
Smoked Paprika and Nduja Brassica Veloute
Italian fusion 30 min serves 4
A silky, warming soup pairing charred air-fried cauliflower with spicy calabrian nduja and sharp cheddar cheese. Blended until completely velvety in the blender jug.
Ingredients
- Vegetables
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
- 1 small head broccoli, florets separated and stem peeled and chopped
- 2 banana shallots, finely diced
- 1 sweet pointed pepper, deseeded and finely sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, finely sliced
- 1 spring onion, finely sliced for garnish
- Aromatics and dairy
- 30g nduja
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 120g mature cheddar cheese, grated
- 100ml unsweetened soy milk
- Pantry liquids and seasoning
- 750ml vegetable stock
- 0.5 tsp fine salt
- 0.25 tsp freshly crushed black pepper
Method
- Toss the 1 medium head cauliflower florets in a bowl with 1 tbsp olive oil, 0.5 tsp smoked paprika, and 0.5 tsp fine salt.
- Tip the seasoned cauliflower into the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air-fry the cauliflower at 190C for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Transfer 4 charred cauliflower florets to a small plate and set aside for garnish.
- Place a large saucepan over medium heat on the gas hob.
- Add 1 tbsp butter and 30g nduja to the pan.
- Cook the nduja for 2 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon until the red fat renders.
- Add the 2 finely diced banana shallots and 1 finely sliced sweet pointed pepper to the rendered nduja oil.
- Sweat the vegetables over medium-low heat for 6 minutes until soft.
- Add the 3 finely sliced garlic cloves and the remaining 0.5 tsp smoked paprika to the pan.
- Stir continuously for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the remaining air-fried cauliflower to the pan.
- Add the chopped stem and florets from the 1 small head broccoli.
- Pour in the 750ml vegetable stock.
- Add the 0.25 tsp freshly crushed black pepper.
- Bring the liquid to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.
- Cover the pan with a lid and turn the heat to low.
- Simmer gently for 8 minutes until the broccoli is completely tender.
- Remove the pan from the heat.
- Pour in the 100ml unsweetened soy milk to temper the hot liquid.
- Transfer the cooked vegetables and broth carefully into the large glass jug of the blender.
- Secure the lid with the center cap slightly loosened to allow steam to escape.
- Blend on low speed for 10 seconds.
- Increase the speed to high and blend for 50 seconds until silky smooth.
- Add the 120g grated mature cheddar cheese directly into the hot soup in the blender jug.
- Blend on low speed for 20 seconds until the cheese melts into the soup.
- Taste the soup and stir in additional salt or black pepper if desired.
- Ladle the hot soup into four serving bowls.
- Top each bowl with the reserved charred cauliflower florets.
- Scatter the 1 finely sliced spring onion evenly across the bowls.
- Serve immediately with warm crusty bread.