Ingredients

Ingredients

8 cups cauliflower florets (about 1 large head)

2 teaspoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

Cooking spray

4 thin slices prosciutto or other cured ham, chopped (about 1 1/2 ounces)

1 tablespoon unsalted butter,

divided 3/4 cup chopped yellow onion

4 garlic cloves, chopped

4 cups unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson)

1 cup water

1/2 cup half-and-half

1 ounce French bread baguette, torn

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

3 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 450°.
  2. Place cauliflower in a large bowl; drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss to coat. Arrange mixture in a single layer on a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 450° for 40 minutes or until tender and browned, stirring once after 30 minutes.
  3. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add ham; cook 3 minutes or until crisp. Remove ham; drain on paper towels. Melt 1 1/2 teaspoons butter in pan. Add onion and garlic; sauté 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cauliflower, stock, and 1 cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in half-and-half. Place half of cauliflower mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth; pour pureed soup into a bowl. Repeat with remaining cauliflower mixture. Stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
  4. Place torn bread in a food processor; pulse 2 times or until coarsely chopped. Melt remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons butter in a skillet over medium heat; swirl. Add breadcrumbs; sauté 5 minutes or until golden, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Combine ham, breadcrumbs, parsley, and toasted almonds. Ladle about 1 1/4 cups soup into each of 4 bowls; top each serving with about 2 1/2 tablespoons toasted breadcrumb mixture.