Fresh Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

Submitted by SarahTyler

"This soup is easy comfort food using fresh (not frozen) broccoli and real cheddar cheese. It takes about half an hour to forty minutes to make, but it's so much better than any soup from a can. I like to leave some of the broccoli in large chunks rather than pureeing it all."

 

• Ready In: 35mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Serves: 6-8

ingredients

• 1 large head of broccoli
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1⁄4 cup flour
• 5 cups chicken broth
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 cups milk
• 1⁄2 lb sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• salt and pepper

directions

1. Chop broccoli into coarse chunks. You can use stems; just be sure to peel the tough outer layer.
2. Melt butter in a large sauce pan or dutch oven. Add the onion and saute about 5 minutes, until soft.
3. Add the flour and saute one minute longer mixing thoroughly with the butter and onions.
4. Add the chicken broth, broccoli, thyme and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Bring the heat down and simmer for about 20 minutes, until the broccoli is tender.
5. Puree the soup with an immersion blender (or in small batches in a food processor).
6. After pureeing, add the milk and bring the soup to a simmer.
7. Sprinkle half of the cheddar cheese into the soup and stir until smooth. Keep the heat on low to prevent curdling.
8. Season to taste with salt and pepper and top with remaining shredded cheese.

Reviews

[Kathy C.]

I made this in July 2017. I did only puree half of the soup, which worked out well. Some changes I made was to add a carrot, an extra bunch of broccoli (could even add more) and I flavoured it with some cayenne pepper as well as black pepper and salt. I also found it needed thickening, so took some of the broth and mixed in a spoonful of cornstarch. Another addition was a few spoonfuls of sugar as this helps to bring out the flavours even more.