Broccoli and cheese in a creamy soup...



I have been feeling lucky this winter. Not just because I get this luscious green thing called broccoli in this season, someone has turned a broccoli friend this particular season. Earlier the husband was a reluctant broccoli eater but I am so glad to see him grabbing the salads or soups I make with a happy face. And polishes off the bowl earlier than me. Much to my delight, I can indulge in this kind of therapeutic cooking more and more. Green is a master healer as far as color therapy goes and cooking with greens has always been a therapy for me.

Cheese happens to be one instrument for an interesting change of mind. When I say 'Broccoli and cheese something' , it's an instant yes. May be it works for more broccoli haters. Just a broccoli soup will be turned down immediately but a cheesy broccoli soup would receive a bright nod when asked.

The recipe is simple, a little stir frying then liquidising the cooked vegetables and then thinning with milk and melting some cheese into it. ready to be enjoyed with a hearty bread. we had it with a freshly baked whole wheat bread with lots of flax seeds in it. A simple meal with great taste.

Interestingly, I cooked this meal after a heavy dose of cooking the previous day for about 20 people.Wanted to indulge in some therapeutic cooking and this bread was baked just for the fun of it. The soup was another potion of indulgence.


ingredients...
(for 2 servings)

broccoli with all the stems 300 gm ( I used 5 baby broccoli with lots of stems and much less florets)
red onion 100 gm (one medium large onion)
garlic 5 cloves (fat ones)
milk 300 ml approximately (skimmed will do)
salt n pepper to taste
dried rosemary 2 pinches
grated nutmeg just a pinch
processed cheese about 50 gm or more
butter and extra virgin olive oil 2 tsp each


procedure...

Dice the onion and chop the broccoli stems and florets in small bits. Chop the garlic too.

Heat the butter and EVOO together and chuck in the diced onions. Sprinkle some salt and let the onions caramelised till brownish.

Add the garlic and broccoli , salt n pepper to taste, and cook covered till almost done but not too mushy.

Transfer the ingredients to a blender and liquidise, saving a few florets of broccoli and a few pieces of caramelised onions for garnish. This garnish is to complement the real taste.

Pour the liquidised vegetables into the same pan, add milk to thin the soup. Add grated nutmeg and the rosemary and bring to a gentle boil.

Add the grated cheese and put off the flame, cover the pan for a minute to allow the cheese to melt , pour in mugs or bowls and garnish with the saved broccoli and caramelised onion.

Serve hot as desired.


How many broccoli haters you have seen around you? Do you see a ray of hope?

There is a news for all my reader friends here. I have made a facebook page for all of you who want to have discussions with me regarding healthy living and wellness. I get many queries regarding convenient ways of healthy cooking and the page will be a right place to discuss all that. Please like the page if you want to be a part of the discussions. The picture of this very Broccoli soup has been used as a profile picture of the page so it was mandatory to announce it on this post.

 Thank you all.

Comments

  1. interesting....when u say processed cheese, does it mean cheese from amul??

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    1. Yes, Amul or Brittania or other brands. When the label say Cheese without any suffix or prefix it is processed cheese in our country.

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  2. Sangeeta, I can have this meal anytime of theday....even for breakfast right now(it's 7 am).....interestingly brocalli is one veggie in my house which everyone loves in it's simple form....lightly saute with little evoo & sprinkle of salt & pepper. Now, for the soup......only me love it no one else in the house appreciates it, they say when we eat it in it's simple form why u have to do all these efforts :)....may be adding cheese will do the trick :).......

    now where is the bread recipe, what a coincidence i've home made whole wheat bread with flaxmeal sitting on the counter now for b'fast....love the way yours look....

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    1. Thank you Spice...It's me who likes variety everyday actually. Microwaved broccoli with just a lil butter n SnP is a staple most days, but if the husband has started liking it I need to reward him :-)
      Otherwise I cook on my own whims only :-)
      Regarding the bread recipe,I don't post them anymore as there are so many dedicated blogs for only bread baking and they are doing great job. This blog is more about making healthy living more workable for life...BTW this bread is a sourdough one, a cup of flax meal added to one medium sized free style loaf.Interesting, complex flavors. May be I feel like sharing all these bread recipes too some day....

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  3. broccoli was never heard of when we were growing up. later also when we were in college it appeared in Indian market but with a hefty price tag. its only recently that they have become easily available and affordable. i loved this vegetable when tried first and make a lot of things with it. most fav is stir fries. this soup looks deliciously creamy. will try to make it before the winter vanishes.

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    1. Yes, Sayantani...it's been just 6-7 years since it is available so freely as its being grown abundantly here. I wonder why Brussel's sprouts didn't pick up, I love them too.

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  4. I like the sound of this one and am absolutely sure this is going to be one of my favourite :) :)

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  5. Came to your blog today after quite a long time!!! what have I been busy in!!??

    Just noticed the new pages that you have added.Its woderful organisation,makes the search a lot easier indeed... thanks...

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    1. Thank you Amrita...There are some more pages to be added, it's a work in progress and I am working on my own pace :-) Hoping it would be helpful to navigate through the blog.

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  6. lovely soup!.....really nice recipe and great clicks:)

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  7. I love those soup cups.. I have always wanted one set of those for a long time now. Lovely broccoli soup.

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    1. Ah Anita..even I love these soup cups. I have them in blue too. Actually I pick up any such bowls for my soup meals :-) Glad you liked them.

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  8. Such pretty soup mugs! And love the combination of broccoli and cheese... Sounds absolutely hearty and comforting.

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  9. Looks delicious! I LOVE broccoli :)

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  10. I never saw or heard of boroccli when i was in india . here I use it often now ..
    good healthy foood :)

    Bikram's

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  11. Interesting recipe! I make a slightly different variation of this recipe, and I have a question - what is EVOO?

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    1. Extra Virgin Olive Oil!!
      Thanks for dropping by lalitha.

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    2. you have been tagged... !!!! chalo abhi... shrug off the laziness and get on with it :D

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  12. you have been tagged... !!!! chalo abhi... shrug off the laziness and get on with it :D

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  13. you have been tagged... !!!! chalo abhi... shrug off the laziness and get on with it :D

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  14. the hubby is a broccoli hater..so i will make this soup for him and lets see!!!


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    Replies
    1. This soup will enlighten any broccoli hater Sushmita. Bring him to my place sometime I'll cook this for you both.

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