Name: Cauliflower Soup with Stilton and Caramelized Pear Relish
Ingredients: Olive oil; 1 tablespoon butter; 1 medium onion (peeled and finely chopped); 2 shallots (peeled and finely chopped); 4 springs thyme; 1 head cauliflower (leaves trimmed away and florets separated); 1 bay leaf; Zest of 1 lemon; 3 tablespoons apple cider; 4 cups vegetable stock (or chicken stock); Salt and pepper; 4 ounces Stilton cheese; 2 tablespoons crème fraîche; 1 pinch saffron; ¼ cup golden raisins (and/or dried cranberries); 1 tablespoon butter; 2 pears (cored, peeled and chopped); 1 tablespoon sugar; 2 sprigs lemon thyme; 1 cinnamon stick; Coarse sea salt; Black pepper

Cauliflower Soup with Stilton and Caramelized Pear Chutney on a blue tablecloth.

Ingredients

Olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 shallots, peeled and finely chopped
4 springs thyme
1 head cauliflower, leaves trimmed away and florets separated
1 bay leaf
Zest of 1 lemon
3 tablespoons apple cider
4 cups vegetable stock, or chicken stock
Salt and pepper
4 ounces Stilton cheese
2 tablespoons crème fraîche

For the Pear Relish

1 pinch saffron
¼ cup golden raisins, and/or dried cranberries
1 tablespoon butter
2 pears, cored, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon sugar
2 sprigs lemon thyme
1 cinnamon stick
Coarse sea salt
Black pepper

Instructions

Pour a little olive oil and the butter into a large saucepan placed over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add in the onions, shallots and the thyme and cook until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5–7 minutes.
Add in the cauliflower, bay leaf, lemon zest, apple cider and stock; season with some salt and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until the cauliflower is completely soft.
Remove the bay leaf from the soup, add in the Stilton and then process the soup either in a blender or with an immersion blender until the soup is completely smooth. Whisk in the crème fraîche and keep the soup warm until you are ready to serve it.
Serve the soup in warm bowls with a spoonful of the pear relish (see below) in the middle of each bowl.

For the Pear Relish

Soak the saffron in a small bowl of hot water with the dried fruit for 10 minutes.
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan and add the pears, sugar, thyme and cinnamon stick. Cook for 5 minutes. Add in the dried fruit and saffron and cook for a further 10 minutes. You should have a soft golden mixture. Season with some coarse salt and pepper.

Nutrition

Cauliflower Soup with Stilton and Caramelized Pear Relish