A Deliciously Tasty Cream of Broccoli Soup Recipe
This rich and creamy soup recipe is a great addition to your typical nightly routine, as it will provide you and your loved ones with consistent access to a quick and hearty meal. It offers the cheesy goodness of other soups, while also providing us with a healthy helping of fresh broccoli. What’s not to love here, right?
By choosing meals that can easily be prepared at a moment’s notice, you are giving yourself the tools that you need to avoid the unhealthier choices out there. This deliciously tasty cream of broccoli soup recipe can be made from scratch, even if you do not consider yourself an experienced chef. This is another major plus.
A number of readers may have this soup confused with broccoli cheese soup but cream of broccoli soup is a different dish entirely. Of course, cream of broccoli soup is not nearly as popular but we are here to change all of that. Once you have had the chance to try out this deliciously tasty cream-of-broccoli soup recipe for yourself, you will see why it is becoming quite popular in its own right.
It is a great choice because the ingredients are easy to find and there is not a lot of prep work required. The finished product is not overly bold, either. The flavor profile is perfectly balanced, as each element of the soup complements the other without being overwhelming. If you are worried about the broccoli not having the chance to shine, that is not an aspect that you will have to be overly concerned with.
We must also note that this soup is the best choice for those who like to dip their bread. The creamy goodness that this recipe has to offer will pair quite nicely with some homemade bread or a loaf that you picked up at your local supermarket. For those who are less into the dipping part of the proceedings, feel free to pair your soup with a side salad instead.
Pear spinach salad and kale salad are the recommended choices, but you can select the salad that works best for you. Meanwhile, there are those who are going to want to keep things as simple as possible so that they can put together an easy lunch. In these instances, the soup can easily be paired with some crackers.
Are There Any Variations or Substitutions?
Let’s say that you do not have any half-and-half on hand. This may seem like a major problem but in reality, it is not a major issue. You can swap it out for 1 1/4 cups whole or 2% milk and 3/4 cup heavy cream instead. The same goes for anyone who does not have any Parmesan cheese readily available. Romano cheese can be used instead without a problem.
Sharp cheddar can also be utilized, but this turns the soup into a broccoli cheese soup. What about those who do not have any fresh broccoli to use? While fresh broccoli is always going to taste the best, that does not mean that you cannot use frozen broccoli if you are in a bind. It is important to note that it is going to cook much more quickly because it has already been partially cooked.
If you are looking to make the dish a bit more healthy, there are options available to you. For starters, olive oil can be used instead of butter. You can also swap out your half-and-half for coconut milk without making any sacrifices to the flavor of the dish. There are even ways to make it vegan, if you so choose. Refined coconut oil or vegan butter can also be used.
Vegetable broth, dairy-free half-and-half, and vegan Parmesan cheese are viable options as well. A vegan may also opt to add a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast. Would you like to make the soup more hearty? If so, peel and dice a russet potato and simmer it in the soup. This step will take about 15 minutes and needs to take place before the broccoli is added. Cauliflower is another wonderful addition.
Prep + Cook Time
This is a common choice for households that are looking to make quick meals on the go without resorting to options that are less than healthy. This deliciously tasty cream of broccoli soup recipe will be ready to eat within 35 minutes, making it a go to choice for many families. Prep time takes 15 minutes, cooking time takes 20 minutes and if you follow this recipe, you will have five servings to go around.
Ingredients
- Butter (6 tablespoons, divided)
- Finely chopped yellow onion (1 medium, 1 1/2 cups worth)
- Minced garlic (3 cloves, 1 tablespoon)
- Low sodium chicken broth (4 cups)
- Broccoli florets (8 cups)
- Salt and black pepper (season to taste)
- All purpose flour (6 tablespoons)
- Half and half (2 cups)
- Freshly finely shredded Parmesan (2 ounces/1 cup)
- Ice (1/2 cup)
Step by Step Cooking Instructions
Step 1:
Grab a pot, set the heat level to medium and grab your butter as well. Melt one tablespoon of butter in the pot before proceeding.
Step 2:
Add your onion and saute it until it has become tender. This step will take about 6 to 8 minutes. From there, add the garlic and give it another 30 seconds to saute.
Step 3:
Pour the broth and broccoli in now. Get your salt and pepper and season the soup to your personal taste.
Step 4:
Bring the soup to a simmer, cover it up and then reduce the heat level to medium-low. Allow it to simmer until the broccoli has had the chance to become tender. This will take about 6 to 10 minutes.
Step 5:
A medium saucepan is best for this step. Set it over medium heat, so that the remaining 5 tablespoons of butter can be melted. Add the flour and cook the soup, stirring it constantly over a period of 1 to 2 minutes.
Step 6:
Slowly pour the half and half into the mixture of flour as you are whisking. Add salt, so that you can season the soup to taste. Whisk constantly as you are cooking the mixture until it has thickened. It should be nearly simmering now. Remove it from the heat and stir the Parmesan in.
Step 7:
As soon as the broccoli is tender, take the soup off of the heat and add ice. This slows down the cooking process and keeps it from overcooking. Use an immersion blender to process the mixture, so that the broccoli can puree into the soup.
Step 8:
Take the white sauce mixture, pour it into the soup and stir it up to combine. Serve the soup while it is warm.
