Cauliflower Potato Soup with Smoked Gouda

4.88 from 8 votes

Total Time: 45 mins

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Creamy and comforting, Cauliflower Potato Soup with Smoked Gouda is a soup everyone will love! A garnish of roasted cauliflower florets, bacon, chives and paprika puts it over the top.

Enjoy with Crustless Spinach Artichoke Jalapeno Quiche for a lovely lunch or supper.

Cauliflower Potato Soup with Smoked Gouda on gray napkin on round platter.

Why This Recipe is a Keeper!

Cauliflower Potato Soup with Smoked Gouda is the perfect soup for when you’re craving something simple and easy yet creamy and comforting. There are no special chopping skills required because everything just gets tossed into a Dutch oven, simmered, then pureed!

The smoky Gouda gives it a rich, slightly indulgent flavor that makes it feel like a treat—even though it’s packed with wholesome ingredients. Serve it with a warm loaf of crusty bread or a crisp green salad for a cozy, satisfying meal everyone at the table will ask for again.

Kids will love it and you’ll love they’re getting some veggie goodness!

Cauliflower Potato Soup with Smoked Gouda in white bowl garnished with bacon and chives.

How to make Cauliflower Potato Soup with Smoked Gouda:

Recipe Ingredients:

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this cauliflower potato soup recipe. The recipe card below has the exact quantities.

Ingredients for Cauliflower Potato Soup with Smoked Gouda in glass bowls.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:

  • Butter and Oil: This soup starts with a combination of butter and oil. Because most oils lack in the flavor department, butter gets the flavor process started. Using only butter would cause it to burn, however combining butter with oil increases the smoke point.
  • Potatoes: I used Russets, but Yukon gold or red potatoes will also work.
  • Cauliflower: Save time by purchasing bags of pre-cut cauliflower florets.
  • Dry White Wine: Besides adding flavor, the tartaric acid found in wine is going to help the cheese melt smoothly when you add it. That acid helps to break down the proteins in cheese for a smoother melt. Beer is another option. NON-ALCOHOLIC SUBSTITUTE: Add 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar to a 1/2-cup of chicken or vegetable broth.
  • Smoked Gouda: If you’re note a smoky cheese fan, use plain Gouda, Monterey jack, Gruyere or Cheddar.
  • Broth: Can also use vegetable broth.
  • Optional Garnishes: Roasted cauliflower, bacon, chives or paprika.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

  • Gather and prep all the ingredients.
  • Heat the butter and oil in a Dutch oven or other soup pot and cook the onion until it’s softened.
  • Add the garlic and cook until it’s fragrant then add dry white wine.
Cooked onions in blue Dutch oven.
  • Add the cauliflower, potatoes and chicken broth.
  • Bring to a boil and then simmer until the potatoes and cauliflower are extremely tender.
Potatoes and cauliflower cooking in the broth in blue Dutch oven.
  • Turn off the heat and add the cream.
  • Then start adding the cheese by the handful, stirring well after each addition. It won’t look very pretty but after you puree, it all comes together!
  • Season with salt and white pepper and it’s done!
Cauliflower Potato Soup with Smoked Gouda in Dutch oven after being pureed.
  • Garnish with some roasted cauliflower florets, bacon, chives and a sprinkle of paprika.
  • Enjoy!
Cauliflower Potato Soup with Smoked Gouda garnished with roasted cauliflower, bacon and chives.

Chef Tips and Tricks:

  • Here’s more general information on how to get cheese to melt smoothly in soups whether pureed or not:
    • Grate the cheese as finely as possible.
    • Add starch such as flour or cornstarch. This helps to stabilize the fat and protein in the cheese and prevents clumping. NOTE: Adding flour to this recipe will make it extremely thick. Because this recipe has potatoes, the starch from the potatoes will help.
    • Reduce the heat or take the soup off the heat entirely.
    • Add the cheese in small amounts, stirring after each addition. Never add all the cheese at one time.
    • Besides adding flavor, the tartaric acid found in wine is going to help the cheese melt smoothly when you add it. That acid helps to break down the proteins in cheese for a smoother melt. Beer is also another option. For a non-alcoholic substitute, add 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar to 1/2-cup of chicken or vegetable broth.
    • Use an immersion blender to smooth it out.
Cauliflower Potato Soup with Smoked Gouda in white bowl with soup spoon garnished with bacon, chives and cauliflower.

recipe faqs:

How can I lighten this soup to reduce the fat and calories?

To lighten a cream soup, use reduced-fat milk. Be careful adding it to the hot liquid because it can curdle. You can also leave the milk, half-and-half or cream entirely out and let the cauliflower and potatoes act as the “cream.” You can also reduce the amount of cheese.

Can I make this soup ahead of time?

Yes, this soup can be made 1-2 days ahead of time. Reheat gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat until heated through.

What other cheeses can I use?

You’ll want a cheese that melts nicely, such as Monterey jack, Gruyere or Cheddar as in my Potato Cheese Soup.

More amazing creamy soups you’ll love!

Get all my soup recipes at Soup Recipes – From A Chef’s Kitchen.

4.88 from 8 votes

Cauliflower Potato Soup with Smoked Gouda

Cauliflower Potato Soup with Smoked Gouda is creamy and comforting with a touch of smoky flavor. It's a soup everyone will love!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6
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Ingredients 

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 2 large Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 large head cauliflower, cut into large florets
  • 4-5 cups chicken broth, or vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream, or half and half
  • 2 cups shredded smoked Gouda cheese
  • Salt and white pepper, to taste
  • Cooked crumbled bacon, for garnish (optional)
  • Chives, for garnish (optional)
  • Paprika, for garnish (optional)
  • Roasted cauliflower, for garnish (optional)

Instructions 

  • Heat oil and butter over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven or other soup pot.
  • Add the onion, reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 5-7 minutes or until beginning to soften.
  • Add the garlic and cook briefly, 10-15 seconds or until fragrant.
  • Add the wine and bring to a boil. Boil for approximately 30 seconds.
  • Add the potatoes, cauliflower and 4 cups of the chicken broth. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer 20-25 minutes or until potatoes and cauliflower are very tender.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the cream.
  • Add the cheese by the handful, stirring well after each addition.
  • Puree with an immersion blender until smooth or in a food processor or blender, being careful with hot liquids. If the soup is extremely thick, add additional chicken broth as needed to thin it out.
  • Season to taste with salt and white pepper.
  • Serve garnished with optional bacon, chives, paprika or roasted cauliflower florets.

Notes

SUBSTITUTIONS:
  • Peeled Yukon gold or red potatoes can be used in place of Russets.
  • Can use plain Gouda, Monterey jack, Gruyere, or Cheddar if you don’t care for a smoky flavor.
  • NON-ALCOHOLIC SUBSTITUTE: Add 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar to a 1/2 cup of chicken or vegetable broth.
MAKE AHEAD:
  • Can be made 1-2 days ahead.
  • Reheat very gently in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low heat until heated through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 563kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 27gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 118mgSodium: 1283mgPotassium: 1233mgFiber: 5gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 749IUVitamin C: 88mgCalcium: 638mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Carol

Carol is a personal chef with 22 years of experience cooking food people want to eat! Here, you'll find expert techniques, time-saving tips, and flavor-packed dishes you'll be proud to serve family and friends.

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4.88 from 8 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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6 Comments

  1. Leda says:

    5 stars
    Can the cream be substituted with oat milk?
    Friends and I are doing a soup-er bowl next weekend and one friend is highly sensitive to heavy cream and half-and-half.
    Thanks!

    1. Carol says:

      Hi, Leda, Thanks so much for your question. Love that idea!! I haven’t tested this recipe with oat milk, but from what I understand, oat milk is the closest thing out there to dairy milk. The richness of the heavy cream helps thicken the soup, but with the cheese, it will probably be okay. It’s only a half cup. Thanks again and hope everyone enjoys!

  2. Charlene says:

    Wonderful soup. I didn’t have any smoked Gouda cheese, so I used pepper Jack cheese. Gave it a nice kick.

    1. Carol says:

      Hi, Charlene, Thanks so very much and happy you enjoyed!! You can certainly change out the cheeses. White cheddar is also another good option. Thanks again!

  3. Sarah says:

    5 stars
    This was AMAZING! I used riced cauliflower just to make my life easier and it worked perfectly. I made this for my husband, who isn’t the biggest fan of cauliflower, and my grandfather, who is a soup fiend, and they both want me to make it again!

    1. Carol says:

      Hi, Sarah, Thanks so very much and so happy everyone enjoyed!! The riced cauliflower is a GREAT tip! Thanks again!