Description
This Broccoli and Cheddar Soup hits the mark perfectly, providing a rich, velvety texture without spending hours in the kitchen or cleaning up a mountain of dishes. It prioritizes whole ingredients and straightforward techniques to deliver a restaurant-quality result at home, focusing on the natural power of the vegetables for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
2 large heads Broccoli (about 5–6 cups florets)
1 medium Yellow Onion, diced
3 cloves Garlic, minced
2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 cups Vegetable Broth
1/2 cup Heavy Cream or Coconut Milk
1/2 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
8 ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
Sea Salt, to taste
Black Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté the Aromatics: Heat 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 60 seconds until fragrant
- Simmer the Broccoli: Pour in the vegetable broth and add the chopped broccoli florets. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cover. Cook for about 10 to 12 minutes until the broccoli is fork-tender
- Add Creaminess: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream (or coconut milk) and smoked paprika. Blend for a smoother texture if desired
- The Cheese Integration: Turn off the heat completely and add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese one handful at a time, stirring constantly until melted
- Season and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with sea salt and black pepper as needed. Serve immediately
Notes
For a vegan version, replace cheddar with nutritional yeast and cream with cashew cream or thick coconut milk.
For added protein, mix in cooked chicken or tofu towards the end.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 40mg