A Souper Day
It's been really cold in South Texas lately and that means that it's a soup day, though, in my world, anytime is a good time for soup. Gazpacho and cucumber soup will cool you off in the summer. I'll take Manhattan clam chowder whenever. During the fall, choose a butternut squash and even a mighty fine pozole. Soup is a great starter to tease the palate for what's to come and, if it's hearty enough, it can be an even better meal.
I've been known to empty the vegetable drawer and turn it all into soup--puree it together and noone will be the wiser. Even better is that your vegetable drawer will thank you--or at least mine did!
When I recently had an abundance of beautiful organic broccoli from 3-G Farm (worms included) that I brought home from the Quarry Farmers & Ranchers Market, I had to think about this for a few. It was way too much broccoli to serve as a side, but soup would work. Boring broccoli soup was not going to cut it, though a roasted broccoli soup just might.
I have never met a roasted veggie that I didn't fall for. Caramelizing the veggies in a hot oven really imparts a depth of flavor that cannot be obtained by sauteing, steaming or blanching. I love roasting broccoli (and cauliflower), so why not roast the broccoli first and then make the soup?
For a bit of added creaminess, I tossed in a little cheese from Dos Lunas. David asked for seconds and a friend who stopped by to visit was more than grateful for the delicious nourishment that warmed her heart and her panza. As they say in Mexico, panza llena, corazon contenta. Your heart is content when your belly is full!
Buen provecho!
Roasted Broccoli Soup
The Cowgirl Gourmet
Print recipe
As the soup nazi, I had never roasted the veggies before turning them into soup, but this really brought the flavor to another level. Using a combination of a few cups of low sodium vegetable or chicken broth and water minimizes the sodium and adding a half cup of cheese gives it just enough creaminess. A bit of red pepper flakes adds just enough heat.
Serves 6
6 unpeeled garlic cloves
1 1/2 - 2 pounds broccoli florets and a bit of the stem (this was about 2 bunches of broccoli)
4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided into 2 Tablespoons
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 onion, chopped
3 celery ribs, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
1/4-1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (1/8 if you want it mild and 1/4 if you want a little kick)
3 cups water
1/2 cup grated cheese, your choice (gouda, cheddar, Monterrey Jack)
3 cups low sodium vegetable or chicken broth
Lemon, a squeeze for each bowl before serving (optional)
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Tightly wrap the garlic cloves in aluminium foil and roast for 50 minutes or until softened. On a baking sheet, place a piece of parchment paper and toss the broccoli with the olive oil and butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes or until tender.
While the broccoli and garlic are cooking, heat a soup pot over medium high heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Toss in the chopped onion, celery and carrots and sprinkle with salt and pepper and stir well to combine. Stir frequently and cook for 5 minutes or until softened. Add the red pepper flakes and stir again, cooking a few more minutes.
Pour in 3 cups of water and let cook 10-15 minutes so the water becomes flavored.
When the broccoli is done, remove it from the oven and let it rest.
When the garlic is done, squeeze it out of the skins and add it and the broccoli to a blender. You may have to do this in two batches. Add enough broth to cover and blend until pureed. (If you cannot put all of the veggie or chicken broth in the blender, add the remaining amount directly to the soup pot.)
Pour the broccoli, garlic and broth puree into the pot with the onions, carrot and celery and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
Using an immersion blender, puree the soup well so there are no chunks--though if a few remain, it's fine. Add the cheese, stirring well to allow the cheese to melt.
Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning if needed.
Serve in bowls, season with salt and pepper and, if desired, a squeeze of lemon juice.
I've been known to empty the vegetable drawer and turn it all into soup--puree it together and noone will be the wiser. Even better is that your vegetable drawer will thank you--or at least mine did!
When I recently had an abundance of beautiful organic broccoli from 3-G Farm (worms included) that I brought home from the Quarry Farmers & Ranchers Market, I had to think about this for a few. It was way too much broccoli to serve as a side, but soup would work. Boring broccoli soup was not going to cut it, though a roasted broccoli soup just might.
I have never met a roasted veggie that I didn't fall for. Caramelizing the veggies in a hot oven really imparts a depth of flavor that cannot be obtained by sauteing, steaming or blanching. I love roasting broccoli (and cauliflower), so why not roast the broccoli first and then make the soup?
For a bit of added creaminess, I tossed in a little cheese from Dos Lunas. David asked for seconds and a friend who stopped by to visit was more than grateful for the delicious nourishment that warmed her heart and her panza. As they say in Mexico, panza llena, corazon contenta. Your heart is content when your belly is full!
Buen provecho!
The Cowgirl Gourmet
Print recipe
As the soup nazi, I had never roasted the veggies before turning them into soup, but this really brought the flavor to another level. Using a combination of a few cups of low sodium vegetable or chicken broth and water minimizes the sodium and adding a half cup of cheese gives it just enough creaminess. A bit of red pepper flakes adds just enough heat.
Serves 6
6 unpeeled garlic cloves
1 1/2 - 2 pounds broccoli florets and a bit of the stem (this was about 2 bunches of broccoli)
4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided into 2 Tablespoons
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 onion, chopped
3 celery ribs, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
1/4-1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (1/8 if you want it mild and 1/4 if you want a little kick)
3 cups water
1/2 cup grated cheese, your choice (gouda, cheddar, Monterrey Jack)
3 cups low sodium vegetable or chicken broth
Lemon, a squeeze for each bowl before serving (optional)
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Tightly wrap the garlic cloves in aluminium foil and roast for 50 minutes or until softened. On a baking sheet, place a piece of parchment paper and toss the broccoli with the olive oil and butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes or until tender.
While the broccoli and garlic are cooking, heat a soup pot over medium high heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Toss in the chopped onion, celery and carrots and sprinkle with salt and pepper and stir well to combine. Stir frequently and cook for 5 minutes or until softened. Add the red pepper flakes and stir again, cooking a few more minutes.
Pour in 3 cups of water and let cook 10-15 minutes so the water becomes flavored.
When the broccoli is done, remove it from the oven and let it rest.
When the garlic is done, squeeze it out of the skins and add it and the broccoli to a blender. You may have to do this in two batches. Add enough broth to cover and blend until pureed. (If you cannot put all of the veggie or chicken broth in the blender, add the remaining amount directly to the soup pot.)
Pour the broccoli, garlic and broth puree into the pot with the onions, carrot and celery and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
Using an immersion blender, puree the soup well so there are no chunks--though if a few remain, it's fine. Add the cheese, stirring well to allow the cheese to melt.
Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning if needed.
Serve in bowls, season with salt and pepper and, if desired, a squeeze of lemon juice.
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Comments
-Gita
mimiandchichi.com