Broccoli Soup au Gratin

4.8
(6)

This soup is a delicious way to use broccoli. The recipe needs some tweaking due to the thickness of it and how the cheesy crouton went soggy too quickly - next time I'd use small croutons instead of one big one.

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Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
35 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 5 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
6 servings
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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

  • 1 large onion, diced

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 5 cups vegetable broth, or more to taste

  • 2 pounds broccoli, trimmed

  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste

  • freshly ground black pepper to taste

  • 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg

  • 1 pinch ground cayenne pepper, or to taste

  • 3 slices country white bread, halved crosswise

  • 3 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Directions

  1. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large pot over medium heat; add onion. Cook and stir until onion turns translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Add garlic; stir for 1 minute. Pour in broth; bring to a simmer over high heat.

  2. Separate florets from heads of broccoli. Cut large florets in half. Cut stems in half and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Add broccoli to simmering broth. Cover and cook until broccoli softens slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is very tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

  3. Blend broccoli with an immersion blender into a very smooth puree. Stir in cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne. Return soup to medium-low heat; cook until cream is heated through, about 5 minutes.

  4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.

  5. Butter both sides of bread with remaining 1 tablespoon butter and place on the lined baking sheet.

  6. Bake bread in the preheated oven, turning halfway through, until toasted and crisp, 4 to 5 minutes.

  7. Place 6 oven-proof soup crocks on the foil-lined baking sheet. Ladle soup into the crocks, filling almost to the top. Place 1 piece of toasted bread in each crock; cover with Cheddar cheese.

  8. Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.

  9. Place baking sheet under broiler and broil until cheese is browned and bubbly, 3 to 4 minutes.

Cook's Notes:

If soup seems too thick, be sure to adjust with more broth if need be. If you pass the soup through a fine mesh strainer, the soup will achieve a finer texture.

If you do not have an immersion blender, you can blend the soup in batches in a traditional blender; use caution with hot broth.

Substitute Gruyere cheese for the Cheddar if desired, or use a combination of the two.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

475 Calories
32g Fat
29g Carbs
22g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 475
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 32g 40%
Saturated Fat 19g 95%
Cholesterol 97mg 32%
Sodium 1534mg 67%
Total Carbohydrate 29g 10%
Dietary Fiber 6g 23%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 22g 44%
Vitamin C 138mg 153%
Calcium 539mg 41%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 596mg 13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.