Am I dreaming?
I’m thinking of lazy, winter afternoons when the sun is glinting off of glazed blankets of snow outside, and I’m inside with Chunky, Cheesy Broccoli Soup simmering on the stove and a sourdough batard in the oven. The woodstove is cooking too, and I have a good book on my lap…
Have you tried Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup? I haven’t, but I’ve read enough copycat recipes to know that it must be really tasty – the holy grail of creamy broccoli soup. I don’t know how this recipe compares to Panera’s or any of the ersatz Panera recipes, but this recipe for Chunky, Cheesy Broccoli Soup is so delicious I’m confident that I’m not missing a thing.
It’s also incredibly simple – so simple that one might think that a recipe isn’t needed, I used to be that kind of cook. I’d just wing it, relying on instincts and memory. Sometimes I’d get lucky, sometimes not. Which is why I began this blog. If I take the time to make a dish repeatedly, documenting what worked and what didn’t, it can only make our lives easier (and tastier), as time goes on.
Chunky, Cheesy Broccoli Soup
Ingredients
- 1 sweet onion
- 1 clove garlic
- 3 cups broccoli florets and stems
- 2 large carrots
- 4 T unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose, gluten-free flour
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups 2% milk
- ¾ t salt
- ¾ t ground black pepper
- ½ t paprika
- ½ t dry mustard powder
- ½ t red chili flakes
- 8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar or pepper jack cheese
Instructions
- Mise en place – Peel and dice the onion. Peel and mince the garlic. Wash and trim the broccoli, and chop the broccoli and stems into bite-sized pieces, enough to make three cups. Set aside. Trim, peel, and slice the carrots into rounds. Set aside.
- Sauté the aromatics – In a large heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven, add 4 T butter and the diced onion, Sauté over medium heat until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and cook about 30 seconds, stirring constantly so it doesn’t burn.
- Build the soup base – Sprinkle ¼ cup flour over the onions and garlic, and cook over medium heat for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly until the flour has absorbed the butter completely and the rawness of the flour has cooked off. Slowly add 2 cups chicken stock, whisking constantly. Then slowly pour in 2 cups milk, whisking constantly.
- Simmer – Allow mixture to simmer over low heat, whisking occasionally, for about 10 minutes, or until it has reduced and thickened some. Add the chopped broccoli, sliced carrots, and the reserved onion and garlic. Stir in the salt, pepper, paprika, dry mustard powder, and cayenne. Continue simmering for about 20 minutes, or until the broccoli and carrots are softened.
- Add the cheese – While soup simmers, grate the cheese. When the soup is ready, stir in the cheese and continue stirring until melted and incorporated fully, less than 1 minute.
- Serve – Transfer soup to bowls, and serve immediately.
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