This Spicy Cauliflower Soup is delicious and low-carb and perfect for any day of the week. It may sound odd to you but I want you to try this. If you're craving a spicy soup, you will love this one!
Spicy Cauliflower Soup is made in your Instant Pot or pressure cooker and comes together so quickly. It has tons of flavor and has a great texture too. I also like this recipe because it's basically dump-and-cook. I really like recipes that are simple and full of flavor and this soup definitely fits that description.
How do you make Spicy Cauliflower Soup?
- Pour all ingredients into the inner liner of your Instant Pot and stir well.
- Cook on LOW pressure for 3 minutes. Let the pot sit undisturbed for 10 minutes and then release all remaining pressure.
- Open the pot, stir to mix and serve.
What is Sambar powder?
Sambar powder is a common spice used in Indian cooking. It's a mixture of spices like cumin, coriander, mustard and fenugreek and more that are ground together into a fine powder. There are different blends for this, but they all have a similar flavor profile. A typical sambhar has lentils in it and you can find a generations-old sambhar recipe here. But this is a quick way to get delicious sambhar-like flavor without a lot of work.
What if I don't have Sambar powder?
The best tasting Sambar is made. If making spices intimidates you, it shouldn't! It's so simple to make your own, and you will be blown away by the difference in taste. This is my Sambar powder recipe, and I highly recommend trying it at least once.
Alternatively, if you don't have Sambar powder, and don't want to make it, you can likely find it at your local international food market, or on Amazon here.
What if I don't want this to be spicy?
Simple! When you make your sambar powder, just leave out the chilis! You'll still get all of the rich flavors from the spice blend without the heat.
Can I freeze this cauliflower soup?
Absolutely. It's common for me to make a big batch of this, and then freeze it one-serving containers for when I want soup, but don't want to cook. It's so much better than canned soup!
Does the Instant Pot make this cauliflower soup mushy?
Nope. I can't stand when cauliflower turns into a soft mush. Cooking it using this recipe actually gives the cauliflower a really good texture. It's cooked all the way, but still maintains the texture of the cauliflower florets.
What other soups are great in the Instant Pot?
- Spicy Cream of Mushroom Soup - This mushroom soup is elevated with one ingredient. You'll never buy canned again!
- 38+ Best Instant Pot Soup Recipes - I put together a BIG list of all my favorites in this one post!
- Spicy Creamy Chicken Soup - I love this soup on a cold day! Warms you up from the inside out!
★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below! Just click on the stars in the recipe card to rate.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups Cauliflower, cut into 3"-4" pieces
- 1.5 cups Water
- 1 Onion, cut into thick, 2" pieces
- 1 cup carrots, turnips, or potatoes, cut into thick 2" pieces
- 1 cup Canned Tomatoes
- 1-1.5 tsp Sambhar powder
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp Turmeric
Instructions
- Pour all ingredients into the inner liner of your Instant Pot and stir well.
- Cook on LOW pressure for 3 minutes. Let the pot sit undisturbed for 10 minutes and then release all remaining pressure.
- Open the pot, stir to mix and serve.
- This soup freezes well! Make a big batch and freeze the leftovers in freezer safe containers.
- If you're afraid of the spice level, you can lessen it to taste, or omit it all together.
- If you don't have sambar powder, you can use cayenne instead. Lessen the amount to 1/2 teaspoon if you do this.
Alanna
Can I make this on the stove or slow cooker?
Steve
Thank you Urvashi for this very easy and tasty recipe! Almost makes itself, and TASTES GREAT! Only a slight modification was necessary for my 3 quart IP: use 1 cup water plus the full contents of 28 oz can of whole peeled tomatoes.
Kathryn
Simple to make. Awesome flavor! The cauliflower was just a bit too soft-next time, I would do a manual release, rather than letting it sit for 10 minutes, but definitely a keeper!
A question: why is it not possible to use Copy Me That with any of your recipes? It's such a handy app and enables me to be able to pull up necessary ingredients so easily, from my phone, when I'm shopping! Your recipes are the only ones I've found that won't copy.
URVASHI PITRE
You know I’m not sure what the deal is with copy me. It used to be possible. Then I changed nothing, and now it’s not possible. I don’t even know how to fix that
KEN ENGLISH
Defiantly a keeper recipe. I cant believe such an easily executed simple recipe produces something with a beautiful fulfilling taste. Sambar powder where have you been all my life 🙂
Shirl
This is totally DELISH. There is one thing I will change the next time. The cauliflower was much too tender and soft for MY taste. My husband and I prefer our veggies more firm. The carrots were not so tender. I will lessen the cook time. This is So delicious that I am making it again this Sunday. Oh. I did add some small pieces of chicken breasts. The flavor was awesome.
Edith Goldman
Can garam masala be used instead of sambhar powder?
URVASHI PITRE
Yes you could, for a totally different flavor
Lisa Hopkins
This soup is an all around winner. It's easy, quick, and tastes wonderful. Vegetables came out soft yet retained their shape and flavor. Will make again.
URVASHI PITRE
I’m so glad to hear that!
Carmen
Excited to make this. i noticed the powder has rice flour in it, is there another brand of that powder/spice that does not include rice powder?
URVASHI PITRE
I will Soon blog one that is homemade so you can control what goes in it. Should be up in 3-5 days.
Ilana
The MDH brand doesn't have any rice powder!
Michael
Going to make this on Thursday - how much water is required?
The ingredients list says 1.5 cups and then 2.5 cups, is it 1.5, 2.5 or 4?
URVASHI PITRE
I’d start with 1.5 since you can always add more if you want a thinner soup
Hanne
What a comforting and delicious soup. I am excited to find a new spice blend (Sambar Powder). A friend is visiting from Delhi this summer. The last time she visited she was shocked that I didn't own a pressure cooker, lol. Now I do and plan to get over my shyness about cooking for others and make her this soup.
-Hanne