Description
Hearty protein-packed broccoli cheddar soup delivers comfort in every spoonful. Creamy Wisconsin cheddar melds with tender broccoli, offering a satisfying meal that nourishes and delights you.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein-Rich Vegetables:
- 4 cups chopped broccoli
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Dairy and Cheese:
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese, blended
- 2 cups 1% milk
Seasonings and Other Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 4 cups vegetable broth (preferably not-chicken style)
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place butter in a spacious cooking vessel over moderate flame, allowing it to melt and coat the bottom of the pot.
- Introduce diced onion, carrots, and celery into the melted butter. Gently sauté the vegetables, stirring consistently until they transform into a soft, translucent mixture, approximately 10 minutes.
- Incorporate minced garlic and allow it to release its aromatic essence for roughly one minute.
- Sprinkle smoked paprika and flour over the vegetable medley, stirring thoroughly to ensure each morsel is evenly coated and the raw flour taste dissipates.
- Stream vegetable broth into the pot and add chopped broccoli. Allow the liquid to reach a gentle simmer, maintaining this state for 8-9 minutes until broccoli achieves perfect tenderness.
- Reduce heat and carefully pour milk into the soup, warming the mixture without permitting it to boil, which could cause milk separation.
- Gradually fold blended cottage cheese and shredded cheddar into the soup, stirring continuously until completely melted and integrated. Maintain low temperature to prevent potential curdling.
- Create a luxuriously creamy texture by either extracting one cup of soup, blending it separately, and reintroducing to the pot, or utilizing an immersion blender to partially puree the soup.
- Perform a final taste assessment, seasoning with salt and pepper according to personal preference.
Notes
- Maximize protein intake by using blended cottage cheese, which adds creamy texture without excess fat.
- Quick blending technique transforms soup from chunky to silky smooth, enhancing overall eating experience.
- Smoked paprika introduces unexpected depth, elevating standard broccoli soup with subtle smoky undertones.
- Low heat prevents milk and cheese from curdling, ensuring a velvety, professional-quality soup every time.
- Vegetable base of onions, carrots, and celery creates robust flavor foundation before adding broccoli and cheese.
- Immersion blender offers convenient alternative to transferring hot soup, reducing potential mess and cleanup time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg