Creamy Broccoli Soup

With the start of the new year, I have been more mindful in thinking about the foods that we eat. Although I do make homemade meals frequently which are mostly healthy, I know that I should be incorporating more vegetables into our diet.

One of my favorite ways to get a lot of veggies into our diet during the colder winter months is in delicious homemade soups.  Luckily the boys love soup!  

We also love this veggie filled red pepper and tomato soup and this creamy cauliflower soup which inspired this broccoli soup.  

I love this hearty veggie filled soup made with onion, celery, garlic, and of course fresh broccoli. And for my fellow Catholics, this is perfect for the lenten season since it is meat free.  Although, lenten fish fries are pretty awesome!  I know we'll be heading to ours soon.  

Bake up some fresh beer bread and serve with extra cheese for a delightful winter meal!

Creamy Broccoli Soup

1 sweet onion, diced
1 rib celery, sliced
2 cloves garlic minced
10 T. butter, divided
Splash cooking Sherry or white wine, (optional)
3 medium heads broccoli, cut into florets (I don't use much of the stems)
6 Cups vegetable broth 
1 T. dried parsley
1 tsp.salt
1 tsp. fresh ground pepper (It's ok not to measure here...just grind some fresh pepper into the pot.)
½ tsp. dried basil
¼ tsp. Creole seasoning, (optional)
6 T. flour
1 Cup milk
½ Cup whipping cream
Your favorite shredded cheese for serving.  I add a couple big handfuls to the pot and stir in, then serve with extra cheese on the side.  We like cheddar or cheddar-jack and parmesan.  
 
1.  Melt 4 T. butter in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat.  Saute onion, celery and garlic until tender. 
2.  If you like, add a splash of cooking Sherry to deglaze the pan.  Add broccoli, vegetable broth, parsley, salt, pepper, basil, and Creole seasoning.  Simmer covered for about 30 minutes. 
3.  While soup is simmering, melt 6 T. butter in a 2 qt. saucepan.   Stir in 6 T. flour, then milk and whipping cream and cook and stir to make a thick white sauce. 
4.  Use a potato masher (amazon link below) to mash up the soup or blend with an immersion blender, breaking the broccoli into smaller pieces.  Then stir in the white sauce and continue to cook and stir until thickened.  

​Serves 6

Yum