Hungarian Cauliflower Soup ~ Karfiolleves
Hungarian cauliflower soup with dumplings, also known as karfiolleves, is a quick, easy, frugal, pantry-friendly soup that's simple to make but complex in taste. It's made with lotsa spice and, quite frankly, is unlike any other soup you've experienced.
Ingredients
For the dumplings (optional)
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons (1 oz) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
- 1 large egg
For the Hungarian cauliflower soup
- 4 tablespoons (2 oz) unsalted butter, cold
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Hungarian paprika* , (see *Note below; if you can't find Hungarian paprika or you prefer things less fiery, use regular paprika and add a pinch or more of cayenne pepper to taste)
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
- 6 cups homemade vegetable stock or canned vegetable broth, (or substitute 4 cups stock and 2 cups water)
- 1 small head cauliflower, cored and cut into bite size (about 1-inch [25-mm]) florets
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and finely chopped (about 2/3 cup)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- A few sprigs flat-leaf parsley, stemmed and finely chopped, for garnish (about 2 tablespoons)
- Sour cream or crème fraîche, (optional but strongly encouraged!)
Instructions
Make the dumplings (optional)
- In a bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Add the butter and, using your fingers, rub it into the flour until pea-size crumbles form. Add the egg and stir until a somewhat wet, soft, sticky dough forms. (Don't worry. It will firm.) Cover and refrigerate the dumpling dough for at least 30 minutes or until ready to use.
Make the Hungarian cauliflower soup
- In a 6-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the paprika and onion and cook, stirring, until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the stock, cauliflower, and carrot, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
- When the vegetables are tender, using a 1/2-teaspoon measuring spoon, portion out and drop all the dumpling dough into the simmering soup. Cover the pot and cook, without stirring, until the dumplings expand slightly, float to the surface, and are cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes.
Serve the Hungarian cauliflower soup
- Season the soup with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup and dumplings, if using, into bowls and garnish with parsley and, if desired, a dollop of sour cream or crème fraîche.
Notes
*What You Need To Know About What Kind Of Paprika You Should Use For This Hungarian Cauliflower Soup
This recipe calls for paprika. But which kind of paprika? Hungarian? Sweet? Hot? Smoked? Spanish? Confusingly, paprika can be labeled any number of things, and although one would assume that something labeled “Hungarian Sweet Paprika” would be perfect for a recipe labeled “Hungarian Cauliflower Soup,” be aware that paprika can vary rather dramatically in taste and heat from one brand or type to the next. And don’t be tricked by that innocent sounds of “Hungarian Sweet Paprika”—this particular paprika can be fiery. Based on our experience, consider first making this recipe with half Hungarian paprika and half regular paprika. This is what many of our recipe testers tried. Then you can get a feel for the exact amount of heat you desire next time you make the soup. (And trust us, you will want there to be a next time.) And if you can’t get your hands on a tin of Hungarian paprika but want to experience it, you can substitute regular paprika and simply add anywhere from a pinch to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne to the recipe. You may also want to read what The Kitchn has to say on the many different sorts of paprika.Nutrition
Serving: 1portion | Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 1736mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g