Cream of Broccoli Potato Soup

Here is another fast and healthy recipe from my kitchen to yours. It must be Spring because daylight savings time kicks in tonight. Not to mention it’s sunny and warm out today too! Pretty soon us vegie gardeners will be outside planting lettuce, beets, kale, peas, cabbage, and broccoli. Broccoli is one of my favorite healthy green vegetables to eat. I like it in stir frys, salads, casseroles, just steamed, and in soup. I have been thinking of making up a recipe for a gluten free cream of broccoli soup for all the gluten intolerant folks out there to enjoy. Most cream of broccoli soups contain roux, which contains flour. I figured that if I cooked potatoes with the broccoli it would thicken the soup quite well. So into the Fast and Furious test Kitchen I went and developed this gluten free cream of broccoli soup that so many gluten free folks can eat. You don’t have to be gluten intolerant to like this soup. The rest of you can give this a try too! It’s fast and easy, as well as healthy. You can try it with coconut milk to make it a Vegan soup, or lowfat milk to make it low fat and healthier. Please leave comments so I can continue to improve my recipes. Without your input I don’t know how well the recipe works in your kitchen.

Cream of Broccoli Potato Soup

1 1/4 pounds fresh broccoli

1/1/4 pounds russet or Yukon Gold potatoes

2 1/2 to 3 cups vegetable stock

1 3/4 to 2 cups milk

1 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper

Optional, 4 ounces of grated colby or mild cheddar cheese

the goods

Cut potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes and put in a bowl of cool water until needed.

Trim broccoli and stems. Cut tops into golfball size florets and chop the stems.

In a 4-5 quart pot with a lid bring potatoes to a boil in vegetable stock. When it comes to a boil reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes covered.

Add broccoli stems and cook for 4 minutes covered simmering.

Add broccoli tops and cook 4 minutes. Stir and cook 2 more minutes or until potatoes and broccoli are just tender.

chop, dice, and cut

Remove from heat and add salt, pepper, and lesser amount of milk and blend in a table top blender or use an immersion blender.

Taste and add milk, salt or pepper if needed.

Return to heat and bring it to a simmer just before serving.

Top with grated colby or mild cheddar.

Serves four.

Note:

Vegetable stock varies a lot, and you might not need to add any salt depending on how salty your stock is. I used a recipe from the Moosewood cookbook for my vegetable stock.

Chicken stock can be used also.

This can be a very thick soup or thin depending on how much stock and milk you use.