Lightened Up Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Name: Lightened Up Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Yield: 6 serving
Ingredients: 1 Tablespoon olive oil; 1 medium yellow onion; 4 cloves garlic; 1 head cauliflower; ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 1 teaspoon ground pepper; Pinch of cayenne pepper; 4 cups bone broth or vegetable broth; 5 cups broccoli fresh florets or frozen; 1-2 large carrots; 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese; green onions

User Reviews

4.8

219 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Servings
6
Calories
269 kcal
Course
Lunch
Cuisine
American

Lightened Up Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Odette Barnes

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Easy and healthy, this lightened up broccoli cheddar soup uses cauliflower for a creamy base and packs a ton of veggies into a comforting and cheesy bowl of soup. Vegetarian and gluten-free.

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Ingredients

Servings

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion chopped
4 cloves garlic minced
1 head cauliflower core removed and chopped into small florets
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper
Pinch of cayenne pepper optional
4 cups bone broth or vegetable broth
5 cups broccoli fresh florets or frozen
1-2 large carrots diced (about 1 cup)
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese plus more for sprinkling on top, if desired
green onions for garnish

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Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and sauté until translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
Add the cauliflower, nutmeg, cayenne (if using), salt and pepper. Sauté for another 1-2 minutes.
Add the broth to the pot and bring mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for at least 15-20 minutes, or until the cauliflower is very tender (soft enough to mash with a fork).
Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth and creamy.
Return the soup to the pot over medium heat and add the broccoli and carrots. Bring to simmer and cook 20-25 minutes, or until the broccoli is tender (if you use frozen broccoli, you'll only need to cook until the broccoli is thawed and heated through).
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the cheese a little at a time. The soup will be pretty thick. If you want a thinner soup, add additional broth or water to reach a desired consistency. Taste and season with more salt and pepper.
Serve soup sprinkled with additional shredded cheese and green onions.

Notes

If you don't have an immersion blender, you can transfer the cauliflower soup base to a regular blender for pureeing, but do so carefully and in batches so the soup doesn't splash out. Alternatively you can use a potato masher to mash the cauliflower. This will result in a chunkier soup.
If you don't have an immersion blender, you can transfer the cauliflower soup base to a regular blender for pureeing, but do so carefully and in batches so the soup doesn't splash out. Alternatively you can use a potato masher to mash the cauliflower. This will result in a chunkier soup.