Saute the onion and garlic: Add the olive oil to a large shallow pot (with the largest diameter you have!) and turn heat to medium. When hot, add the onion, garlic, and a large pinch of salt and saute for about 5 minutes or until fragrant.

Cook the cauliflower: Pour in 2 cups of the water along with the cauliflower and cashews. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the cauliflower is fork-tender.

Whilst the cauliflower cooks, make the dumplings: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, pepper, salt and thyme. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the plant milk and vegan butter into the center of it. Using a wooden spoon (or rubber spatula), stir together until a dough ball forms. If your dough seems too dry, you can add an extra Tbsp of plant milk. 

Assemble the soup: When the cauliflower is tender, add the contents of your pot to a high-powered blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Then, pour it back into your pot and add the remainder of your stew ingredients (including the remaining 2-3 cups of water). Stir to combine. Turn heat to medium high. Cover and bring to a low simmer

Add the dumplings: Stir again and, using a large cookie scoop (or just measure out and roll 1/4 cup of dough for each dumpling), scoop/roll dough and drop directly into the simmering soup.* Vary the location of each dumpling, so they’re not all on top of each other. They will expand while cooking. Once you add all the dumplings, use the back of the wooden spoon or rubber spatula to gently press any dumplings down so the soup just runs over the tops of them. 

Cook the dish: Cover the pot and turn the heat to low. You want to keep the bottom of the pot from burning but still at a low simmer, so the dumplings cook. Cook like this for 15-20 min minutes. 

Test the dumplings and serve: At 15 minutes, gently stir the soup/dumplings and remove one dumpling to make sure they’re cooked through. I do this by removing one and cutting it open to check. If the dumplings are indeed cooked through, serve immediately! If not, cook for an additional 5 minutes and check again.