Cream of Broccoli Soup Recipe

Broccoli is rich in vitamin A, C and K and is one of the most nutritious vegetables available. While many picky eaters and kids do not find broccoli very appetizing especially when it has to be eaten in salads. However, there is a solution for it. A cream of broccoli soup is simply tasty, healthy and very easy to make. The rich and creamy texture of the soup will just melt away in your mouth and you won't even feel like you are having broccoli. It can be a light meal by itself or can be eaten with Italian bread.

Classic Cream of Broccoli Soup
This is a classic cream of broccoli soup recipe that is easy to make, low in calories and simply delicious.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons margarine
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 8 cups broccoli florets
• 3 tablespoons margarine
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• Ground black pepper to taste

Recipe
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in medium-sized stock pot, and saute onion and celery until tender. Add broccoli and broth, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Puree soup and return to heat. In small saucepan, over medium-heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter, stir in flour and add milk. Stir until thick and bubbly, and add to soup. Season with pepper and serve.

Cream of Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe
This recipe is perfect for those who love cheese (who doesn't?). It is also jam-packed with protein, calcium, and Vitamins A and C to make it a balance of nutrients and taste.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp olive oil
• ½ cup chopped onion
• ¼ cup butter
• ¼ cup flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 1 cup diced carrots
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• 4 oz cheddar cheese (You can opt for low-fat cheese if needed)
• 4 oz pepper jack cheese (or Monterey Jack)
• salt and pepper to taste

Recipe
Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add onion. Saute for 5 minutes or until onions are translucent. Set aside. In a soup pot, heat butter over medium heat until melted. Whisk in flour and keep stirring for about 3 - 5 minutes. Whisk in milk. Add chicken stock. Turn heat down and allow to simmer for about 20 minutes after which you can put in broccoli florets, carrots and onions. Allow it to simmer for at least 25 - 30 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer 2 cups of soup to a blender and puree. Return to soup pot. Stir in nutmeg and cheeses until melted.

Cream of Broccoli Soup with Vegetables
To make this a cream of broccoli soup healthy recipe, you can pack it with healthy goodies like garlic, tomato and spinach. An addition to the numerous broccoli health benefits of this soup recipe is that it uses milk, instead of cream to create that creamy taste.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 2 stalks of finely chopped celery
• 2 finely diced carrots
• 1 onion diced
• ¾ teaspoon dried rosemary
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 potatoes cut into small cubes
• 2 chopped tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3 cups milk
• 1 cup chopped broccoli
• 2 cups fresh chopped spinach
• Salt and pepper to taste

Recipe
Melt butter over medium heat, in a large pot. Cook garlic, celery, onions, carrots and rosemary until onions are softened , for about 5 minutes. Add stock and potatoes and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium and cook with lid on for about 8 minutes. Once you have done that add tomatoes and tomato paste and stir to mix well. Cook, covered, for 5 minutes. Whisk flour into milk and stir gradually into the pot on medium flame. Add broccoli. Cook for 5 minutes until broccoli is just done. Add spinach and cook until just wilted, stirring often. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cream of Broccoli Mushroom Soup Recipe
Another twist that can be added to a classic cream of broccoli soup recipe is to add mushrooms. Mushrooms are not only delicious but also very tasty and adding it gives a zing to the soup.

Ingredients

• 1 bunch coarsely chopped broccoli
• ½ cup flour
• 1 medium chopped or diced onion
• ¼ teaspoon thyme
• 7 tablespoons butter
• ⅓ teaspoon allspice
• 2 ½ teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon white pepper
• 2 cups warm milk
• 4 cups warm vegetable, beef or chicken broth
• ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ cup sliced mushrooms

Recipe
In a large pot, melt the butter. Add broccoli, onion and thyme, sauté until broccoli is almost tender. Add the flour and cook on low heat for about 7 - 10 minutes, stirring often. Add allspice, broth and cook on medium-high, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Remove from heat. If you prefer, you can puree the soup in a blender, in small batches. Add the warmed milk. Sauté mushrooms in a little oil. Use this and green peppers or cheese to garnish the soup and serve.

Cream of Broccoli Chicken Soup Recipe
If you are not much of a vegetable fan, then you can include chicken into the soup recipe to make it more wholesome and tasty.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 11 cups water
• 3 cubes chicken bouillon
• 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 heads fresh broccoli, cut into florets
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 cup light cream
• 3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Recipe
In a 5-quart pot, melt butter over medium heat. Mix in flour, stirring constantly until a thick paste forms. Remove from pot, and set aside. In same pot, combine water, bouillon cubes, chicken, broccoli, salt and pepper. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer for 45 minutes. Stir in the flour mixture a little bit at a time until soup thickens. Simmer for 5 minutes. Reduce heat, and stir in cream. Mix in cheese 1 cup at a time, and stir until melted.

As you have seen above, there are many versions of broccoli soup recipes of the same require very little effort to make. So you are spoiled for choice and you are bound to find one that will suit your taste. We all know the various benefits of broccoli, but besides being healthy it is also very tasty. So, go ahead and try the above recipes for a nutritious, healthy and tasty soup.