Yum! My kids and I both love broccoli cheese soup! Our favorite is from Panera Bread. I tried a new recipe today and it comes pretty close to the real thing. It took about an hour of cooking and the ingredients probably cost more than what I would buy it for at Sam's Club (yes, they now carry Panera Bread broccoli cheese soup at Sam's!), but if you want to know exactly what's going into your food or they're sold out at Sam's (which they often are), you should give it a try. You won't be disappointed!
Recipe from cdkitchen:
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half-and-half
2 cups chicken stock or bouillon
1/2 pound fresh broccoli
1 cup carrots, julienned
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
8 ounces grated sharp cheddar
Directions
Saute onion in butter. Set aside. Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly and slowly add the half-and-half (this is called making a roux). Add the chicken stock whisking all the time. Simmer for 20 minutes.Add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook over low heat until the veggies are tender for 20-25 minutes. Add salt and pepper. The soup should be thickened by now. Pour in batches into blender and puree. Return to pot over low heat and add the grated cheese; stir until well blended. Stir in the nutmeg and serve.
I pureed only about a cup or so in the blender. We like bigger chunks of broccoli in ours. It's a pretty easy recipe to follow, if a little time consuming. Enjoy!
