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Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup – Smoky Vegan Cauliflower Soup with Red Peppers and Smoked Paprika. Hearty and Delicious. Saucepan Option. Just 5 mins prep. Vegan Glutenfree Soyfree Recipe. Can be Nut-free. Jump to Recipe   
Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup - Smoky Vegan Cauliflower Soup with Red Peppers and Smoked Paprika. Hearty and Delicious. Just 5 mins Prep, no Immersion blending needed. Saucepan Option. #Vegan #Glutenfree #Soyfree #Recipe. Can be #Nutfree #veganricha | VeganRicha.com

This Cauliflower Soup is Easy, Creamy, Super Quick. It takes just 5 minutes to assemble, blend, then add to the Instant Pot and done!

I blend the Cauliflower before adding to the instant pot. It’s easier and faster than cooking the florets (with or without pre roasting) and using an immersion blender later. Also easier than transferring the hot soup to a blender to blend. Blend before and get the same result! Ah-ha. The blended mix when cooked under pressure cooks out the rawness completely and also adds a flavor as if the cauliflower was lightly roasted!

I add some red bell pepper for color and flavor and herbs and smoked paprika. Then fold in some cashew cream or other non dairy cream of choice to make it creamy and ready to serve. Top with favorite toppings like croutons, veggie bacon crumbles, roasted cajun cauliflower. Delicious and Simple!

More new quicker techniques, tips and Easy options are often found on my Instant Pot Recipe posts. If you make any of these, do let me know in the comments how it worked out and suggestions for tweaks and adjustments that worked!

Our Vegan Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup in white bowls

Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup - Smoky Vegan Cauliflower Soup with Red Peppers and Smoked Paprika. Just 5 mins pre, no Immersion blender needed. Hearty and Delicious. Saucepan Option. #Vegan #Glutenfree #Soyfree #Recipe. Can be #Nutfree #veganricha | VeganRicha.com

More Loved Instant Pot Recipes!

I add the non-dairy cream later after pressure cooking. Creams like cashew cream if added earlier can thicken the mixture too quickly and scorch the bottom or just generally hinder the right kind of cooking of the cauliflower mixture.

While you are here, look through these impactful visuals of what’s inside some baby birds. You guessed it right, plastic and more plastic.

Step by Step Photos

Ingredients for Our Vegan Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup in Bowls
Blended cauliflower and pepper for Our Vegan Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup
Our Vegan Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup in Instant Pot

Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup - Smoky Vegan Cauliflower Soup with Red Peppers and Smoked Paprika. Hearty and Delicious. Saucepan Option. #Vegan #Glutenfree #Soyfree #Recipe. Can be #Nutfree #veganricha | VeganRicha.com

Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup - Smoky Vegan Cauliflower Soup

4.87 from 15 votes
By: Vegan Richa
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 3
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American, Gluten-free, Vegan Glutenfree
Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup - Smoky Vegan Cauliflower Soup with Red Peppers and Smoked Paprika. Hearty and Delicious. Saucepan Option. Vegan Glutenfree Soyfree Recipe. Can be Nut-free.
Just 5 Mins prep. No Immersion Blender needed!
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Ingredients 
 

  • 1 small head of cauliflower or 1/2 a large head
  • 1/2 small onion
  • 4 cloves of garlic, 4 small cloves or 2 large
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, (or use roasted red bell pepper for variation)
  • 1.5 cup water, or veggie broth
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/4 to 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • a good dash of all spice or cinnamon, (optional, but adds great depth of flavor)
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 cup cashew milk ( 1/3 cup cashews , and 1 tsp flour blended with 1 cup of water (use rice flour for gluten-free))
  • basil/cilantro, vegan bacon,, black pepper and other toppings of choice

Instructions 

  • Blend the first 4 ingredients with 1.5 cups of water or broth. **(see note). Add to the instant pot.  
    Alternatively**, saute the onion and garlic  in 1 tsp oil until translucent. Then add blended cauliflower Or add florets, chopped bell pepper and broth and proceed. Use an immersion blender at step 3 after adding cashew milk.  
  • Add the spices, herbs, salt and nutritional yeast, Mix well. Close the lid and pressure cook (manual hi) for 14 mins. 
  • Let the pressure release naturally. Open the lid, add cashew milk and mix in. Press Saute, cover and cook for for 4 -5 mins (The soup will tend to splash when boiling, so cover with a well fitting lid. If the lid is too large, the moisture will trickle out and flow along the pot to the bottom which is electrical, which isn't a good thing).
  • Taste and adjust salt, flavor, spice. Add some chili blend, or sweetener if needed. Add some more broth if needed for preferred consistency.
  • Serve with toppings of choice such as fresh basil or cilantro, vegan bacon crumbles, bbq chips, roasted cajun cauliflower! or other and a side of garlic bread or toasted+buttered bread or dinner rolls. So good!

Video

Notes

** This blended mix gets cooked well under pressure. If you are unsure of the raw onion and garlic, you can saute chopped onion and garlic on saute mode until golden. Transfer half of the mix to the blender with the cauliflower and blend. 
Raw onion and garlic when blended sometimes can be a much stronger flavor and smell if they are old or get over blended and can overpower the soup. Saute before blending. 
 
Saucepan/Stovetop: Cook the chopped onion and garlic until translucent over medium heat. Add the peppers, cauliflower, spices, mix well and cook for 3 to 4 mins. Add the water/broth and cashew milk and bring to a boil. Continue to cook partially covered for 10 mins or until cauliflower is cooked through. Blend the soup using an immersion blender or regular blender. Taste and adjust, add more broth if needed. 
 
Nut-free option: Use pumpkin seeds, coconut cream or other nut free cream /thick milk (about 1 cup) or a combination.
 
If you add the cashew milk before cooking, the mixture will thicken too quickly and the IP might give a burn signal.
 
Nutrition is 1 of 3 serves

Nutrition

Calories: 118kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 598mg, Potassium: 335mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 785IU, Vitamin C: 45.1mg, Calcium: 28mg, Iron: 1.7mg

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

Did you make this recipe? Rate and comment below!

Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup - Smoky Vegan Cauliflower Soup with Red Peppers and Smoked Paprika. Hearty and Delicious. Saucepan Option. #Vegan #Glutenfree #Soyfree #Recipe. Can be #Nutfree #veganricha | VeganRicha.com

About Richa

Hi, I'm Richa! I create flavorful plant based recipes that are inspired by my Indian upbringing, including many gluten-free, soy-free, and oil-free options.

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4.87 from 15 votes (1 rating without comment)

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46 Comments

  1. Zanna says:

    5 stars
    Great recipe, my toddler loved it. I like a more textured soup so I grated the cauliflower rather than blending it. With the cinnamon it reminds me a bit of the gorgeous Gobi gajar poriyal in your book – we eat that one almost every time I buy cauliflower!

    1. Vegan Richa Support says:

      Awesome!! Thanks for sharing.

  2. Shell says:

    5 stars
    Delicious! Would this freeze okay?

    1. Vegan Richa Support says:

      yes should be fine. Just whisk it well when reheating

  3. Keren says:

    5 stars
    Made this tonight when I was feeling tired and needed to use up some cauliflower. It was so easy and delicious! The flavors got better as time went on too! Thank you!

    1. Vegan Richa Support says:

      Love it!

  4. Heather says:

    5 stars
    This soup is delicious! I took some shortcuts—I put everything in the instant pot and cooked it for 15 minutes. After the natural release, I put it in the blender (Vitamix), along with the cashews and about 2/3 cup of water. No changes in ingredients. You are quickly becoming my go-to for soups!

    1. Vegan Richa Support says:

      good to know, thanks Heather!