Wayne's Cauliflower Soup

One pot. Flexible. Proper van-life comfort food.

This is the kind of soup that works perfectly in the van — forgiving, colourful, and ideal for using up whatever veg needs eating. Thick, warming, and very much a “didn’t want much… then licked the bowl clean” situation 🫣

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Ingredients (serves 2–3)

• 1 medium onion, diced 🧅
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 carrots, diced 🥕
• Optional: ½ stick celery or a small chunk of parsnip, diced
• ½ medium cauliflower, chopped (about 300–350g florets) 🥦
• A small handful of cherry tomatoes (4–6) 🍅
• 2 peppers, roasted and peeled 🫑
• 1 small finger chilli, finely chopped (optional 🌶️)
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp turmeric 👀
• 1–2 medium potatoes, diced 🥔
• About 750 ml chicken stock
  (carcass stock or cube)
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• Small handful chopped parsley 🌿 (optional)
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Olive oil for sautéing

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Method (van-friendly)

1. Roast the peppers until soft and lightly charred (air fryer, pan or grill). Once cool, peel off the skins and roughly chop.

2. Heat a splash of olive oil in a large pan and gently sauté the onion until soft.

3. Add the garlic and carrots, then any extra hard veg, and cook for a few minutes until starting to soften.

4. Stir in the cauliflower and the small tomatoes.

5. Pour in the chicken stock so the vegetables are just covered. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer.

6. Add the roasted peppers, chopped chillies, paprika and turmeric. Let the flavours come together.

7. Add the diced potatoes and simmer for around 20 minutes, until everything is soft and tender.

8. Season with soy sauce, salt and pepper. Blitz until smooth, adjusting thickness with a little extra stock or water if needed — this soup is meant to be thick, not watery 😉

9. Stir through the chopped parsley just before serving.

Camper Cupboard Swaps 🚐

No special shopping. Just adapt to what’s in the van.

• No fresh peppers?
  Use a jar of roasted peppers (drained) or add an extra pinch of smoked paprika.
• No cauliflower?
  Swap in broccoli, courgette, or even a tin of butter beans for body.
• No chicken carcass?
  Stock cubes or a good veg bouillon work perfectly.
• No fresh garlic - I use Very Easy Garlic
• No Chilli - I use dried chilli flakes
• No fresh parsley?
  Dried herbs or nothing at all — still lovely.
• No air fryer?
  Pan-roast, grill, or just chop the peppers and chuck them straight in.
• Too thick or too thin?
  Add hot water, stock, or another small potato — thick soups are very forgiving.
• Want it creamier?
  A splash of oat milk, cream, or a spoon of soft cheese stirred in at the end works beautifully.