How about my cream of broccoli soup for dinner tonight? I’m sure your friends and family will be happy you made it!
One of my recent classes was on cream sauces and soups, and for my soup, I decided to make Cream of Broccoli. I decided a little variation was in order and added roasted grape tomatoes and cheddar to the soup. And it was a great decision!
The flavors were in perfect harmony, the subtle hints of aged cheddar, along with the sweet roasted tomatoes added a depth of flavors to the rich creamy broccoli soup. Now I know what you’re thinking, what a fattening unhealthy soup!
Au contraire mon ami….. don’t you know that broccoli and tomatoes are both considered super foods, and those nutritional powerhouse foods are loaded with nutrients that are so important to a long and healthy life!
Now, don’t you feel better knowing that! Just add a few slices of crusty (whole grain) bread and you’re all set for a healthy delicious lunch!
Soups are a great way to use leftovers and can be made up of just about any ingredients. Have fun in your kitchen developing your own soup recipes using the basic techniques I use in my recipes. Your family will love the variety and the deliciousness you serve up at mealtime.
What is your favorite soup to make? What is your favorite soup to eat?
If you liked this soup recipe you may also like these:
- Italian Wedding Soup with Tortellini
- Lobster Chowder
- Manhattan Clam Chowder
- Sausage and Bean Minestra
Cream of Broccoli soup
Ingredients
- 4 oz unsalted butter 114 gm
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 stalk celery diced
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cups broccoli florets chopped
- 1 cup grape tomatoes roasted
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 4 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock
- 1 cup heavy or light cream
- Sea Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- toss grape tomatoes with olive oil, sea salt and pepper
- in a 350 degree oven roast tomatoes for about 20 minutes
- In a sauce pot add the stock and broccoli and bring to a boil, cooking the broccoli until very tender
- in another sauce pot melt the butter
- add diced celery, and onions to melted butter and saute for about 5 minutes (this is your roux)
- add flour and mix well, reduce heat and continue to cook without burning roux, for about 7-10 minutes
- add chicken stock and broccoli to the roux and mix well with a wire whip until fully blended
- add heavy cream or dairy of your choice and cheddar, mix well until the cheddar is melted
- with heat reduced add roasted tomatoes and continue to simmer for 15 minutes
- If the soup appears too thick thin it out with water, reseason as needed.
- Serve with crusty bread!
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch)
I love that you beat that G+ Drum and as always thanks so much for all of this valuable information. You don’t know how much I appreciate *you* Chef Dennis.
nicole @ I am a Honey Bee
I want this soup. That is all… 🙂
Mary
Chef Dennis, This sounds delicious. I love the sounds of it tonight.
The photography tips are priceless. I really REALLY need to learn more as well!
Jenn and Seth (@HomeSkilletCook)
hmm, i haven’t really considered getting onto google+ before, maybe it is time. this soup looks fantastic, and the addition of roasted tomatoes is genius!
Joanne
My father went on and on, telling everyone about your soup. I just had to let you know, I agree with him. It looks fantastic!
Chef D
Thank you so much Joanne, you made my day! Please be sure to thank your father too!
Harold Ross
Hi Dennis! Thank you for the mention, and I am glad to hear that you are using some things that you picked up from the workshop. I had a great time learning more about food from you!
One more little tip for anyone shooting food… try to not light from the camera angle, or anywhere near it. I’m speaking about main light. Try to use back and side lighting for better dimension and understand that light coming from the front is flat (bad) light, not descriptive (good) light.
Think of your subject from overhead as sitting in the middle of a clock face, with the camera at 6 o’clock. Make sure that no main light comes from anywhere between 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock. Of course, a soft reflected light to fill shadows is fine from the front, but this should be subtle, and at least one and a half f/stops less light than your main light.
All the best,
Harold
Chef D
Thanks Harold! I appreciate the tips, I certainly can use them! I’m still hoping to move everything to another room where I’m not cramped into such a small space to shoot, then I can start moving lights a little more.
I hope your move went well, and as soon as things slow down I do want to go over some of the PS techniques with you again, I’m so close, but I know I’m still missing some.
Cheers
Dennis
fatpiginthemarket
Oh how I love soup…especially broccoli soup with cheddar! And I love your Ask Chef Dennis posts.You give great advice. Thanks for being my first follower on Pinterest and Twitter. Made me feel welcome. It was a nice way to start off. I’m still figuring out G+.
Kirsten@MyKitcheninthe Rockies
On the waiting list with Pinerly. Thanks so much for sharing all this valuable info.
Sandra
This is so much better than the Tim Horton broccoli soup that I used to eat. Also, the Google+ information was invaluable thanks a bunch.
Stephanie
Oh Chef D, every time I see one of your posts my stomach growls and my mouth waters. This is one of my favorite creamy soups and I just have to try your spin on it. Who needs Emeril, when we have you! Also just FYI I’m on the G+ bandwagon because of my websites so I Got YOU! 😉
Alyssa
Can you please express mail a bowl of that soup to me? It would be perfect now while we are cuddled up on the couch waiting for this crazy sand storm to end!!! Great segment once again. I have to admit that I’m one of those that has a google + account that never uses it. Thanks for reminding me to get to it! Hope you have a great rest of the week!
Chef D
Every time I think I’m having bad weather, your having crazy weather!! A Sandstorm?? OMG, I don’t even like getting sand on me at the beach, I just can’t imagine!
Hope everything calms down there and you get some peaceful weather!