Loaded Cauliflower and Broccoli Soup with Turkey Bacon

Blending cauliflower and broccoli down with broth and a little almond milk gets you a genuinely creamy soup without a roux or a cup of heavy cream doing the work. It comes out thick enough to feel indulgent, then gets ‘loaded’ the way a baked potato soup would be — crumbled turkey bacon, a little sharp cheddar, and a spoonful of yogurt instead of sour cream.

Because the base of the soup is entirely vegetables, this bowl is naturally low in carbohydrate while still delivering real volume and fiber, which is exactly what makes it a fit for blood-sugar-conscious eating — all of the comfort of a loaded soup, very little of the starch. It works equally well as a light lunch or a starter before a bigger meal.

The base freezes nicely without the toppings, so it's worth making a double batch and saving half for a night when a warm, low-effort dinner is all you have time for.