Creamy cauliflower soup – DHSPC #5
I’ve been having this one on my desk for a while now. I know Donna Hay is known for her light and airy photographs, but really, if you go through the magazines, you will notice that there are quite a few with beautiful dark and moody images. Maybe because it is winter, but I’m quite drawn to those.
Cauliflower soup
I think in general my style of photography is fairly light too, but lately I’ve been showing more of my dark side.. 
So this gorgeous soup is just the thing I need to get over all those greasy oliebollen and champagne from New Years and to move on to a better and healthier me! Above you see my attempt and the one below is the one you need to try and create!
Photo; Ben Dearnley
And of course, you guessed it, it is also the new challenge for the Donna Hay Styling and Photography Challenge…. While a deceptively simple image, I think it is going to be tricky to recreate the same look and feel of the photo here. The original is shot by Ben Dearnley and styling is done by Justine Poole. The recipe comes from DHM #51. I know I struggled in finding the right balance of light, especially since there was hardly any light today to begin with. In the original there is light coming from the right, but it is brighter then what I got today. I might try and give it another go as the soup itself is truly delicious (love those crunchy Parmesan bits on top too!)
In terms of submitting your entries into the challenge, I am now using Linky Tool. You can click the “submit yours” below and enter the details of your post once it’s up. I have to approve it before it appears (to avoid spammers going in and having a ball) so it will not show up immediately. Once it is up, people can also like your image and that gives an indication of which photo is preferred. An indication, nothing more then that.. Ultimately it is about the learning experience more then anything else.
The recipe is below:
Creamy cauliflower soup
Yield: 4
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Total Time: 55 mins
Ingredients:
- 25g butter
- 1 brown onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1,5 head cauliflower (or 1,5 kg, chopped)
- 500g potatoes (starchy potatoes, peeled and chopped)
- 750ml chicken stock
- 500ml milk
- 125 ml single cream
- sea salt
- cracked white pepper
- 4-6 sprigs fresh thyme
Parmesan cauliflower crumbs
- 100g cauliflower (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 20g parmesan (finely grated)
Directions:
| Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add the onion, garlic, thyme and bay leaf and cook for 5-8 minutes or until onion has softened. Add the cauliflower, potato, stock and milk, increase heat to medium and cook for 25-30 minutes or until cauliflower and potato is tender. Remove from the heat and, using a hand-held blender, blend until smooth. Stir through the cream, salt and pepper. | |
| While the soup is cooking, make the parmesan cauliflower crumbs. Place the cauliflower, oil and parmesan in a bowl and toss to combine. Heat a non-stick frying pan over high heat. Cook the cauliflower, oil and parmesan in a bowl and toss to combine. Heat a non-stick frying pan over high heat. Cook the cauliflower, stirring for 2 minutes or until golden and crisp. Top soup with cauliflower crumbs to serve. |
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Recipe from Donna Hay Magazine
Rules of the challenge are:
If you would like to participate in the challenge the rules are pretty simple and please follow them as per below:
- Once a month (on the 3rd of the month) I will give you a recipe plus the accompanying photo out of the Donna Hay magazine. I will try to make it seasonal but can’t promise anything.
- You have that same month to produce your post. You can post it any day you like just as long as you finish it before the end of that month at the latest.
- You have to produce that recipe, alterations to the recipe are allowed to make sure any dietary restrictions are met. But only minor changes!
- You have to cook and STYLE the recipe trying to replicate the photo as best as you can. If you think you can do a better job then the original photo, by all means feel free to make your own changes to the styling.
- Shoot the dish and then write a blog post about it. It would be great to add notes on how you took the photo and how you styled the dish, so that other people can learn too.
- Link back to this months blog post about the challenge and link back to the Donna Hay Challenge page here
- Leave a message on the post that is up here for that month, saying that you completed the challenge and link to the post on your site so others can find it too.
- If you want to use the original photo in your blog post as well as the recipe be sure to link back to the Donna Hay website plus the photographers website. They will both always be mentioned in the monthly challenge posts.
Each month a winner will be picked who will be featured in the (soon to come) Hall of Fame page. If you like you can add a badge to your site saying that you are taking part in this competition. The badge is featured above and should link back to this page.
Above all this challenge is about having fun styling and photographing a dish by taking Donna Hay as our great example. You can join all months or whenever you feel like joining in. Using an example of the great photographers that Donna works with, I always find that it is a good learning experience to see how did they light the scene, where does the light come from and how did they manage to make it look so beautiful. Try and analyze all of that and then come up with your own version.
While taking food photos is all about finding your own style and certainly not copying anyone else, it does help to analyze how your hero’s do their job. It’s about learning to light and style a scene properly. In no way am I trying to suggest you copy another person style. Find your own unique style! This challenge is just a tool to help you along the way..
Appetizer
Asian
Bread
Breakfast
Desserts & other sweets
Healthy
Holy Guacamole! Now this one is tough! The soup sounds delicious tho and one of the favorite soups of yours truly! I see props shopping in my near future… I need a black bowl… LOL
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Simone — January 3rd, 2012 at 18:22
O haha. Yeah it’s a tricky one. I’m also not happy with my attempt but no more time to do it again as I promised the post would be up today. If there’s anything left of the soup I will try again tomorrow maybe!
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Lovely photos. This creamy soup seems delicious. I love your recipes in this blog. Happy New Year. Cheers
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Simone — January 3rd, 2012 at 18:23
Thanks so much Alison and happy new year to you too!
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Gorgeous, can’t wait to make this! I agree with Astrid it def. will be tough, I think it may be time for more prop shopping for dark things
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Happy 2012! Love these gorgeous photos. Still learning how to capture good shot from my new camera
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Simone — January 3rd, 2012 at 18:24
I but I think your photos already look pretty good Ann! Maybe time to join in the fun!
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Going to the market today! Lovely recipe and nice change of style, I hope I can pull it off…
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 9th, 2012 at 17:42
Ofcourse you can!
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A wonderful soup! I can’t wait to see the results…
Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Rosa
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 9th, 2012 at 17:42
Thanks Rosa and Happy New year to you too!
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I love cauliflower soup! We made a batch for a huge party the night before our wedding a gazillion years ago. I have used that recipe so many times and love it and it has no milk or cream :0)
Happy New Year Simone. I am sure your photo challenge will be fab – like all of them xx
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 9th, 2012 at 17:43
No milk and cream sounds like a good option too Mona (a better one even considering my leaner attempts..lol)
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Happy New Year!
Well, that is a tough one, with the light from the back reflecting on the table. There must be a reflector on the right as well.
I am not promising again to participate (but I will keep the challenge in mind), since I couldn’t make it last time I did. My apologizes!
Love cauliflower soup!
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 9th, 2012 at 22:46
O there is never any pressure to participate..:) It’s open for all! So if you have time if would be great but if not, maybe next time!
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What a gorgeous photo!!! I think you’ve perfectly captured the mood of the Donna Hay photo.
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 9th, 2012 at 22:46
Thanks so much Jennifer!
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This time I might try to enter! Still, I cant eat potatoes but it will be fun to create a variation on the theme
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 9th, 2012 at 22:47
Feel free to change the recipe to whatever you can eat Alessio! No need to add potatoes perse.
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I am loving the dark photos. It’s funny how styles just catch on. Everyone does the muted blown photos, but I think it takes real effort to go dark. Love what you did with a yummy soup too.
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 9th, 2012 at 22:47
Thanks Angela. Yes, I love the darker photos even though they do take a lot more effort to get right!
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I love this idea of the photo styling challenge! I might have to participate soon once things settle down after moving.
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 9th, 2012 at 22:47
I hope so Jenny and good luck with the move!
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That’s a gorgeous photo Simone! And this soup is making me crave cauliflower…I may just buy a head at the market this weekend!
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 9th, 2012 at 22:57
I love cauliflower too. It never disappoints as far as I’m concerned!
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the soup looks so smooth and delicious, what a lovely presentation!
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Simone, you’ve chosen a really HARD one for my first try. I’ve already been shopping for dark stuff, and even that’s tough. Never mind, I’ll do my best. I’ll let you know how it goes! One question though. Whenever I’ve made cauliflower soup in the past it’s never been smooth–it always stays a little bit grainy. Any hints?
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 6th, 2012 at 16:56
Kate, I send you an email also but in case anyone else is wondering about that. I too have a grainy cauliflower soup and as far as I’m concerned that is perfectly fine. I did make mine a little smoother by adding a bit extra cream in the bowl that was photographed but really I wouldn’t worry too much about the graininess!
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Kate at Serendipity — January 30th, 2012 at 16:41
Simone, I figured out how to make it not grainy–I cooked it longer and spent longer liquifying it. However, I can’t recommend that procedure. It was like eating bechamel. Ew. I’d prefer it a little grainy!
I am wowed by your reproduction of the image. I like it even better than the original. Ben Dearly is one of my favourite food photographers! I am still not comfortable doing dark shots. Should try something close.
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 9th, 2012 at 22:58
O thanks Harini. That is so sweet of you to say..:) Just give it a go.. Would love to see your entry!
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I love your image or even a tad bit better, as it gives a warmer feeling without the shine in the bowl of the original. Lovely moody photograph and a very wintery recipe.
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 9th, 2012 at 22:58
Thanks Soma. Yes, the recipe will definitely be going into the popular and to be made again archives..;)
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Simone, I just tried to up load my post and it didn’t work. I will try again.
I can’t wait who else is joining us.
That was a fun challenge, thank you!
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 9th, 2012 at 22:59
Thanks so much Laura! You’re the first in! And yes it came through but I have to approve it indeed..;)
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Oh, I just realized that you probably have to approve it first. I guess I will know soon.
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I love soups of all kinds and this one looks great!
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 9th, 2012 at 22:59
Thanks Jenn!
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Ik had gezien wat de hoofd ingrediënt was en had het braaf gekocht.. Van de week geen groente en toen maar de bloemkool gebruikt! Maar ik ga morgen het recept uitprinten en weer een bloemkool kopen en het maken! Want ik wil meedoen, vind het zooo leuk!
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Btw mag ik ze ook bewerken? De foto’s? Of niet? …
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Ja joh, tuurlijk mag dat! Ga je te buiten..;)
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Ok!
Ik ga mijn best doen.
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So excited to find your lovely blog and these challenges. I was looking for something just like this. This one was way harder than it looked. I was surprised, but pleasantly challenged. Thanks for hosting. Can’t wait to try again next month.
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 25th, 2012 at 22:24
Great that you joined in this month Nicole! Great entry too!
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This was a great challenge, Simone. I agree, the image looks simple but looks can be deceiving
I enjoyed it and am encouraged to practice moodier photos. Good choice on the recipe, too… re-introduced me to cauliflower and I like it a lot better now than I did years ago.
p.s. I sent my entry through the linky tool, did you receive it?
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 27th, 2012 at 17:50
He Athena! Great! And yes I did receive it. I just have to approve it which I just did, so it is now showing in the list! Thanks for your entry!
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Athena — January 27th, 2012 at 18:27
Thank you, Simone! Love all the entries so far!
Mine is up here Simone http://debugcooking.blogspot.com/2012/01/creamy-cauliflower-soup-dhspc-5.html
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Managed to meet the deadline!
Found Mr. Linky working again and added mine. In case you don’t see it, my post is at http://www.mydiversekitchen.com/2012/01/donna-hays-creamy-cauliflower-soup-some.html
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Aparna — February 1st, 2012 at 04:02
Forgot to tell you I liked your intepretation of this challenge.
Liked the textured base you used (paper?). Also that I can see some texture on the surface of the soup. I like the cropped version without the spoon better.
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I could go for a bowl of that cauliflower soup right about now!
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