Broccoli Cheese Soup For The Soul Food

EXCELLENT BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat, and mix in the flour. Reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Mix in the chicken stock and milk, and season with salt and white pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer about 10 minutes.
• Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place the broccoli in the boiling water, and cook 2 minutes, or until just tender. Remove from heat, drain, and set aside.
• Gradually mix the processed cheese and Cheddar cheese into the large pot until melted. Mix in the broccoli. Continue cooking about 5 minutes.

BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Remove 2 cups of the broccoli florets, cut in half, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet cut-side down and bake until the florets begin to crisp and turn slightly brown.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle the flour on top. Stir to combine and cook until the flour is absorbed and smells lightly toasted, 1 minute or so. Add the milk and half-and-half. Add the nutmeg, then the broccoli, a small dash of salt and plenty of black pepper. Cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Simmer until the broccoli is tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Stir in the cheese and allow to melt.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve the soup as is, mash with a potato masher to break up the broccoli a bit, or transfer to a blender in two batches and puree completely. (If you puree in a blender, return the soup to the heat to heat back up. Splash in some chicken broth if needed for thinning.) Garnish with the toasted broccoli or grated cheese and serve.

THE BEST BROCCOLI-CHEDDAR SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook until golden, 3 to 4 minutes, then gradually whisk in the half-and-half until smooth. Add the chicken broth, broccoli, bay leaves, nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and few grinds of black pepper Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the broth has thickened and the broccoli is very tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prick the potato all over with a fork and put on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high until tender, flipping halfway through, about 6 minutes. Let cool, then peel. Use a fork or potato masher to mash until crumbly.
• Reserve 2 cups of the soup in a liquid measuring cup and discard the bay leaves. Let the remaining hot soup cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer it to a blender, filling no more than halfway. Add the mashed potato. Remove the center cap from the lid and place it on the blender. Cover the lid with a folded kitchen towel to catch splatters, and pulse until very smooth.
• Stir the pureed soup and reserved 2 cups of soup back into the pot. Whisk in the cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into serving bowls and top with more shredded Cheddar.

PANERA BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP

Steps:

• Sauté onion in butter. Set aside.
• Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes or until you see a noticeable golden brown color in your pan.
• Slowly add in the chicken stock and whisk again to combine. Simmer contents covered (stirring occasionally) for 20 minutes on medium heat.
• Add the broccoli, carrots and the sauteed onions, into the pot. Stir, add the milk and half & half. Cook covered over low heat 20-25 minutes but do not bring to a boil. This may cause the milk to curdle.
• Add salt, pepper & nutmeg. Note: you can purée half of your soup in a blender or with a handheld immersion blender if you choose however it isn't a requirement. Continue to cook the soup on low heat and slowly add the grated cheese a handful at a time and stir to avoid clumps. Once all the cheese has been added is melted, remove from heat, and serve immediately. Suggestion: serve with crusty bread or in a breadbowl.
• Refrigerate leftovers after they have cooled and store in a airtight container up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP FOR THE SOUL

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring broth, broccoli (about 1 med. head will yield 3 cups chopped broccoli) and celery to a boil over high heat.
• Reduce heat to medium and simmer until broccoli is tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir occasionally.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and stir in flour, salt and pepper; cook for 1 minute.
• With a whisk or wooden spoon, add milk gradually, beating constantly to prevent lumping.
• (It will thicken like paste at first; keep beating in milk to thin it.) Bring to a boil.
• If you want a smooth soup, puree broccoli in blender.
• Now add broccoli mixture (smooth or chunky) into large saucepan with the milk.
• Remove from heat and stir in cheese.
• Serve immediately.

MOM'S BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP

Steps:

• Bring chicken broth to a simmer in a large pot. Add both heads of broccoli and carrots to the simmering stock; simmer for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Cook and stir until a golden roux forms, about 2 minutes. Slowly add milk, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring continuously. Bring to a boil and cook until a thickened gravy forms, about 2 minutes.
• Slowly pour onion gravy into the broccoli mixture, stirring continuously. Bring to a simmer. Stir in processed cheese food. Simmer, stirring often, until cheese melts, about 5 minutes. Do not let the soup come to a boil or the cheese could separate.