Creamy Cauliflower and Bacon Soup with Crispy Crumb Topping @Not Quite Nigella

Creamy Cauliflower and Bacon Soup with Crispy Crumb Topping

July 9, 2009 by Not Quite Nigella

If I appear to be in the midst of a soup epidemic I plead guilty Your Honour. It’s cold here and looking after a patient at home for the next week or so (Mr NQN) means that soup is a weekly feature. The routine is simple. I make a big batch of soup (the flavour depending on what is in season or what is on special that week) and I then serve it to him for lunch for the next 4-5 days. You see the thing is is that it needs to be easy because I’m busy tending to the world’s worst patient. He won’t put the laptop or his phone down and gets terribly bored even when he has a host of things to watch on tv. All he wanted to do was show his friends (and anyone with the stomach) photos of his post-surgery open wound and play with his gadgets. Typical boy.

Many of you asked what he was in hospital for. It was “bursitis” with a Staphylococcus bacterial infection. I shall briefly explain: your elbows (as well as the knee and shoulder) have sacs of fluid that float over them and they can get inflamed from rubbing or by infection. His was infected by “Staphylococcus aureus” and most likely from leaning his elbow on his work desk. Yes really! I know, I know… how incredibly innocuous and random. Not from anything as exciting or daring as underwater caving, discovering a Mummy’s tomb or from hiking in the Amazon. It’s mind blowing to think that the result of this is almost two weeks in hospital with surgery, two weeks at home connected to an infuser and antibiotics, and another two weeks after that on oral antibiotics.

So if I can suggest anything to you my Dear Readers, it’s please keep your elbows off the table (mum was right!) and moisturise them. And despite the fact that it was exacerbated by his cracked elbows (men just don’t care about moistursing their elbows do they?), he refused to let me put moisturiser on his good elbow. And this is when I’m not wrestling the laptop out of his bandaged arms (it’s truly an amusing sight). He has kept his sense of humour though and laughed hard when I brought him a copy of Hemmingway’s “A Farewell to Arms” but at times he does get cranky -case in point was the very last sentance he uttered was “I don’t like French food” when I suggested lunch (yes it seems we’ve become Lou and Andy).

Anyway, back to the cauliflower soup. It’s incredibly silky and creamy. There is only the smallest amount of cream in it and when you see that you can get so many serves out of it I hope that the 1/3 cup total of cream will not put you off. Do make sure that the soup is blended well which really aids in achieving the silky texture. I love the crispy crumb topping to give it a crunchy texture. However feel free to leave it off as I sometimes prefer it without it. But I never leave off the crispy bacon bits at the top- ever.

So tell me Dear Reader, are you a good patient or a bad one? Do you follow orders or are you defiant and rebellious?

Creamy Cauliflower and Bacon Soup

An original recipe by Not Quite Nigella

1kg/2lbs cauliflower
3 rashers middle bacon
2 litres/8 cups of stock
1/3 cup cream
1/4 cup of dried breadcrumbs (for crispy crumb topping)

1. Slice 2 of the rashers of bacon into smallish pieces-it doesn’t really matter that much as it will be blended up. Cut caulifower into florets and bring to boil with the rashers stock and simmer for 30 minutes until the cauliflower is broken up and soft.

2. Meanwhile fry the remaining rasher of bacon – you don’t need to add any oil to the pan as the bacon is fatty – and crumble or cut into pieces and set aside. Then using the rendered bacon fat, fry the breadcrumbs until golden (or clean the pan and use oil if you feel that this is too unhealthy).

3. In a blender, whizz the cauliflower soup in two batches with the cream until it becomes a smooth puree. Ladle into a bowl and sprinkle over with the crispy crumbs and crumbled bacon pieces.

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Posted in Cooking and Recipes, Lunch recipes, Soup

47 Comments | Add your own

1. JennyMac | July 9, 2009 at 6:11 am | #

Soup looks fantastic. The story about staph…not so much! haha.
2. MrsDesperate | July 9, 2009 at 6:38 am | #

Mmm, this looks delicious. We are all sick, and soup has featured heavily here too. Can’t wait to try it.
3. Meg{Feasting on Art} | July 9, 2009 at 7:09 am | #

The soup looks wonderful. It is pretty unbelievable your husband fell so ill from cracked elbows!!
4. Rosa | July 9, 2009 at 7:15 am | #

A scrumptious soup! Perfect for the wintertime!

Cheers,

Rosa
5. Barbara | July 9, 2009 at 7:48 am | #

Sorry he’s not a better patient for you! Bacon definitely makes everything taste better!
6. sandra | July 9, 2009 at 7:54 am | #

Yum Yum Yum- I love soups on these cold winter days. We have been averaging one a week too. Last night we had a clear broth soup with veges and baby ravioli with parmesan grated over the top.
7. The Duo Dishes | July 9, 2009 at 7:58 am | #

Holy delicious! We rarely use cauliflower which is a shame. Sounds great.
8. Steph | July 9, 2009 at 8:00 am | #

Oh that’s a crazy random way to get an infection! He’s very lucky to have you feeding him yummy food like this. Love cauliflower. I like that you hardly use any cream too. I have a tiny bit of cream left over, I will probably give this a go, thanks!
9. Gera @ SweetsFoods | July 9, 2009 at 8:00 am | #

This soup sounds divinely rich! As I’m in winter, the creamy soup is perfect as a comfort food, hearty and warm

Hope that Mr NQN is completely recovered!

Cheers,

Gera
10. Anita | July 9, 2009 at 8:15 am | #

The bacon paired with cauliflower would make it heaps better than the plain cauliflower soup I make.
11. Faith | July 9, 2009 at 8:52 am | #

This soup looks deliciously smooth and creamy. I love making big batchs of soup and eating them all week or freezing them for easy meals later!
12. Tara | July 9, 2009 at 8:53 am | #

i love leek and potato soup when i am sick… but i am the kind of person that looks after everyone else when they are sick, but noone looks after me, i just have to keep on plugging away. mostly its just cold and flu’s and decongestants are my best friend at that point.
13. Peter G | July 9, 2009 at 9:02 am | #

Delightful Lorraine! I will have a go at this, but I’ll make sure to look out for my elbows as I’m cooking!
14. Johanna | July 9, 2009 at 9:07 am | #

I’d forgo the crispy bacon but might be tempted to put some vegetarian bacon in the soup – sounds like great invalid food – MR NQN’s ill health sounds quite odd and I hope he is on the mend – you will be glad when you don’t have to play nursemaid any more
15. kirgibg | July 9, 2009 at 9:10 am | #

The first meal given to me in hospital after having my tonsils removed was curried sausages! After not being able to eat them (der) I was given a plate full of lamb chops! Ah – the wisdom of the 70’s…
16. Kyle | July 9, 2009 at 9:12 am | #

Not wanting to give unsolicited advice or anything, but haha, here goes anyway! Do make sure Mr NQN takes a course of Pre and Pro -biotics after he’s finished with the antibiotics – you don’t want him off his tucker!

I use a local Sydney brand in my clinic, Bioceuticals – though you will be able to find them in over your way in a Health-food shop, I’m sure. Their Prodophilus is a 5-strain combo of ‘good gut-flora’, and they also have a fabulous thing called Saccharomyces Boulardii, or SB Floractiv on the shelf – you will be relieved to know it was discovered by Monsieur Boulard – a French wine-maker travelling in China, looking for a heat-resistant yeast to use in wine-making… only to discover it growing on the skins of lychees and mangosteens and being the best thing to fix up people’s guts after illness or, in modern times, a course of anti-biotics, which tend to kill off the good bugs as well as the bad ones… anyway, hope that’s helpful… Get well soon Mr NQN!
17. Blanche | July 9, 2009 at 9:39 am | #

I feel for you… dealing with “man” flu is bad enough, let alone “man” crazy elbow infection, which I imagine is a million times worse than the female version…

I have been waiting for this to pop up after the vote on facebook!
18. SydneyGal | July 9, 2009 at 10:20 am | #

If I had you bringing me lunch trays I would be a perfect patient. Probably somewhat of a malingerer though because who’d want to get better?

This looks yummy. I made a cauliflower soup a few weeks ago but it had so much cheese and cream in it was like a pureed cauliflower au gratin, incredibly rich, and I’ve been avoiding the frozen leftovers. I may simply turf them and make this one instead.

The cracked elbows on a dirty desk thing is a pretty cool way to catch an infection actually. He’s like a walking warning sign – clean your desk! Moisturise your elbows! Don’t use stupid antibacterial products which only help the bacteria mutate to stronger staph variations!
19. Trisha | July 9, 2009 at 10:21 am | #

Yes I agree – never leave the bacon out! And I do hope your husband gets well soon…. very interesting story though with leaning on cracked elbows on work desk and acquiring staph aureus – never knew that could happen!
20. Gab* | July 9, 2009 at 10:57 am | #

Ha, Lou and Andy Men are terrible patients, luckily mine never gets sick. Very strange illness to have! Cauliflower is Hubby’s favourite veggie and he likes it all soggy so I think he’d love this. Plus it has bacon in it! Sounds like a great Sunday night dinner with some toast.
21. Jenny | July 9, 2009 at 11:23 am | #

We love all types of soup,I will be trying the soup as I have cauli in the fridge. A friend of mine got blood poisoning by walking thru her veggie garden with backless gardening shoes and cracked heels. I am a good patient but I do try to do more than I should do causing stress on my fammily.
22. Sophia | July 9, 2009 at 12:15 pm | #

I was gonna say poor Mr NQN…but poor YOU! lol, I hope he recovers soon, though!
that soup looks utterly luscious and creamy! And LOVE the bacon on top! Anything with bacon is terrific I always say!
23. Cakelaw | July 9, 2009 at 12:21 pm | #

Poor hubby – who’d have thought you could get a bacterial infection through leaning your elbows on your desk? He’s lucky you made him this yummy soup to help with his convalescence. Me, I am a goodie goodie patient because I hate being sick and am desperate to get well.
24. Alexandra | July 9, 2009 at 12:22 pm | #

I wish your hubby a speedy recovery! Who knew that putting your elbow on the desk could be such a bad thing. I will agree that men are the biggest babies when sick

Oh btw I tried out your smashed potatoes on Monday and Tuesday for dinner…they were just SO GOOD that I had to make them two days in a row Cauliflower and Bacon sounds like a nice pairing!
25. Betty | July 9, 2009 at 2:04 pm | #

wow, that is really freaky how your husband got the infection. lucky he has you to take care of him! he should be thankful. ahh.. typical boy! lol.
26. Helen | July 9, 2009 at 4:22 pm | #

oh poor Monsieur NQN! However this soup looks as if it could cure anything and I shall cook it tonight – hopefully it will last a few days.

Off to the markets now….. thanks NQN.
27. Y | July 9, 2009 at 5:09 pm | #

Oh man, B is soooo anti-moisturiser too. You’d think it was kryptonite or something, the way he reacts to it. Anyway, soup looks great. With all that love and care, I’m sure Mr. NQN will be making the speediest of recoveries
28. Christie @ Fig & Cherry | July 9, 2009 at 5:26 pm | #

I’m the nurse!

Love this soup. My Hungarian grandma (Nagy Mama) makes a gorgeous version with sour cream. Cauliflower is one of my favourite soup ingredients – and with bacon? It’s a winner!
29. Parita | July 9, 2009 at 5:48 pm | #

Thats very delicious and healthy soup, i would love to have this right now as its pretty cold here too!
30. caro | July 9, 2009 at 6:03 pm | #

Cauliflower and bacon . . . love the combo (mum always used to sneak crumbly bacon onto the cauliflower cheese she would make us for supper – so there’s a touch of childhood comfort in there for me). Hope Mr NQN is better soon. I knew there was a reason we have to keep our elbows off the table!
31. Midge | July 9, 2009 at 6:17 pm | #

Ouch! I can seriously sympathize with your better half – not quite about the bursitis, but I’ve had to deal with excruciating pain time and again.

As for the soup, it looks gloriously soothing and creamy.
32. Panda | July 9, 2009 at 7:43 pm | #

what a random infection! but glad to hear that Mr NQN is recovering.

mmm….this soup looks tasty. i have yet to fix my blender/get a new one to give this recipe a go.

and answer to your question, i’m a bad patient that self prescribes things to make myself get better
33. Reemski | July 9, 2009 at 8:45 pm | #

glad to hear that the elbow is improving!

I’ve been on a stock/soup making binge since the weather turned cold: leek,potato & broccoli, roast tomato & capsicum, and spicy sweet potato and pumpkin…another to add to the repertoire!
34. grace | July 9, 2009 at 10:08 pm | #

so, the secret to making cauliflower delicious is, no surprise here, ADD BACON. your soup looks fantastically creamy, with a welcome salty crunch from the bacon. awesome.
35. Moya | July 9, 2009 at 11:00 pm | #

Yummy soup, will definitely try it soon. According to What’s Good for You on channel 9, work desktops and computer keyboards are more germy than toilet seats so Mr NQN should have been watching out for his elbow sores! But good to hear he is recovering!
36. Audax Artifex | July 9, 2009 at 11:24 pm | #

Glad to hear Mr NQN is recoverying and I hope you will also recover soon from his illness. Strange I made cream of cauli soup yesterday since it was on special (I’m in Sydney also) and it’s cold. Didn’t think to add bacon very nice touch. And thanks for the $20 all u can eat sushi cafe in the City will be going tomorrow. Cheers from Audax. I’m trying to organise a meetup of the Sydneysiders from the Daring Kitchen if you would like to come (and your partner) please leave reply in the “The Kitchen” forum or contact me on my email.
37. Not Quite Nigella | July 10, 2009 at 10:30 pm | #

Hi JennyMac-haha I totally understand. Staph isn’t very appetising!

Hi MrsDesperate-Thankyou! Aww you poor things I hope you feel better!

Hi Meg-Thankyou! Yes I still can’t believe it!

Hi Rosa-thanks so much!

Hi Barbara-hehe thankyou! Yep just add bacon is my mantra

Hi sandra-Me too! Oh that sounds absolutely divine! I’d love a bowl of that right now

Hi The Duo Dishes-Thankyou! I admit I’ve hardly used it up til now

Hi Steph-I know, bizarre isn’t it! Thankyou Yes it’s relatively light for something so creamy. Cool!

Hi Gera-Thankyou! Yes I need comfort in winter. this soup is like a big hug Thankyou Gera!

Hi Anita-I should have subtitled my blog “just add bacon”. Even sweets like pancakes are improved with bacon!

Hi Faith-Thanks so much! Yes me too-it’s so easy to make up a big batch isn’t it!

Hi Tara-Ahh yes I haven’t made a leek and potato soup for ages! Aww no, that’s no good! I’m sorry to hear that!

Hi Peter-hehe please do and do look out for your elbows!

Hi Johanna-Sounds like a good substitution! Thanks, he is almost all better now. I definitely will be!

Hi kirgibg-Curried sausages! Must have been a nice change from hospital food! And lamb chops no less?

Hi Kyle-that’s great! Thankyou so much for the advice. He was a bit worried about that and the doctor said he didn’t need them but the nurse said that he should so thankyou for the brand advice! That’s very nice of you!

Hi Blanche-Hehe yes “man flu”! Yep you guessed it! Ahh cool! Yes I kept thinking “I should put it up soon!”

Hi SydneyGal-haha well you can be my patient then! It sounds very rich! Can you add some steamed cauliflower and use it as a sauce on top of it? Haha yes! Now he has a tube of hand cream that he has to take to the office and I remind me to moisturise his elbows I know! isn’t it funny that that helps the staph!

Hi Trisha-Yep bacon is my mantra Thankyou so much! Who knew exactly?

Hi Gab-I really thought I was Lou for a moment Oh you’re lucky, how does he manage that? Oh yes well if he likes it all soggy then he’d love it! Oh yes with some nice toast it would be fab!

Hi Jenny-Excellent! Oh really? now that’s about as amazing as the desk! So moisturising really seems to be necessary! Ahh you’re definitely a good patient then!

Hi Sophia-Hehe thanks! I wouldn’t trade places with him though, it sounded (and looked) gruesome. Thankyou and I totally agree!

Hi Cakelaw-I know, it’s so bizarre! I’m the same as you although I can be demanding with certain things

Hi Alexandra-Thankyou so much! Aren’t they just! Oh wonderful-I’m so glad that you liked them and that 2 days in a row thing is totally understandable as I’ve done it myself

Hi Betty-I know Thankyou yes he is sadly!

Hi Helen-Thankyou! Yes I’m so glad that you liked it! You’re more than welcome

Hi Y-You should show him this or his facebook photos which are so gruesome! He’s doing well although that’s probably the anti biotics than me

Hi Christie-I’m sure you are! Ahh sour cream sounds like a lovely addition. Does she use bacon too?

Hi Parita-Thankyou so much!

Hi caro-Ahh your mum is a smart woman! Thankyou so much and yes mums were right!

Hi Midge-Yes I wouldn’t trade places with him! Thankyou so much

Hi Panda-I know! Thankyou so much! Yes unfortunately it requires a blender to get it that smooth. Haha really! Do you diagnose via google?

Hi Reemski-Thankyou! Good on you for making your own stock! Wow, those flavours sound amazing!

Hi grace-haha yep add bacon to everything I think (except clothing ) . Thankyou!

Hi Moya-Cool! I can imagine-I cleaned my keyboard once and it made me sick just looking at what was trapped in it! Thankyou

Hi Audax-thankyou so much! Yes it’s very inexpensive nowadays isn’t it. Cool, I’d love to know what you think of the sushi. That sounds great! I’ll email you
38. Kip @Porky Gourmand | July 10, 2009 at 11:12 pm | #

Beautiful soup… I also made a cauliflower soup recently sans the bacon. I love the idea of bacon on your soup. I love bacon on anything.
39. Morta Di Fame | July 11, 2009 at 2:31 am | #

Superb!
40. Naomi | July 11, 2009 at 8:51 am | #

Very sorry to hear about your hubby; men generally make terrible patients!
41. Y | July 12, 2009 at 8:51 am | #

Facebook photos eh. Send me the link. I’m going to show him this post too!
42. jude | July 13, 2009 at 7:36 am | #

I’d probably skip the crumb topping, but the bacon? No way. I like recipes that seem to be creamier than it really is.
43. Lis | July 13, 2009 at 2:48 pm | #

Gosh that soup looks inviting! =D

Your poor hubby =[ I know some of how that feels. Ever since returning from the states, I’ve been getting skin staph infections. Very painful and I must be nearing number 30 soon. That’s what I get for not eating right, drinking too much, getting too little sleep and generally not taking care of myself for 6 weeks. I look forward to the day when my immunity can *actually* ward off bacteria =[
44. Not Quite Nigella | July 13, 2009 at 8:57 pm | #

Hi Kip-Thankyou! Yes I saw yours and it looked delicious. I can’t help but add bacon to everything

Hi Morta-Thankyou!

Hi Naomi-Thanks so much! Hhee yes they do gotta love em!

Hi Y-Hehe you can’t see facebook pics unless you have a facebook account! Does B have one?

Hi jude-Nope never slip the bacon-ever! Yes it’s very cremy for the small amount of cream there is

Hi Lis-Thanks so much! Oh no, that’s terrible! 30 of them! :O Oh my I hope it stops!
45. Darren | July 21, 2009 at 6:21 pm | #

Tried your recipe tonight and it tastes brilliant.
46. Not Quite Nigella | July 21, 2009 at 10:08 pm | #

Hi Darren-Wonderful! I’m so glad that you liked it Enjoy!
47. Beau | October 23, 2009 at 12:06 pm | #

VEry nice,,,,nice for the eye too. Thank you.