Cauliflower and Bacon Soup With Mustard Cheese Toasties

A simple cauliflower soup with crispy bacon and accompanied with mustard cheese toasties. Economical and tasty! The recipe appeared in the 'GOOD FOOD' magazine in April 2000. I included this recipe into my England/Scotland/Ireland cookbook (for the Zaar World Tour) because it comes from an English source and makes use of English ingredients or ingredients that are easily available in England.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• Soup

• 2  tablespoons  vegetable oil
• 1  large onion, chopped
• 8  slices streaky bacon
• 2  potatoes, chopped
• 1  small cauliflower, cut into florets, leaves sliced
• 600  ml  vegetable stock (1 pint)
• 300  ml milk (1/2 pint)

• Toasties

• 8  slices  French bread
• 4  teaspoons prepared mustard
• 100  g gruyere or 100  g cheddar cheese, grated

Directions

1. START THE SOUP:
2. Heat oil in a large pan, add onion and fry for 5 minutes until softened. Chop two bacon rashers, add to the pan and fry for a further 2 minutes.
3. FINISH THE SOUP:
4. Stir in the potatoes and cauliflower and mix well. Add the stock and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Preheat the grill to medium. Purée the soup in a blender or soup processor, then return to the pan and stir in the milk. Reheat gently. Check the consistency and add more water, stock or milk if desired. Reheat gently, taste and add salt and pepper.
5. TOASTIES:
6. Meanwhile, grill the remaining bacon until crisp, then drain on kitchen paper and cut into pieces. Toast the bread on one side; spread mustard over the untoasted sides and sprinkle with the grated cheese. Grill until the cheese is melted and golden.
7. SERVE:
8. Serve big bowls of soup sprinkled with the grilled bacon pieces and cheese toasties on the side.