To Taste: Curried Chicken Wrap + Cumin-Mint Cauliflower Soup

Now that I’m armed with an immersion mixer and a bountiful harvest from my farm share, I’ve been a soup-making maniac. From a lower-carb version of 101Cookbook’s ribollita to 2 rounds of butternut squash + leek, my favorite creation of the fall was a bowlful of cumin-mint cauliflower soup. It was a one pot, minimal ingredient, flavorful blend of cheddar cauliflower via Greensgrow, toasted cumin powder, onion, chicken stock, fresh mint from my herb garden, and S&P.

What’s soup for dinner without a sandwich? My sister, Kerry, gave me a fragrant curry powder that had been taunting me from the spice cabinet and seemed like a curry chicken wrap was the right match. As the weather cools, this meal definitely warmed my belly.


Cumin-Mint Cauliflower Soup

Serves (6). Makes approx. 1.5 quarts.

  • cheddar or standard cauliflower – one head, chopped into florets
  • chicken stock – 3 cups, about 1.5 small cans
  • yellow onion – medium, chopped
  • butter or olive oil
  • ground cumin – 1tsp or to taste
  • fresh mint – 2T, chopped
  • S&P
  1. Bring chicken stock to a boil in a heavy stock pot. Add chopped cauliflower, cover, and bring back to a boil. Simmer for about 10 min or until cauliflower is fork tender.
  2. While cauliflower is cooking, heat a deep saute pan on medium. Add butter/olive oil, chopped onion, & cumin. Sweat for approx 8 min. until tender & translucent, making sure to turn lower heat if they begin to brown.
  3. Add onion & cumin mixture to the pot of cauliflower & stock. Combine and simmer for 10 min on medium heat.
  4. Turn off heat and stir in mint and S&P to taste.
  5. Blend mixture in the stock pot with an immersion blender or in batches in a standard blender. Thin as needed with water or additional chicken stock.
  6. Serve with shredded cheese, fresh mint garnish, and your favorite sandwich.


Chicken Curry Wrap

Serves 2.

  • boneless, skinless chicken breast – 2 breasts, trimmed & cut into strips
  • yellow onion – 2 medium, sliced
  • dry wine – 1/2 cup
  • yellow curry powder – 2 tsp
  • sour cream – 3/4 cups
  • lettuce – chopped or shredded, your preference
  • tomato – chopped or sliced, your preference
  • tortillas – 2 burrito-sized flour wraps
  • S&P
  1. Heat olive oil in a saute pan on medium heat. Season chicken breast with 1 tsp of the curry powder and S&P. Add to hot pan and toss regularly, until browned & cooked through, approx. 10min. Remove from pan and set aside.
  2. Keep pan on medium and add 1/2 cup of white wine to deglaze. Scrape brown bits from bottled to pan with a spatula. Allow to evaporate until minimal amount of liquid remains in pan.
  3. Heat 2 T of olive oil in the same pan over medium until shimmering. Add onions and saute for about 5 min.
  4. Add remaining 1 tsp of curry powder and sweat for approx 4 min longer until tender and browned.
  5. Return chicken to pan and add sour cream. Combine ingredients and warm over medium-low heat for about 3 minutes.
  6. Lay out tortillas. Add chicken, lettuce, & tomato. Wrap like a burrito and enjoy with a toasty bowl of cumin-mint cauliflower soup.

To Taste: Cheesy Smashed Cauliflower

I finally took Dre on an Amish adventure to Lancaster County complete with a stop at Shady Maple Smorgasbord. I regret that I went to one of my favorite places to eat and didn’t take any pictures! Shame on me! We did, however, make a few farm stand stops on our scenic ride home where I picked up a beautiful head of  Cauliflower.  I knew I’d have to transform it  into a tasty creation though, if anyone was going to enjoy it as much as I would!

I recalled an episode of 30 Minute Meals where Rachel Ray make a quick batch of her Smashed Cauliflower with Cheese. I stuck to the basic parameters of the recipe but impressed myself with the addition of  shredded Smoked Gouda (from the never ending wedge in my fridge). The smokiness really enhanced the depth of flavors in such a simple dish. It was so good, I didn’t even have to pass it off as mashed potatoes, though you know I tried!

Farm Fresh Cauliflower & our Jack-o-Lantern

P.S. We also picked up a pumpkin on our Amish adventure that Dre & I carved for Halloween. BOO!

CHEESY SMASHED CAULIFLOWER
adapted from Rachel Ray’s Smashed Cauliflower with Cheese

  • Cauliflower – 1 large head cut into florets
  • Chicken Stock – about 3 cups, 2 cans, or enough to cover Cauliflower
  • Butter – let’s say 2-3 T of the REAL stuff, no oleo here!
  • Cheddar, Smoked Gouda, Mozzarella, Parmesan, etc. – (1)+ cup of your favorite shredded cheeses
  • S&P
  1. Place Cauliflower florets in a medium pot & cover with Chicken Stock.
  2. Bring to a boil over high heat. Then cover & reduce heat to a simmer until Cauliflower is tender, about 15 min total.
  3. Drain the cauliflower once tender, reserving the stock. (You could also turn up the heat and reduce the stock instead of draining, but who has the time?!)
  4. Add the butter & cheese. Smash with a potato masher, adding in stock until you reach desired consistency. Think “thick grits”!
  5. Season w/ S&P and serve. It reheats really well, too, so feel free to make a double batch to enjoy all week!