Cauliflower Cream Soup with Potatoes

Who doesn't love a luxurious creamed soup? Only trouble is, they can sometimes be heavy; and, when you try to lighten them up with low-fat dairy, they become vulnerable to curdling. This creamed cauliflower soup, though, is thickened with potatoes and just a bit of full-fat cream, so it tastes silky without being overwhelmingly rich - and won't curdle as you're cooking.

2 Tbsp. Canola oil
1 onion, halved and sliced
3 cloves garlic, smashed
1 head cauliflower, coarsely chopped, including stems (about 2 lbs)
2 bay leaves, preferably fresh
1 tsp. coarse sea salt
½ tsp. black pepper, freshly ground
1½ qts chicken broth
2 Idaho potatoes, peeled and diced
1 cup heavy cream

Coat a soup pot with the oil and place over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the onion, garlic, cauliflower and bay leaves. Cook and stir until the vegetables begin to soften but do not brown, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour in the broth, increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the potatoes and continue to cook until fork-tender, 10-15 minutes.

Reduce the heat to medium-low, pour in the cream and gently simmer until thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.

Working in batches, ladle the soup into a blender, filling it no more than halfway. Purée for a few seconds until completely smooth; be sure to hold down the lid with a kitchen towel for safety. If you have an immersion blender, this is a great time to use it.

If desired, pass the soup through a fine-mesh strainer into a terrine or other pot, pushing the solids with the back of a wooden spoon. Discard the vegetable pieces. Repeat with the remaining soup.

Divide among soup bowls or coffee cups. Season each serving with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Makes 8 cups.