New Recipe - Cauliflower Soup Palazzo Vecchio*

A nice apropos concerning cauliflower and the Medici family. The more famous and mighty the Medici became, the more gifts arrived daily in a never-ending stream at the Palazzo Vecchio. On one day there were under many others “six straw hats … one illustrated book on the excellence of women … a cauliflower of most impressive size (and) a relic of Saint Cosmas of miraculous protective power”.

Serves 2 (as a main course)

• 1 head cauliflower
• ½ of an onion
• garlic (optional)
• oil for the pan
• salt, pepper
• 3 – 4 cups water
• ½ vegetable stock cube (organic, yeast free)
• oil to taste (makes the soup creamy)
• chopped chives or grated nutmeg
• *Medici Palazzo in Florence where duke Cosimo the Great lived with his family

Cut onion, garlic and cauliflower.

Heat oil in a sauce pan, cook onion and garlic. Add cauliflower and sauté for some minutes. Salt, pepper.

Add 3 – 4 cups of water plus vegetable broth cube (the less water, the thicker the soup) and increase the heat to high. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 20 minutes or until the cauliflower is soft.

Set aside to cool slightly.

Add oil. Use a stick blender to blend until smooth.

Garnish with either chopped chives or grated nutmeg and serve. For the hungry – serve with toasted bread (this recipe).