Description
This Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup is a comforting and creamy homemade soup made with fresh broccoli, potatoes, cheddar cheese, and a blend of aromatic garlic and onions. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a warming lunch, this soup is smooth, cheesy, and rich in flavor while being simple to prepare on the stovetop.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 1 tbsp (15g) butter (or olive oil)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 onion, diced (brown, white, or yellow)
Vegetables and Broth
- 4 cups (1 litre) chicken broth/stock, low sodium (or vegetable stock)
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 700g (1.4 lb) broccoli florets (from 2 large broccoli heads, including diced peeled stem)
- 2 potatoes, peeled and diced into 1.5cm (2/3 inch) cubes
Seasoning and Cheese
- 3/4 tsp cooking salt (kosher salt recommended)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or cheese of choice)
- 3/4 cup cream (or milk)
- Cream, for drizzling (optional)
- Extra grated cheese, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Melt butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic, and sauté for 2 minutes until the onion softens and becomes translucent.
- Cook Vegetables: Add chicken broth, water, broccoli florets, diced potatoes, salt, and black pepper to the pot. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then cover with a lid, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook for 20 minutes until the broccoli is tender.
- Blend Soup: Turn off the stove but leave the pot on it. Use a stick blender to puree the soup until smooth and creamy.
- Add Cream and Cheese: Stir in the cream gently. Then, add shredded cheddar cheese gradually, stirring continuously to allow the cheese to melt evenly into the soup.
- Season to Taste: Taste the soup and add additional salt if needed to enhance the flavor.
- Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls. Drizzle with a little extra cream and sprinkle extra grated cheese on top if desired for garnish.
Notes
- Note 1: Using the broccoli stems adds extra flavor and reduces waste; peel and dice the stems before adding.
- Note 2: Ensure the soup has cooled slightly before blending carefully to avoid splattering hot liquid.
- For a lighter version, substitute cream with milk or a low-fat alternative.
- This soup freezes well; store in airtight containers and thaw gently before reheating.
