Cream of Broccoli Soup (Printable)

A velvety blend of fresh broccoli with aromatic vegetables, finished with cream for rich flavor and smooth texture.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large head broccoli (about 1.1 lbs), chopped into florets
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Liquids

05 - 4 cups vegetable broth
06 - 1/2 cup heavy cream, plus extra for garnish optional

→ Fats and Seasonings

07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
08 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
11 - Pinch of ground nutmeg optional

→ Garnish

12 - Fresh chives, finely chopped
13 - Croutons

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrot, and minced garlic. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
02 - Add chopped broccoli florets and stir to combine. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes until broccoli is very tender.
04 - Remove from heat. Using an immersion blender or working in batches with a countertop blender, blend the soup until completely smooth.
05 - Stir in heavy cream and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Gently reheat over low heat if needed, but do not boil after adding cream.
06 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with extra cream, chives, or croutons as desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The blend of sauteed aromatics with the broccoli creates layers of flavor that make this much more interesting than typical cream soups.
  • Its endlessly adaptable to what you have on hand I sometimes add whatever leftover vegetables are hiding in my crisper drawer.
02 -
  • Never boil the soup after adding cream or youll end up with a slightly curdled texture instead of that perfect velvety consistency.
  • If youre using a countertop blender, fill it only halfway with hot soup and hold the lid down with a kitchen towel the steam pressure can blow the top off.
03 -
  • Save a few small broccoli florets before blending and add them back to the soup at the end for textural contrast and visual appeal.
  • For a more complex flavor profile, roast the broccoli before adding it to the soup the caramelization adds wonderful depth.
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