Roasted Garlic & Cauliflower Soup | 8 Health Benefits Of Cauliflower

It's starting to get cold outside and that means one thing - rich, hearty soup season. There are few things better than sliding your chair up to a warm bowl of great soup when it's cold outside. I like all types of soups and creamy soups are some of my favorites. Chowders, broccoli cheese, potato, and cream of just about anything are always top of my list. These soups are certainly tasty but they're also incredibly fattening. Usually cream soups contain - you guessed it - heavy cream along with butter, cheese, bacon, and other thickeners such as flour and corn starch.

What does cauliflower have to do with cream soups? Over the years I've learned alot about this truly versatile vegetable. You're missing out if you relegate cauliflower to something that's always steamed and slathered with cheese sauce. Cauliflower can be a great substitute for potatoes to make your casseroles healthier. It can also be steamed and whipped in a blender with chicken stock to make a great replacement for mashed potatoes. Lately though, I've been experimenting with using cooked cauliflower as a thickener for making delicious cream soups that don't have any cream, butter, or unwanted carbs from flour or cornstarch.

8 Health Benefits Of Eating Cauliflower

Cauliflower is one of those vegetables that is not only versatile in usage, but also in wellness and nutritional value. Consider these health benefits the next time you're at the store and I'm sure you'll want to pick up a head of this cruciferous veggie.

1. Cancer Prevention - Cauliflower has been linked to a significant reduced risk of cancer, especially prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, and bladder cancer.

2. Better Digestion - Cauliflower is a great source of dietary fiber, which is essential for optimal digestion. Cauliflower also contains a compound called glucoraphin, which protects your stomach and intestines from certain health conditions such as cancer and ulcers.

3. Antioxidants - Cauliflower contains a high amount of antioxidants, which are essential for the body's overall health and help to prevent heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Antioxidants are also essential in destroying free radicals that accelerate the signs of aging.

4. Anti-Inflammatory - Because of the omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin K in cauliflower, it helps to prevent chronic inflammation that leads to conditions such as arthritis, chronic pain, and certain bowel conditions.

5. Pregnancy - Cauliflower provides a good amount of folate (B9), a B vitamin that is necessary for a healthy pregnancy. Folate deficiency in pregnant women can lead to problems such as birth defects and low birth weight.

6. B Vitamins - In addition to folate, cauliflower is also loaded with other important B vitamins like niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and thiamine.

7. Heart Health - Cauliflower protects from heart disease in many ways. It contains allicin, which has been found to reduce the occurrence of stroke and heart disease. Additionally, cauliflower can help to lower cholesterol levels in the body.

8. Weight Loss - Cauliflower is a great food to include in your diet since it has so many uses for replacing unhealthy foods as well as filling you up and leaving you satisfied.

Creamy Roasted Garlic & Cauliflower Soup Recipe

Ingredients

1 head fresh cauliflower, stalk removed and florets separated

1 head garlic

2 cups chicken stock or broth

1 cup skim milk

2 Tbls light cream cheese

1 tsp kosher salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut head of garlic in half and place garlic halves and cauliflower on a foil lined cooking sheet coated with cooking spray. Roast vegetables for 20 to 30 minutes or until they are well browned and remove from oven. Squeeze the roasted garlic out of the skin so you have a paste (You may want to only incorporate half of the garlic paste into the mixture at first). Put all ingredients into your blender and BE CAREFUL whenever you have hot foods in a blender. Put the lid on tightly, put a towel on top of the lid and hold it down with your hand to avoid any mess. Start out on low for about 30 seconds, then step your way up to high speed. Blend on high for 2 minutes. Pour into a saucepan over low heat until warmed up.

Serves 6.

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