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TRADITIONAL ROMANIAN CAULIFLOWER SOUP — GLUTEN-FREE, CREAMY, AND AROMATIC

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TRADITIONAL ROMANIAN CAULIFLOWER SOUP — GLUTEN-FREE, CREAMY, AND AROMATIC

TRADITIONAL ROMANIAN CAULIFLOWER SOUP — GLUTEN-FREE, CREAMY, AND AROMATIC

This traditional cauliflower soup is gently adapted to fit a gluten-free diet without sacrificing any flavor. Fresh, tender cauliflower and fragrant spices make it a perfect wholesome meal, especially when cauliflower is in season and beautifully fresh. The soup is naturally creamy thanks to pureed cauliflower and sour cream, flavored with cumin and sweet paprika.

🕒 Prep Time: 15 min

🍳 Cook Time: 25 min
🍽️ Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 medium cauliflower (about 800 g), broken into florets
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 carrot, thinly sliced into rounds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika
  • 150 g sour cream (fermented, 25% fat)
  • 2 tbsp cooking oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare Vegetables

  • Break cauliflower into florets; if large, cut florets into smaller pieces.
  • Finely chop onion and slice carrot thinly.

2. Sauté Aromatics

  • Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pot over low heat.
  • Add onion and carrot, sauté gently for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened without browning.

3. Add Spices

  • Stir in paprika and let it dissolve in the oil.
  • Add cumin seeds.
  • Tip: For stronger cumin flavor with texture, increase cumin seeds and omit ground cumin in the final step.

4. Cook Cauliflower

  • Add cauliflower florets to the pot.
  • Cover with 1.5 liters water.
  • Season with salt and generous freshly ground black pepper.
  • Bring to a boil, then simmer covered on low heat for about 15 minutes until cauliflower is tender but not mushy.

5. Puree and Enrich Soup

  • Remove about half of the smaller cauliflower florets from the pot (leave larger ones in the soup for texture).
  • Puree removed cauliflower with sour cream and 1 ladle of hot broth until very smooth.

6. Combine and Heat

  • Gradually stir pureed cauliflower mixture back into the soup, mixing continuously to avoid curdling—do not let soup boil.

7. Finish with Spiced Oil

  • In a small pan, heat remaining 1 tbsp oil until sizzling, then remove from heat.
  • Stir in remaining paprika and ground cumin, mixing well to dissolve spices in oil.
  • Pour spiced oil mixture into the soup and stir thoroughly.

Notes

  • Traditionally, the soup is thickened with flour and a paprika-cumin roux instead of pureed cauliflower.
  • Some regional variations omit paprika altogether, resulting in a white cauliflower soup.

💡 Tips

  • Pureeing some cauliflower adds natural creaminess without gluten.
  • Sauté vegetables slowly for maximum sweetness and flavor.
  • Adjust spice amounts according to your taste preference.
  • Use fresh, high-quality sour cream for best texture.

🎉 Perfect For

  • Gluten-free diets and allergy-friendly cooking
  • Enjoying fresh seasonal cauliflower
  • Light, comforting meals with Eastern European flair
  • Wholesome family dinners or lunch

📝 Final Thoughts

This gluten-free adapted traditional cauliflower soup balances creamy texture and aromatic spices beautifully. It’s an easy, satisfying dish celebrating seasonal produce with a touch of Romanian culinary heritage.