How to Make Bob Evans Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe at Home
On a cold, blustery day, you may have driven up to a Bob Evans restaurant and decided to have yourself a comforting, delicious bowl of broccoli cheddar soup. And why wouldn’t you? It’s the perfect dish that warms you up and soothes your soul.
This is the season where the earthiness of broccoli and the slight tang of cheddar is a dream team for a good and filling soup recipe. So, a Bob Evans Broccoli Cheddar Soup recipe is right on time. Stay inside where it’s cozy and get ready to create a culinary paradise with this version of one of the yummiest soups on the planet.
Origins of Broccoli Cheddar Soup
There is a little bit of a debate about the origins of broccoli cheddar soup. Broccoli is native to the eastern Mediterranean region, becoming a popular cultivated crop in Italy during the heydays of ancient Rome.
Sometime in the 1700s, broccoli was introduced to European and American societies. Related to the cabbage family, broccoli is considered a cruciferous vegetable and a “superfood” that is packed with fiber, folic acid, potassium, and vitamins K, C, and A.
Farther north, you can find the birthplace of cheddar cheese — in England. Like broccoli, cheddar has been around for ages. Cheddar can be traced back to the 12th century and kings were known to travel to Somerset (the village where cheddar was refined) to pick up a few pounds of one of the world’s most popular cheeses.
Despite broccoli and cheddar coming from two very different regions, food historians believe that broccoli cheddar soup originally came from France. Technically, broccoli cheddar soup is a cream soup and those delicious versions of liquid goodness are rooted in French cuisine.
Creamed soups typically have components of milk or heavy cream, hence the creamy title. French cuisine is practically synonymous with cream-based recipes. So, it makes sense that innovative cooks in France were able to take broccoli and cheddar to come up with an amazing dish that people crave every day. Thankfully, Bob Evans jumped in and turned this already astounding soup into something even better.
Bob Evans’ Elevation of Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Although Bob Evans is the restaurant known for its version of broccoli cheddar soup, it started out as a quaint, little 12-stool diner that was popular for its sausage dishes. In fact, Bob Evans operated the original restaurant while delivering sausages in his own car to help sustain the family business.
To this day, sausage from Bob Evans is wildly popular. You can go to almost any grocery store’s frozen food aisle and find the Bob Evans sausage brand in the breakfast section. However, this is about broccoli cheddar soup and how the titular restaurant elevated the taste of it.
One of the hallmarks of a great restaurant is the content of its soup and salad menu. When it comes to its soups, Bob Evans is no slouch. Broccoli cheddar soup is just the cherry on top of a great soup selection. One of the reasons that this soup tastes so good comes down to a very basic truth. Homecooked meals always taste better.
As the restaurant has very humble, downhome beginnings, one of the tenets of the meal selections follows that original intent. While it has become a highly recognized chain, the Bob Evans menu still reflects the values of home-cooked food. Broccoli cheddar soup is no exception to their rule.
When you raise a heaping spoonful of Bob Evans broccoli cheddar soup to your lips, you’re not just eating something amazing. It evokes memories of a grandmother’s welcoming kitchen table and what she might have made for you during a visit. It’s a safe bet that Bob Evans cheddar broccoli soup recipe came straight from someone’s home kitchen.
Bob Evans Cheddar Broccoli Soup Recipe Ingredients
So, what delectable ingredients are in this heavenly soup? Obviously, cheddar and broccoli are the major players in the bowl. However, the other ingredients are what help seal the delicious deal for this soup. Those include:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Onion
- Garlic (just a bit)
- Chicken Broth
- Cream (regular milk, evaporated milk, or light cream)
- Thyme
- Butter
For people that are lactose intolerant, substitutions can be made to compensate for the cream portion of the soup. Many people like to incorporate cream cheese to keep the recipe as keto-friendly as possible. This can also serve as a thickening agent and adds some tanginess to the dish, too (although a sharper cheddar will give it a good deal of tanginess on its own).
These are the basic components of a Bob Evans cheddar broccoli soup recipe. Remember that salt and pepper are used to taste, based on what you like. A general rule of thumb about salt content is to not use more than a teaspoon. Yet, that really is a matter of taste. If you like it more, then use it more. However, keep in mind that most cheeses (including cheddar) already have a “moderate dose of sodium” naturally included.
The Process Of Cooking Cheddar Broccoli Soup
For most creamed soups that include vegetables, you want to cook the veggies before adding the liquids. Start with your oil base, which is going to be butter in this recipe. Unsalted butter is best because you will add salt to the dish. If using salted butter, just add less salt. Melt the butter and add a half cup of chopped onions.
Cook until translucent. Add a tablespoon of minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Then add the broccoli. Cook until the broccoli softens. Add a cup of cream and a cup of broth. Add about a teaspoon of thyme to the soup. Let it cook for about 15 minutes to let the soup thicken and allow the flavors to come together.
Add about 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese to the soup and let it melt. Make sure to stir frequently so that the cheese doesn’t burn. During the cooking process, make sure to taste the soup so that you know if you should add more salt or pepper. Serve it up in some bowls and add some parmesan cheese for an extra kick of flavor. Don’t forget the bread rolls to sop up every bit of yumminess in that bowl!
