Name: Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 2 large crowns Broccoli; 1 large, diced White Onion; 3 cloves, minced Garlic; 3 cups Organic Vegetable Broth; 1 leek, diced; 3 medium baking potatoes, cut into large chunks; 3 large carrots cut into large chunks; 3 cups Organic Vegetable Broth; 1/4 cup Nutritional Yeast; 3 Tablespoons Soy Sauce or Tamari; 3 teaspoons Garlic Powder; 3 teaspoons Onion Powder

Watch out Panera! I just made a vegan cream of broccoli soup that puts your cream of broccoli soup to shame.

Recently, a friend I work with went to Panera for lunch. When she grabbed the nutritional information pamphlet from the counter, I wanted to check out the ingredients in the soup she ordered.

For a 12 ounce serving, Panera’s cream of broccoli soup contains:

300 calories
171 from fat
19 grams of fat; 13 grams saturated
65 mg cholesterol in one cup
12 ounces serving contains 1250 mg sodium.

Although I wasn’t surprised by the nutritional information, I was shocked when she announced its mere 300 calories. UGH!

So, instead of jumping on my soapbox, I decided to make a vegan cream of broccoli soup for my friend to compare to her beloved Panera broccoli soup.

HOW TO MAKE A CHEESY SOUP WITHOUT CHEESE

In order to make a thick and creamy soup base, I used carrots, onions, and potatoes, much like my Skinny Nacho Cheese Sauce. In order to make a cheesy soup base without cheese or nuts, you just need a few ingredients:

Baking potatoes
Carrots
Organic vegetable broth
Soy sauce or Tamari
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Nutritional yeast

First, I boil the potatoes and the carrots with the skins on until both vegetables are soft enough to poke with a fork. Then, I blend them with the other ingredients until smooth. Half the ‘cheese’ sauce goes into the soup pot with the sauteed onions and leeks.

WHAT ELSE GOES INTO VEGAN CREAM OF BROCCOLI SOUP?

Of course, two large heads of broccoli are the highlight of the soup. So the broccoli doesn’t overcook, I steam it in my steamer for 8 minutes (2 minutes less than suggested), so it finishes cooking inside the soup pot.

Once steamed, I set half the broccoli aside, so I can blend half the broccoli, and use the rest in the soup pot before serving.

Once the onions, leeks, and garlic begins to carmelize, I add half the cheese sauce to the pot with some more vegetable broth. Then, I put half the steamed broccoli in the blender with the remaining cheese sauce and blend. With the other steamed broccoli, I rough chop it to add to the soup pot, so the cream of broccoli soup has fresh chunks of broccoli.

Needless to say, my version won! In fact, my friend was shocked at how good my vegan cream of broccoli soup is without any added fat or animal products.

ARE YOU A SOUP LOVER LIKE ME? IF, SO CHECK OUT SOME OF MY FAVORITES!

servings6