When I was a kid, one of my favorite meals was chowder. Of course, back then (way, way back), as far as I knew, there were only two types of chowder — New England clam chowder and Manhattan clam chowder, which I referred to as "that other one that I don't like." Forgive me, New Yorkers. I was young.
Of course, things have changed in the world of chowder and today we see all kinds of variations on restaurant menus. So, when I thought about making a cauliflower and cheddar cheese soup, chowder seemed like the perfect choice.
What makes a soup a chowder? When you ask the internet, you get a lot of different answers. Some say it's a creamy, thick soup, usually containing potatoes. Some claim it has to have seafood. Still others insist that tomatoes make for a perfectly acceptable chowder (my inner child strongly disagrees), as long it also contains potatoes and clams.
For the purposes of this column, we will go with the definition of a creamy, thick soup, usually containing potatoes. Only, in this case, we are also adding cauliflower and a copious amount of shredded cheese to the pot.
Cheese soups can be hit and miss. Sometimes they're grainy, sometimes they are bland. Sometimes they are both. To avoid these two problems, I start with a chowder basic — roux. Roux, in this case, is flour cooked in fat. It thickens the soup, making it difficult for the cheese to end up clumpy.
What might be surprising about this recipe is the type of cheese used. While the majority is a sharp cheddar, I also include American cheese — an idea I got from a recipe by chef J. Kenji López-Alt. He claims the inclusion of American cheese (the kind you get at the deli counter, not the prepackaged slices) brings a smooth creaminess that block cheddar just doesn't have, and I agree.
Also, while we're talking about cheese, shred your own. The shredded cheeses in bags include ingredients that prevent it from sticking together. I don't know what those ingredients are, but I've never found them to be tasty. Stick to high-quality block cheeses.
Bacon croutons are not required as a garnish for this soup, but in the spirit of "go big or go home," you should go for it. After all, more bacon only makes things better, right? If that's not in cards for you, any other crouton, oyster cracker or saltine will work.