Velvety Broccoli Soup (Printable)
Smooth broccoli and potato soup enriched with cream; quick, vegetarian and easy to make vegan.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1.1 lb broccoli florets
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
03 - 1 medium russet potato, peeled and diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Liquids
05 - 3.4 cups vegetable broth
06 - 0.6 cup heavy cream (substitute with dairy-free alternative for vegan option)
→ Seasonings
07 - 1 tbsp olive oil
08 - ½ tsp kosher salt
09 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
10 - Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
# How To Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until softened and fragrant, approximately 3 minutes.
02 - Add the diced potato and broccoli florets to the saucepan, stirring to coat evenly with oil. Continue cooking for 2 minutes.
03 - Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes until all vegetables are fork-tender.
04 - Remove the saucepan from heat. Using an immersion blender, purée the soup until completely smooth. Alternatively, transfer in batches to a countertop blender and blend until velvety.
05 - Stir in the cream and nutmeg if using. Return to low heat and warm gently without bringing to a boil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Ladle the soup into warmed bowls. Garnish with reserved broccoli florets or a delicate swirl of cream. Serve immediately.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- This soup turns five everyday vegetables into something that tastes like it took hours of fussing over a stove.
- The velvety texture comes from blending alone, no flour or heavy thickeners required.
02 -
- Boiling the soup after adding cream will cause it to separate and look grainy, so keep the heat gentle at the end.
- The soup thickens considerably as it cools, so add a splash of broth when reheating leftovers.
03 -
- Reserve a few tiny broccoli florets, blanch them quickly, and use them as a garnish so people can see what they are eating.
- The potato is doing all the heavy lifting for texture here, so do not be tempted to skip it even though it seems like a background player.