Description
Creamy broccoli, cauliflower, and cheese soup blends hearty vegetables with rich, melted cheddar for a comforting meal. Warm spoons of this soup deliver a luxurious experience that satisfies hunger and warms souls on chilly days.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Vegetables:
- 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 3 cups fresh cauliflower florets
- 1 cup diced carrots (about 2 medium to large)
- 1 cup diced celery (about 2 large ribs)
- 1 cup diced onion (about 1 small to medium)
Dairy and Liquid Components:
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup half and half
- 4 cups water
- 4 teaspoons chicken base (such as Better Than Bouillon)
Seasonings and Thickening Agents:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (regular or light, not extra virgin)
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a spacious cooking vessel over medium temperature. Introduce diced carrots, celery, and onions into the pan, seasoning gently with salt and pepper. Allow vegetables to transform and soften, developing tender edges for approximately 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle flour across the aromatic vegetable mixture, stirring continuously to create a smooth base. Cook for one minute, ensuring complete integration of flour with the sautéed ingredients.
- Whisk chicken base into water, creating a flavorful liquid foundation. Pour this mixture into the pot alongside broccoli and cauliflower florets, blending ingredients thoroughly.
- Elevate soup temperature until it reaches a vigorous boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot, allowing vegetables to tenderize and meld flavors for 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and utilize a potato masher to break down vegetables, crafting a rustic texture that balances between chunky and smooth.
- Introduce half and half, transforming the soup’s consistency. Gradually fold in shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until a luxurious, velvety essence emerges. Calibrate seasoning with additional salt and pepper according to preference.
- Ladle the steaming soup into serving bowls. Optional: Embellish with a sprinkle of extra cheese or fresh herb garnish for visual and flavor enhancement.
Notes
- Customize the soup’s texture by mashing vegetables to your preferred chunkiness or smoothness.
- Create a lighter version by using low-fat half and half and reduced-fat cheese without sacrificing rich flavor.
- Prep vegetables in advance to cut down cooking time and streamline the entire soup-making process.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 292
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 635 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 53 mg