Cream of Broccoli (Printable)

A velvety soup with fresh broccoli, aromatic vegetables, and cream for rich flavor.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large head broccoli (about 18 oz), 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

→ Fats & 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

# Steps:

01 - Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrot, and minced garlic. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
02 - Add chopped broccoli florets and stir to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
03 - Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15-18 minutes until broccoli is very tender.
04 - Remove from heat. Using an immersion blender or working in batches with a countertop blender, blend 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—do not boil after adding cream.
06 - Ladle into bowls. Garnish with extra cream, chives, or croutons as desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
  • The velvety texture makes even vegetable skeptics ask for seconds
  • Most ingredients are probably already sitting in your crisper drawer
02 -
  • Never boil the soup after adding cream or it will separate and ruin that gorgeous texture
  • Let the soup cool slightly before blending to avoid hot steam explosions
  • An immersion blender saves you from transferring hot liquids and creates less cleanup
03 -
  • Cut all your vegetables to similar sizes so they cook evenly and finish together
  • Taste your broth before adding salt. Some brands are much saltier than others
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