This recipe was inspired by the wonderful bounty available at local farmer's markets in NYC. The one near my house always has copious amounts of cauliflower and apples, so with warm days turning to crisp evenings I decided to make a new soup. The not-so-secret ingredient that I added, just to spice things up? Za’atar seasoning!
Lay pistachios on a small baking sheet and place in the oven until lightly browned and toasted (about 5-7 minutes).
Transfer toasted pistachios to a small saucepan and cover with about 1 inch of water.
Bring to a simmer on medium heat and simmer until soft (about 35 minutes).
While pistachios simmer, heat olive oil on medium heat in a large pan.
Add carrots, garlic, and ginger, and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes.
Add chopped apples, cauliflower, onion, cumin powder, za’atar seasoning, cinnamon, paprika, allspice, salt, and a few good twists of pepper, stirring until spices and oil evenly coat all vegetables (about 5 minutes).
Add vegetable broth to the pan and stir.
Cover pan and simmer until vegetables and apples are tender (about 20 minutes).
Once pistachios are soft, drain and put in a high-powered blender with water and puree until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the blender every few minutes.
In a blender, add softened vegetable mixture and broth and blend on high speed until thick, creamy, and smooth.