Cheese Broccoli Soup
I'm curious if anyone else struggles with spelling Broccoli? I always want to spell it with one "c" and two "l's". Seriously y'all I wrote this entire post and spelled it wrong in the whole thing and then had to edit it. Do you ever have a specific word that you question your spelling of? I have a whole list.
Anyway, I am super excited to be sharing with you my Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe. I grew up going to Black-eyed Pea Restaurants as a kid and would always order Cheese Broccoli Soup with a side of fried okra. (Seriously though I really love me some good fried okra.) So several years ago, when the local Black-eyed Peas closed and Todd and I were newly married and broke and eating out was limited, I set out to find recipes for some of our favorite dishes from local restaurants. One being a good Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe. I tried a couple of different recipes and finally found one that was nearly perfect to what I grew up loving. The original recipe can be found at https://www.melskitchencafe.com/broccoli-cheese-soup/. The recipe below is a slight variation of their amazing original.
So let's make some soup!
Step 1: Dice a small yellow onion
When I make this recipe the first thing that I do is dice up some yellow onion. The recipe calls for one small onion, but I like to chop a large onion and freeze half of it to use in another recipe later. Again, we want to find ways to simplify life and if I can avoid cutting into an onion I am going to take it. I have tried various hacks to keep from crying my eyes out when cutting an onion but nothing helps. So here I put the onion in my handy, Goodwill find, mini processor and let it do the hard work. While I have my cutting board out I will also go ahead and cut up my broccoli crowns.
Step Two: Cut broccoli florets and cook
Simply place florets in a glass microwave safe bowl with 3T of water, cover, and microwave for 3-4 minutes.
Step Three: Simmer onion in chicken broth
(I use water and chicken bouillon. I find it more convenient, cost-effective, and takes up less pantry space than cans of broth)
Step Four: In a separate pot, melt the butter, and add flour, salt, and pepper.
Stir until it thickens.
Step Five: Warm milk for 2 minutes in the microwave and add to the flour mixture
Stir until it starts to thicken again. Once that happens I add the onion and broth mixture to the flour and milk mixture and stir.
Step Six: Add cheddar and swiss cheese
Stir until cheese has melted into the soup. (I like extra sharp cheddar the best for this recipe but I'll use whatever I have.)
Step Seven: Add steamed broccoli.
Hope y'all enjoy making this recipe.
Ingredients:
2 cups of Chicken Broth
1 small yellow onion
⅓ cup of flour
4 TB of Butter
½ tsp of salt (plus more to taste)
½ tsp of pepper (plus more to taste)
2 cups of milk
1½ to 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, preferably sharp.
½ cup of shredded swiss cheese. (I usually have sliced swiss in the house and use 3-4 slices of swiss)
2½ to 3 cups of chopped steamed broccoli ( I use broccoli crowns)
1) Simmer the onion and chicken broth in a small covered saucepan for 10-15 min or until soft.
2) Heat milk for 2 minutes in the microwave.
3) Cut the broccoli crowns, place in a glass bowl, with ⅓ cup of water cover with a plate or saran wrap. Microwave for 4 minutes.
4) Over medium heat in a separate larger saucepan melt the butter, then add the flour, salt, and pepper. Combine and stir for 2 minutes. Add the milk and whisk for together for approximately 5 minutes, until it starts to thicken.
5) Add onion and chicken broth mixture to the flour and milk mixture and stir until well combined.
6) Add cheese, stir until melted.
7) Add steamed broccoli, stir, and serve warm.
We love to make croissant rolls to go with our soup or have Hawaiian rolls with it.
Enjoy friends!