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. 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!
- 4 oz unsalted butter 114 gm
- 1/2 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
- 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!
Love the soup!! I’m a big fan of the broccoli soups, but have never had it with tomatoes. Nice idea!
Great tips, as always, Dennis. Thank you!
mmm.. I needed a soup for today… thanks! I have all the ingredients in the fridge. Not feeling much myself today so I am going to cook someone else’s dish… yours!
Now, what’s this G+ thing you’re talking about? Going to google away for some info.
P.S. Buzzed!
hi Elena
G+ is Google+n the new social media that’s taking the world by storm! Its a really cool platform, you can communicate with the world, or anyone you choose and do it privately, very easy to use, and my google hits have skyrocketed since using it!
Check it out, its free to join, just make sure you fill everything in, people are more apt to follow you when they know your putting effort into it!
Dennis
Thanks for the info. I signed up. Now I just have to figure the whole thing out and see how it works for me. I joined as theposhlatincook@gmail.com 😀
Hi Elena,
I found you on G+, you can just follow the link to follow be back! It’s really easy, just put up a link to your blog post, make a comment about it and share it to the public, and your done! Just be consistent so people get use to seeing your creations!
Dennis
Great recipe, Dennis. I’m not a fan of green foods unless they come from the produce section so cream of broccoli soup meets that criteria…as well as being delicious 🙂 And thanks for all the social media advice. I saw your note on Pinerly on your Facebook feed and took a look. And I’m in the guilty slow to G+ group. So much to keep up with…
I know there is so much to do, but you will get much better returns from G+ because the more your on there and mentioned, the more Google will pay attention to you, your hits from google will really grow! Much better use of time than facebook or even twitter.
I love broccoli soup! What a nice recipe this is and I have never had it with tomatoes! What a nice addition!
Thanks for the photography section. I am going to look into getting Photoshop. I have Picasa and it doesn’t have all the capability I think I need.
HI Raven
you can get a student / teacher edition at a substantial savings, check those out. Elements would even be enough, I still use that sometimes instead of CS5. It really will make a difference in your images.
Dennis
this soup is lovely – i love the addition of the roasted grape tomatoes and cheddar….it really sounds fantastic. I promise, I’ll give G+ a go very soon, still trying to come up for air enough to start posting again regularly….and definitely will check out pinerly. All you’ve shared is once again so valuable, all the info on photography, and everything you put out there to help us become better at what we love….we appreciate you SO VERY MUCH.
Trust you to kick up blah, boring cream of broccoli soup to something I can’t wait to make! Happy St. Patty’s 🙂
I admit, I’m one of those people who hasn’t taken the time to fully utilized Google+. Great reminder. Will check Irvin’s page for more info.
Now this soup, I love broccoli soup but your version makes it even more appealing! Perfect for today’s rainy weather!
I’m with ya on the whole “it doesn’t have to be green to be the perfect St. Patrick’s Day dish.” This soup sounds amazing!! I would really love a bowl! Buzz!
I know I don’t use Google + enough. There just isn’t enough time for everything! Need more hours in the day!
Soup looks creamy and delicious, I like the addition of roasted tomatoes. I am not much into St. Patrick’s Day either, but I am not Irish!
Hi Erin
it really doesn’t take long, but the rewards are so much greater than facebook or twitter, because the more your seen on G+ the more your seen on google searches!
I’m barely Irish, and I really don’t love the food,so its rare I make anything Irish!
Dennis
This soup is made straight for my heart. I am fighting a cold right now and there is nothing more I would like than a bowl of this right now. Yum!
I’ve never thought to add roasted tomatoes to a cream of broccoli soup before, but I love it! This is St. Patrick’s Da simply…the way I like to do it! Hope you are having a great week, Chef 🙂
I love cream of broccoli soup and the addition of roasted tomatoes makes it even more delectable. Thanks for sharing Chef, hope you’re having a great day =]
The soup looks great, and the tips are valuable. I guess I’d better figure out G+, although I admit it makes me tired to think about! And thanks for the photo tips; I am in Great Need of them. 🙂
hi Jenni
it really isn’t anymore difficult than facebook, you go in add a link, make a comment and share it to the public. thats it, of course you can spend more time browsing, I love it because I find such a great variety of information, old songs, new songs, pictures, jokes, it very entertaining, and these are real folk who might become loyal readers.
If you need any help, just ask!
Dennis
Your soup looks so elegant. Thanks for the photo tips, I am working on the white balance but sometimes end up with blue or pink tint. Then sometimes the colors are too dark. Nevertheless it is a lot of fun. I am really enjoying the challenge. Have a wonderful weekend. Heading to the Orlando Foodie Festival on Friday. Should learn a number of things there as wel..
This soup looks awesome and I love those roasted tomatoes. Yum!
Your soup is amazing…I’d love to have some right now! I adore the tomatoes in it also!
Thanks for all the wonderful, helpful info on social media and photography. I still don’t have that great camera yet and still learning. I’m on Google+, but guilty of taking advantage…all the social media can be overwhelming sometimes…but I heard your advice!
I LOVE soups. Especially broccoli. What a twist on it you’ve created! A perfect feast to go with an Irish beer!
Such simple and natural ingredients. This soup looks delicious. Love the idea of the roasted tomatoes with the broccoli.
love the addition of roasted tomatoes chef! the soup looks delish.
Your soup looks marvelous, Dennis! And thanks, again, for sharing all your blogger tips with us!!
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! 😉
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.
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!
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!
On the waiting list with Pinerly. Thanks so much for sharing all this valuable info.
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
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
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+.
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!
Thank you so much Joanne, you made my day! Please be sure to thank your father too!
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!
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!
I want this soup. That is all… 🙂
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.