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
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!
More Loved Instant Pot Recipes!
- Japanese Veggie Curry. GF
- Potato Chickpea Spinach Soup. GF
- Instant Pot Lasagna Soup with Red lentils. – So Easy
- Instant Pot Vegan Butter Chickin(soycurls). GF – Creamy, Delicious
- Sweet Potato Chard/Kale Curry – IP aloo Saag. GF
- More 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
Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup - Smoky Vegan Cauliflower Soup
Ingredients
- 1 small head of cauliflower or 1/2 a large head
- 1/2 (0.5 ) small onion
- 4 cloves of garlic 4 small cloves or 2 large
- 1/2 (0.5 ) red bell pepper (or use roasted red bell pepper for variation)
- 1.5 cup (375 ml) water or veggie broth
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 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 (0.5 tsp) dried thyme
- 3/4 tsp (0.75 tsp) salt
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 cup (1.52 oz) 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
Nutrition
Heather
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!
Vegan Richa Support
good to know, thanks Heather!
Vicki
I usually love your recipes, but this was a flop. Not only did it taste bad, it stunk up the house for two days. I had to replace the pressure cooker gasket as I could not get rid of the bad smell. I don’t usually post negative comments, but I just want to let others know that they might want to skip this one.
Richa
Oh no. Sorry it dint work out for you. This can happen with old onion. When you blend the onion it releases a lot kore smell which doesn’t have a way to escape in the instant pot. Use the alternate method of sauntering chopped onion when not sure.
Alex
Looks amazing, can’t wait to try it! If I wanted to add lentils to this recipe, would it change much? When should I add them?
Thanks!
Alex
Richa
depends on the kind of lentils and if you want them to stay whole or pureed
debbi
Has any one tried this in the Instant Pot Ace Blender? I was thinking of throwing all the ingredients in (including the cashews) and thinning it out with broth or plant milk after it finishes.
Richa
havent tried that specific blender, but you can blend i beforee or after
Katrina L
I have made this recipe a few times and am reminded how lovely and easy it is! My whole family eats it up with out complaints (I have a teenager and 2 five year olds so this is a high compliment). I love how the first directions is to throw most of the ingredients into a blender. Done. Easy. Yet the result is a super creamy, decadent, rich, flavorful soup that is comforting. I have yet to try a recipe of Vegan Richa’s that isn’t a game changer for my meal planning.
Richa
yay!!
Karen
Looks great! Can coconut milk be substituted for the cashew milk?
Richa
Yes, it will keep the soup a bit thinner
alison
Hi, I am planning on making this tonight but am a little confused. In the recipe it says to add 1/3 of a cup of cashews, flour and water. In the method you talk about adding cashew milk. At what point do the cashews turn into milk? Are you meant to soak them first and then use a food processor? Thanks.
Richa
yes its 1/3 cup cashews blended with 1 cup water which make the cashew milk. its written in the ingredients to blend, i’ll update it to be more clear in the instructions as well
Linda H
Would love to make this Smokey Vegan Cauliflower soup, but does it freeze well? I’m looking for soups to freeze :). Thanks!
Richa G
yes should be fine. Just whisk it well when reheating
Traci
I’d never tried cinnamon in a soup like this. Such a rich flavor!
I can’t easily get raw cashews to make cashew cream, so I throw a handful of macadamia nuts into the pot with the rest of the ingredients ( I still prefer to blend after cooking).
Richa
awesome! yes either works. i just find the blending afterwards a bit more problematic with the heat and sometimes it stains the blender
Janice
Made this tonight and it’s perfect! I used jarred roasted red peppers , minced garlic, dried onions, and full fat coconut milk just because it’s what we had and tin turned out fabulously.
Richa
awesome!
Julie Nano
Yum! Changed it up a little. I added 1 potato, chopped and sautéed everything but the cashews instead of blending first, added an extra 1/2 cup water and 1/4 tsp more salt, put unblended cashews and water in w/ the pressure cooking, blended it all at the end. It served 4 w/ good crusty bread.
Sylvia
I made the stove-top version tonight. Oh my…. yummy good!! Thank you, Richa!
Jared Feldman
Hello! What size Instant Pot do you have or recommend? 3, 6, or 8 quart? Looking to buy one for this and all of your other recipes. Thank you!
Richa
6 qt
Punam Kalra
I made this tonight. It looks good but smells bad. What do you think I did wrong? I wasn’t expecting that. Otherwise it was super easy to make. I’ll try it again to figure out where I went wrong.
Richa
hmm i am not sure. Can you describe the smell? what other food stuff does it smell like?
the only thing that i can think of is cauliflower. Old cauliflower can have a more pungent smell.
AJ Schuman
Smoky cauliflower soup was fresh tasting and super nutritious. I followed the recipe closely, with just one substitution. I didn’t have cashews, so instead I smoothed out the soup with packaged almond milk. I wonder how you achieved that beautiful golden color. My soup was kind of pink.
Brenda
Hi Richa!!!
Oh I can’t wait to make this tomorrow! Many thanks for providing Stove Top instructions!!!!
Looks delicious! Yay!!!! 😃
Thanks! Brenda
Elizabeth M
This was delicious! Although 5 minutes on high pressure, with quick release, was plenty of cooking time. The recipe leaves room for many little variations. I’ll definitely make it again. Thanks for posting it!
Richa
awesome! I did try it for shorter time and a bit of raw flavor from the cauliflower or peppers was showing through. So i added more time. anywhere from 5 mins onwards will work. i like it with many different spice blends
Corwin
Is there a reason for the natural release vs quick release after the 14 min?
Richa
i prefer natural release in creamy soups as the quick release might spray some of the soup out, while releasing.
Amy
Hi Richa!
Great recipe. Can i use green bell pepper instead of red? I cant wait to make this and have green pepper at home so would it work?
Richa
yes should work just fine. The color might be different. Just garnish with colorful things 🙂
Raag
This is a such a yummy Indianiszed spicy version of Cauli soup. Many thanks.
Very innovative.
Shall make this soup morrow.
I am a Librarian, and I have your books cataloged in our system, I am goona get the second book added too.. the copies are popular regularly with our patrons.
Wishing you best, always.
Richa
Thank you so much! So glad everyone enjoys the books!
The Vegan 8
Oh Richa, I drooled when this came through to my email! I can’t wait to try this!
Richa
Thank you Brandi, its so easy and so luscious!
Kathleen Kastner
Thank you for this delicious soup recipe! I don’t have an instant pot. Can I make this on a stove top?
Thanks!
❤️🙏
Kathleen
Richa
oops forgot to add the saucepan instructions. Added to the notes.
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.