If you prefer a blended or creamy soup, you can either leave the soup chunky or transfer it to a blender in batches and blend until smooth (being careful not to over-fill the blender with hot liquid), then return the blended soup to the pot and reheat it over medium heat. Opt for San Marzano tomatoes for an authentic and rich tomato flavor in tomato soup. Their sweet and less acidic profile elevates the soup’s taste. While that's happening, pre-heat the grill to its highest setting for 10 minutes. Mix the rest of the sweetcorn with the melted butter, spread it out on a baking tray, season with salt and pepper and pop it under the hot grill about 3 inches (7.5 cm) from the heat – it will take about 8 minutes to become nicely toasted and golden, but remember to move the sweetcorn around on the baking tray halfway through. When the soup is ready, pour it into a food processor or blender and blend it to a purée, leaving a little bit of texture – it doesn't need to be absolutely smooth. You will probably need to do this in 2 batches.

All you do is trim the cauliflower into small florets and then take the stalk bits, including the green stems, and place these trimmings in a medium-sized saucepan. Then add 2½ pints (1.5 litres) of water, the bay leaves and some salt, bring it up to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes with a lid. Meanwhile, take another large saucepan with a well-fitting lid, melt the butter in it over a gentle heat, then add the onion, celery, leek and potato, cover and let the vegetables gently sweat for 15 minutes. Toss in a half cup of heavy cream and a third of a cup of freshly grated Parmesan andreturn to a simmer. Add salt and pepper to taste, then take from heat. To make the parsnip crisps, peel the parsnip and then slice it into rounds as thinly as you possibly can, using a sharp knife. Now heat the oil in a 10 inch (25.5 cm) frying pan until it is very hot, almost smoking, then fry the parsnip slices in batches until they are golden brown, for about 2-3 minutes (they will not stay flat or colour evenly but will twist into lovely shapes). As they're cooked, remove them with a slotted spoon and spread them out on kitchen paper to drain. Sprinkle lightly with salt. (If you like, you can make these in advance, as they will stay crisp for a couple of hours.)

More The Delia Collection: Soup recipes

Bring to a boil while stirring, then lower heat to low, partially cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Begin by dry-roasting the coriander seeds in a small frying pan over a medium heat, stirring and tossing them around for 1-2 minutes, or until they begin to look toasted and start to jump in the pan.

Saute until tender and golden, about 10 to 12 minutes, stirring periodically. Add the garlic and cook for another minute, or until fragrant. Begin by heating a small frying pan and dry roasting the coriander, cumin and cardamom seeds – this is to toast them and draw out their flavour. First make the croutons – begin by drizzling the olive oil on to a large, solid baking-sheet, add the crushed garlic and then, using your hands, spread the oil and garlic all over the baking sheet.

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When blending the soup for a creamy texture, work in batches and be cautious not to overfill the blender with hot liquid to avoid splattering accidents.