Skip to Content

Instant Pot Turmeric Cauliflower Potato Soup

Instant Pot Turmeric Cauliflower Potato Soup

Happy Friday! Today’s recipe is a heart-warming soup made easily in the Instant Pot.

I like eating soups year-round, but I crave cozy, hot soup when it’s cold and snowy outside like it has been all this month. It’s an instant pick-me-up after spending time outside in the blowing frosty snow.

I hope you enjoy this recipe for Instant Pot Turmeric Cauliflower Potato Soup.

What’s in this recipe?

As you probably guessed from the recipe title, the main ingredients are cauliflower and potatoes.

Cauliflower has a pleasant mild flavour with slightly sweet and nutty notes.

  • It’s also nutrient-rich, full of vitamins and minerals. For example, it’s an excellent source of vitamin C and K as well as folate and a good source of potassium and magnesium.
  • Look for cauliflower that are creamy white, have a compact curd, and green stem. Avoid spotted, dull cauliflowers.

Russet Potatoes (aka Idaho potatoes) make up a large amount of this soup.

  • These have a mild, earthy flavour, are high in starch and low in moisture, which greatly helps this soup thicken and become creamy when blended together.
  • These tubers are high in carbs, but also contain a good amount of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium.
  • Choose russet potatoes that are firm, have none to minor surface blemishes and are free of wrinkles, green spots, or dark spots.
A creamy bowl of Instant Pot Turmeric Cauliflower Potato Soup on a blue and white striped towel.

Then there’s the awesome combination of onions, garlic, and ginger, which provide a flavourful base to this soup that’s sautéed to bring out their umami flavours.

The above base ingredients are briefly sautéed with the following spices: ground turmeric, ground cumin, curry powder, and of course, salt and black pepper (l prefer sea salt and freshly ground black pepper).

  • Turmeric is known for its bright golden-yellow colour, pungent, earthy-sweet taste, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This spice gives this soup its pretty bright yellow colour.
  • It pairs wonderfully with the distinctive earthy, spicy flavour of cumin and the sweet and savoury notes in curry powder.

Vegetable broth is the liquid of this recipe and gives the soup depth of flavour. I like to use a low sodium brand if homemade broth or stock is unavailable. If you prefer, you can substitute with a combination of broth and water.

I like to finish the soup with cilantro for freshness and coarsely chopped roasted almonds for a salty crunch. Do you like cilantro? Or does it taste like soap to you?

  • Of course, adding these two toppings is completely optional. This soup would also be great topped with roasted chickpeas, croutons, sunflower seeds, and/or pepitas too.

How do you make this Instant Pot soup?

Sautéed onions, garlic and ginger mixed with spices in the Instant Pot.

Sauté onions until softened. Then stir in garlic, ginger, and spices for another minute or two. Deglaze with vegetable broth. Full recipe ingredients and instructions in the recipe card down below.

Sautéed spiced onions, garlic, and ginger topped with vegetable broth. cauliflower florets, and chopped potatoes in the Instant Pot.

Add the remaining ingredients: cauliflower, potatoes, and broth. Give the ingredients a stir.

Turmeric cauliflower potato soup ready to be blended smooth in the Instant Pot.

Cook at high pressure for 8 minutes before applying a quick release.

Turmeric cauliflower potato soup that has been blended until creamy in the Instant Pot.

Use an immersion blender or high-powered blender to blend the soup until it is completely smooth. Taste for additional salt and pepper (or other seasonings).

A bowl of Instant Pot Turmeric Cauliflower Potato Soup topped with fresh parsley and chopped almonds.

Place in a bowl and top with fresh cilantro and chopped almonds if you like. Enjoy!

A ladle pouring Instant Pot Turmeric Cauliflower Potato Soup into an almost full bowl of the soup.

Do you love vegan Instant Pot soup recipes? Here are four more!

Instant Pot Turmeric Cauliflower Potato Soup in a dark-brown bowl with another bowl of the same soup in the background.

To sum up, this tasty cauliflower potato soup is:

  • Tasty and good-for-you too.
  • Filling and satisfying, but doesn’t feel heavy.
  • Thick and creamy (without the cream): The addition of potatoes gives it an extra creamy texture.
  • Simple and easy to make: Everything is made in the Instant Pot so clean-up is easy.
  • Plentiful as it makes about 8 cups.
  • Great to have as leftovers: It tastes just as good the next day or two.
  • Vegan and gluten-free too.
Instant Pot Turmeric Cauliflower Potato Soup topped with cilantro and almonds in a dark-brown bowl with spoon on the side.

I hope you try this Instant Pot soup recipe! If you do, please leave me a rating and comment down below or tag me on any of my social media. I’m @yay_for_food on Instagram. Please share your recipe pictures!

Instant Pot Turmeric Cauliflower Potato Soup

Instant Pot Turmeric Cauliflower Potato Soup

Yield: 6-8 people (makes 8 cups)
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Creamy, colourful, and delicious! Turmeric brings a bright, earthy flavour to this gluten-free and vegan Instant Pot cauliflower and potato soup recipe.

Ingredients

  • 2 lb. cauliflower florets
  • 1½ lb. russet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil (or olive oil)
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1-inch fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • ½ tsp curry powder
  • ¼ tsp cumin powder
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 5 cups vegetable broth (or a mixture of water and vegetable broth), divided

Optional toppings:

  • Fresh cilantro
  • Roasted chopped almonds (I used Tamari almonds)

Instructions

  1. Set the Instant Pot to "sauté". Add the olive oil and onion to the pot, stirring until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add in the garlic, ginger, and spices (including salt and pepper) and stir for another 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.
  2. Add ½ cup of vegetable broth to deglaze the pot, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot to remove/dissolve all the brown bits.
  3. Press “cancel” to turn off the Instant Pot. Add the remaining ingredients: cauliflower, potatoes, and remaining 4½ cups of vegetable broth to the pot. Give the mixture a good stir to distribute the ingredients.
  4. Seal the Instant Pot and cook at high pressure (“manual”/"pressure cook" function) for 8 minutes *(see first note). After it is ready, apply quick pressure release to completely depressurize (until floating valve drops).
  5. Open the Instant Pot and give the soup a stir **(see second note). Using an immersion blender or high-powered blender ***(see third note), blend the soup until it is completely smooth. Taste for additional salt and pepper (or other seasonings).
  6. Top with cilantro and almonds if you like. Best served immediately.

Notes

  • *It takes 15-20 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure.
  • **If you find that there is too much liquid in the pot, carefully ladle out excess liquid before blending. You can always add it back in to thin out the soup if needed.
  • ***If you are using a blender, blend in small batches. Careful as the soup is hot and it may splatter.
  • Makes 8 cups. Nutritional calories represent one serving with eight servings total.

Recommended Products

As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, I only link to products that I use and/or highly recommend. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 234Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 689mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 7gSugar: 6gProtein: 8g

Sharing is caring!

Laura Kasha

Monday 25th of January 2021

Just made this for lunch. Easy and really tasty! I added carrots and a can of cannellini beans

Marie | Yay! for Food

Thursday 28th of January 2021

Thanks Laura! Glad you liked this recipe!

Magie

Thursday 17th of September 2020

Can this be frozen after it cools?

Marie | Yay! for Food

Friday 18th of September 2020

Hi! Yes, this soup can be frozen in a freezer-safe container or bag. Leave some space in to allow the soup to expand too. It is best to thaw overnight in the fridge, before re-heating in a pot at low to medium heat.

Maggie

Saturday 7th of September 2019

This soup is so delicious...especially the next day...and the day after! I made it earlier this week and am making it again for dinner with my parents tonight. I also love that you can throw it together so easily. I’m going to try adding red lentils for some protein so it can be a complete meal.

Marie | Yay! for Food

Saturday 7th of September 2019

Thank you so much for the glowing review, Maggie! I hope your parents enjoy this soup as well. Adding red lentils is a brilliant idea!

mimi rippee

Saturday 23rd of February 2019

This is so nice, and lovely. I usually just throw everything into a blender jar, unless I want texture. I really like very smooth soup the most. I love the almonds and cilantro on top!

Marie | Yay! For Food

Sunday 24th of February 2019

Thanks Mimi. I love the toppings too.

Monica

Saturday 23rd of February 2019

I'm so with you - Instant Pot soups have been my jam this winter!! I'm loving how much flavor and bright color this one has from the turmeric - healthy and delicious!

Marie | Yay! For Food

Saturday 23rd of February 2019

Thanks Monica! It's another chilly day here in Alberta. We'll probably make this soup again this weekend.

Skip to Recipe