New York Sharp Cheddar Broccoli Bacon Soup Food

BROCCOLI AND CHEDDAR SOUP

Steps:

• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and translucent, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add broccoli, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is bright green and slightly tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Using a large cooking spoon, transfer broccoli mixture to a medium bowl and set aside.
• Heat remaining 3 tablespoons butter in the same pot over medium heat (don't worry about any remaining broccoli bits). Add flour and whisk constantly, cooking until the mixture has turned a pale golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in chicken broth until no lumps remain (it'll thicken considerably at first), followed by half-and-half. Bring to a simmer and stir in cheese, nutmeg and all but 1 cup of the reserved broccoli mixture.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer until liquid has thickened and reduced by about 1/4 and the broccoli is completely tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Using a hand blender, purée the soup to desired consistency. (Some like to leave bits of broccoli in there. It is up to you how smooth or chunky the soup is.) Alternatively, transfer to a blender and purée to desired consistency.
• Season soup with salt and pepper, and divide among bowls. Top with remaining 1 cup broccoli, more Cheddar (if you like), and lots of freshly ground pepper.

LOADED BROCCOLI CHEESE AND BACON SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the chicken broth, carrots, celery, potatoes and onion. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover and simmer for 10 minutes, until the vegetables are starting to get tender.
• Add the chopped broccoli. Cover and simmer for another 10 minutes. The pan is going to be very full of vegetables and it might seem like it isn't "soupy" enough since the vegetables overpower the broth but I promise it will all work out when you add the cheese mixture.
• In a separate medium saucepan, saute the bacon until golden and crisp. Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Drain the grease and wipe out the saucepan.
• Melt the butter (in the same saucepan you cooked the bacon in) over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until golden, stirring constantly. Gradually whisk in the milk and cook until the mixture is bubbling and is slightly thickened, 5-7 minutes.
• Stir in the cheddar cheese one handful at a time, adding another handful after the cheese that has been added has melted. Stir in the salt, pepper and dry mustard.
• Slowly stir the cheese sauce into the hot broth and vegetables, whisking to combine well. Stir in the reserved bacon and add additional salt and pepper to taste, if needed. If you want the soup a bit thinner, stir in a little extra broth or milk a bit at a time until you get the consistency you are looking for.

BROCCOLI AND BACON SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pan, then add the onion and sweat over a medium heat until soft, but not browned.
• Roughly chop half the bacon and add it to the pan along with the potato. Stir to coat everything then add the stock, boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add the chopped broccoli stalk, but not the flower yet. Continue to cook for a further 5 minutes, until the potato is soft.
• Add the rest of the broccoli and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir through the milk and return to a simmer.
• Blend the soup until smooth and season to taste. To serve, grill the remainder of the bacon until crispy and crumble it on top.

CREAM OF BROCCOLI, BACON & POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Cook bacon in large saucepan on medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 2 Tbsp. drippings in pan. Drain bacon on paper towels.
• Add onions to reserved drippings; cook and stir 8 min. or until tender. Add broth, water and potatoes; stir. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on medium-low heat 15 min. or just until potatoes are tender. Stir in broccoli; cook 5 min. or until tender. Stir in 1/4 cup each cheese and dressing.
• Blend soup, in batches, in blender until smooth. Ladle into 4 bowls. Crumble bacon; sprinkle over soup. Top with remaining cheese and dressing.

BACON CHEDDAR POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Chop onions and celery, if using a food processor don't chop these too fine.
• In a large saucepan, sauté onion and celery in 4 ounces of butter until tender.
• Add potatoes and broth, bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes till potatoes are tender.
• In a small skillet, melt remaining 4 ounces of butter, add flour to make roux, cook roux over low heat until yellow blond in color and set aside.
• To cooked potato and broth mixture, add water, cream and roux stirring continuously until mixture thickens.
• Stir in the cheese, bacon bits, parsley, pepper and paprika.
• Cook over low heat until the cheese is melted, stir continuously and remove from heat when cheese is melted.
• Garnish with croutons, if desired.

NEW YORK SHARP CHEDDAR BROCCOLI BACON SOUP

Steps:

• Bring pan of water to a boil, add broccoli and allow to cook until crunch is mostly gone, but not soggy.
• While broccoli cooks, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and carrot and cook 2 minutes (until onion is clear but not browned), stirring frequently.
• Stir in the stock and 3/4 cup of the milk and all of the cream. Heat the mixture to boiling.
• Whisk the flour into the remaining milk and add to the boiling liquid. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
• Reduce the heat; add the salt, pepper, and slowly add cheese, allowing to melt before adding more (about 1/3 of cheese each time.) Add broccoli and cooked bacon.
• Allow to cook about 5 minutes on low, then remove from the heat and stir in the sour cream.
• Top with spoonful of sour cream, crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, and a little diced tomato.