Description
Comforting high protein broccoli cheddar soup delivers creamy nutrition packed with wholesome ingredients. Cheese lovers and wellness enthusiasts will savor each spoonful of this nourishing recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups broccoli (chopped)
- 2 cups 1% milk
- 4 oz (113 g) cheddar cheese (shredded, about 1 cup)
- 4 cups vegetable broth (preferably not-chicken style)
- 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese (blended)
- 1 large yellow onion (diced)
- 2 large carrots (peeled and diced)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 stalk celery (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Sauté Foundation: Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat, then introduce onions, carrots, and celery. Cook until vegetables soften and become translucent, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Aromatic Enhancement: Add minced garlic and smoked paprika, stirring for 60 seconds to release intense flavors. Dust flour over the vegetable mixture, ensuring complete and even coating.
- Liquid Integration: Pour vegetable broth into the pot and incorporate chopped broccoli. Simmer gently for 8 minutes, allowing vegetables to tenderize and flavors to meld harmoniously.
- Creamy Transformation: Reduce heat and slowly stream milk into the soup, maintaining a gentle warmth without reaching a boil. Gradually fold in cottage cheese and cheddar, stirring continuously until completely melted and smooth.
- Texture Refinement: Use an immersion blender to partially puree the soup, creating a luxurious, velvety consistency. Alternatively, carefully extract and blend one cup of soup before reincorporating.
- Final Seasoning: Conduct a comprehensive taste evaluation, adjusting salt and pepper levels to achieve a perfectly balanced flavor profile. Serve hot and enjoy the rich, protein-packed culinary creation.
Notes
- Prevent Curdling Carefully: Maintain low heat when adding milk and cheese to prevent separation and ensure a smooth, creamy texture.
- Vegetable Prep Matters: Uniformly dice onions, carrots, and celery to ensure even cooking and consistent flavor distribution throughout the soup.
- Boost Protein Smartly: Cottage cheese adds extra protein and creaminess without compromising the soup’s rich taste and texture.
- Blending Technique: Partially puree the soup to create a luxurious, velvety consistency while keeping some vegetable chunks for added texture and visual appeal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 25mg