s CAULIFLOWER SOUP WITH CHIVE OIL AND RYE CROSTINI *** s   



Yields: 0


Ingredients


 
Instructions
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10-1-2011 good, but different, thick soup, lot of work
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Slow-roasted cauliflower gives this creamy, elegant soup its incredible depth of flavor.
8 Servings

Recipe by The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen

Ingredients
Chive Oil and Crostini

2 1-ounce bunches chives
Kosher salt
3/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. olive oil
8 thin slices cut from Finnish rye bread (for crostini) or 4 slices pumpernickel bread, cut into 1/3" cubes (for croutons)
2 sprigs rosemary

Soup

1 large head of cauliflower (about 2 lb.), leaves discarded
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, divided
Kosher salt
1 large onion, minced
1/4 cup heavy cream

Preparation
Chive Oil and Crostini

Set a coffee filter in a glass; set aside. Blanch chives for 10 seconds in a medium saucepan of boiling salted water. Transfer to a medium bowl of ice water to cool. Squeeze chives dry; coarsely chop and place in a blender. Add 3/4 cup oil; purée until smooth. Pour through coffee filter; let drain for 3 hours at room temperature, or overnight in refrigerator (do not press on solids). DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature before using.
Preheat oven to 400°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Brush bread slices (or toss bread cubes) with 1 Tbsp. olive oil; toss with rosemary sprigs. Transfer to prepared sheet; bake until crisp, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely. Discard rosemary sprigs. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

Soup

Preheat oven to 350°. Place whole cauliflower head in a large baking dish, rub with 4 Tbsp. butter, and season with salt. Add 1/2 cup water to dish. Bake uncovered, tenting with foil if cauliflower begins to brown, until a knife inserted into the core meets no resistance, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove cauliflower from oven; let cool. Coarsely chop and set aside.
Melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft and translucent, about 15 minutes. Add cauliflower and 4 cups water. Simmer until cauliflower is very soft, about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly. Working in batches, purée in a blender until very smooth. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; chill.
Return soup to pot and bring to a simmer, adding more water if too thick. Season with salt. Remove from heat and whisk in remaining 6 Tbsp. butter and cream. Serve warm in shallow bowls. Rest crostini on edge of each bowl or scatter croutons over; drizzle with chive oil.

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