that is still a lot! 81 carbs! This looked like a good possibility for a soup choice. Not with these numbers.
Natalie
Can you please clarify carb info…. is the nutritional information per serving? How would 20 carbs occur? The onion? I don’t see anything else that would make it that’s high?
Looks delicious!
lyuba
I”m going to email you the info. I will use the email you left here, in the comment. It that’s not a good email, let me know!
Jenifer
I made this soup today for lunch. I thought it was delicious. My husband liked it after he added a bit of hot sauce (he doesn’t like cauliflower much). Instead of flour, I used 1 Tbsp of arrowroot powder. I didn’t have sage so used a spice blend. I “riced” the cauliflower in the food processor and garnished with crumbled bacon. Yum!
lyuba
I”m so glad you liked it and I’m glad you got your husband to try it too 🙂 !
(Mine does not like cauliflower and won’t even try it. )
Barbara
I made this soup tonight and it was fabulous. I used 3 cups of broth and it was just right. Will absolutely make it again.
Geri
I never post after making a recipe but this was so delicious I just had to comment. Everyone loved it and it was so easy to make!
Erika
My entire family absolutely LOVED this soup!! It’s a staple in our house now!
Becca
Any substitutions for dairy? Full fat coconut milk?
Stephenie
I came across this recipe while trying to come up with a way to use the pretty orange cauliflower and it did not disappoint!
lyuba
I am SO happy you liked, Stephanie! I bet it was pretty with that cauliflower too 😉
Ashlee
Any more information on the nutrition facts about this recipe? I can’t seem to make it all add up. Seems like a lot of carbs list. Can you provide clarification?
lyuba
Hi Ashlee,
Cauliflower is actually a high-carb vegetable.
I cave a screenshot of the breakdown I can send you on the email you provided.
C
For Keto, unless you allow yourself extra net carbs for veggies, this isn’t viable. Even taking out the flour, the cauliflower and onion in those amounts cause a high carb count. Using my brand of ingredients and nutrition info calculator, with taking out the flour, it’s a 17g net carb PER SERVING food item. I try not to go over 20 for the entire day. Since one bowl of soup and a few Whisp crisps won’t do me for the day, I’m passing on what otherwise looks like a DELICIOUS recipe.
lyuba
Thank you, C!
Does this diet allow of a difference between the carbs? I’m talking carbs from flour/bread/potatoes/rice vs carbs from veggies? I just wonder if there is an different allowance there 🙂
Mich
Your missing out. We eat keto and just made it. Use almond flour.
Cheryl
What is the serving size ?
lyuba
Hi Cheryl,
Serving size is about 1.5 cups.
Leah
This recipe is AMAZING!!!! Easy to make and SO good!
lyuba
I am SO happy to hear that! Thank you, Leah 🙂
Christine Callaway
Really good and easy to make.
lyuba
I am so glad you liked it 🙂 Thank you, Christine!
Michele
Awesome soup. Will definitely make regularly
lyuba
Yay! Thank you so much, Michele!
Jennifer
Excellent, healthy and easy. Thanks for this recipe. I skipped the cream to lower the calories a bit and didn’t miss it.