This cauliflower and truffle soup with pancetta and mini stuffing balls is a great comforting Christmastime starter, adding a bit of a twist and luxury with the truffle. It’s packed full of flavour also, giving you that Christmas feeling with the stuffing balls. It is a Christmas Day delight, you and your guests will definitely want more than one serving!
It’s that time of year again and I’m starting to think about my Christmas menu. It’s unbelievable how quick this year has gone! I love this time of year and get more than a little excited about the food we’re going to cook and eat over the festive period. For us that makes Christmas.
Over the next month you’ll see lots of Christmas ideas coming to the blog, some sweet and others savoury, so keep your eyes peeled or even better sign up for our newsletter so you won’t miss out!
We never used to have a starter on Christmas day in my family home. However Dean did, so we’ve kept this tradition going and have made various things through the years, such as Christmas pâté and Dean’s famous triple salmon and king prawn terrine.
Truffle oil and truffle salt are great Christmas presents, even small enough to fit into a stocking! Treat that special someone who’s a real foodie.
Festive Cauliflower and Truffle Soup
Ingredients
- 1 kg cauliflower chopped into florets and use stalks
- 1 White onion sliced
- 1 knob butter
- 1/4 tsp garlic puree more if desired
- 1 large fresh sage leaf
- 500 ml chicken stock good quality
- 200 ml milk
- 1 tsp truffle salt
- 1 tsp truffle oil extra for serving if you require
- black pepper for seasoning
- 60 g stuffing mix
- 150 g smoked pancetta cubes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C / 350°F / gas 4. In a large, deep saucepan, cook the onions in the butter on a medium heat until they are nice and glossy and turning soft. Stir in the garlic pureé and sage.
- Place all of the cauliflower in the saucepan followed by the chicken stock. Turn the heat up and cover with a lid, then cook the cauliflower until soft. This will take about 15-20 minutes.
- Take off the heat, and using a soup stick or blender, whizz until smooth. Once your mixture has condensed down, it will be quite thick. Now add the milk and keep whizzing until smooth.
- Next, add the truffle salt and oil, give it a good mix so it infuses into the soup. Taste and season with black pepper.
- Keep on a low simmer with the lid on while you cook your pancetta cubes in a frying pan until they have a bit of colour and are crisp.
- Place put the stuffing mix into a bowl and add some hot water until you have a thick paste. Using your hands mould the stuffing into tiny balls. Cook in the oven for about 10-15 minutes until coloured and nice and crisp.
- Ladle your soup into a bowl and drizzle with a tiny bit of truffle oil, sprinkle the pancetta cubes and add as many mini stuffing balls as you like. Serve and enjoy!
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