creamy cauliflower leek soup, cauliflower and leeks simmered in bone broth and pureed smooth

On the days when your energy is genuinely low, a big pot of soup is one of the more honest things you can do for yourself. This one blends smooth from cauliflower and white sweet potato, no cream anywhere in it, so there is nothing to swap and nothing to think through. Rinse the leeks well before they go in. Grit hiding between the layers is the one thing that will ruin an otherwise easy pot.

Underneath the smooth texture, real work is happening: the amino acid glycine here, tied to the ongoing repair of your gut lining, the barrier this whole protocol keeps circling back to. This bowl also holds cauliflower's own vitamin C and folate, and the leeks contribute nothing more than a soft, savory hum underneath everything else.

Make the full pot, not a half batch. Ladle some out now and freeze the rest for a night when even chopping a leek feels like too much. Warm a bowl, wrap both hands around it, and let yourself pause before the first spoonful.

Ingredients

• 1 medium-large cauliflower, chopped (approx 8 cups)
• 1 cup leeks, sliced (bulb only)
• 2 cups white sweet potato, chopped
• 7 cups bone broth, preferably chicken or turkey
• Salt
• Cooked bacon for topping, optional

Method

Rinse the sliced leeks well in a bowl of water to release any grit caught between the layers, then lift them out and drain.

Add the cauliflower, leeks, white sweet potato, and bone broth to a large pot. Bring to a boil, then lower to a steady simmer. Cook for 18 to 22 minutes, until the cauliflower and sweet potato are completely tender and yield easily to a fork.

Puree the soup until silky. Use an immersion blender right in the pot, or work in batches in a countertop blender, venting the lid so steam can escape. Take care with hot liquid.

Return the soup to the pot if you blended it elsewhere, season with salt to taste, and warm through. If you like, crisp some compliant bacon, crumble it, and scatter it over each bowl just before serving.

*Adapted from lichenpaleolovingaip.com*