I used non-vegan substitutions because that's what I had and it turned out well! I added in a lot more paprika and would probably swap it for something with a little heat (like cumin or cayenne) next time to add to the flavor. I cooked the onions in butter before adding in the garlic for more depth.
I didn't temper the milk into the soup and it split. Next time, I'll try to pre-heat the milk or temper it in. We added goat cheese at the table to make it even creamier.
