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High Protein Broccoli Cheddar Soup: Creamy & Healthy Recipe

High Protein Broccoli Cheddar Soup: Creamy & Healthy Recipe
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★★★★★

5.1 from 30 reviews

This High Protein Broccoli Cheddar Soup is a creamy, healthy, and comforting dish packed with nutrients. Combining tender broccoli florets, sharp cheddar cheese, and blended cottage cheese, this soup offers a delicious way to enjoy a protein-rich meal with a smooth, velvety texture and smoky undertones from the paprika. Perfect for a nutritious lunch or dinner, it’s easy to prepare and suits a vegetarian diet.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables and Aromatics

  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups chopped broccoli

Liquids & Dairy

  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 cups 1% milk
  • 4 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup low fat cottage cheese, blended

Dry Ingredients & Seasonings

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Prep vegetables: Cut broccoli into small florets. Dice onion, carrots, and celery. Mince garlic.
  2. Sauté vegetables: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, melt 1 tbsp butter. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery, cooking for 8-10 minutes until soft and translucent.
  3. Add garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more, being careful not to brown it to avoid bitterness.
  4. Make roux: Sprinkle 1/4 cup all-purpose flour and 1/2 tsp smoked paprika over the vegetables. Cook while stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes to create a roux and eliminate raw flour taste.
  5. Add liquids: Gradually whisk in 3 cups vegetable broth until smooth, then slowly whisk in 2 cups 1% milk. Increase heat slightly and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle bubble.
  6. Season soup base: Add salt and pepper to taste, adjusting flavor as preferred.
  7. Cook broccoli: Add 4 cups chopped broccoli and simmer on medium-low for 10-15 minutes until broccoli is tender-crisp but still vibrant green, stirring occasionally.
  8. Add cheddar cheese: Remove pot from heat. Gradually stir in shredded cheddar cheese by handfuls, allowing each addition to melt fully before adding more, until soup is smooth and creamy.
  9. Incorporate cottage cheese: Blend 1 cup low fat cottage cheese until completely smooth. Stir blended cottage cheese into the soup until fully incorporated and warmed through.
  10. Adjust seasoning: Taste the soup and adjust salt and pepper as needed for your preference.
  11. Serve: Ladle soup into bowls and serve piping hot, garnished with extra shredded cheddar, fresh parsley, or croutons if desired.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, you may substitute 1% milk with 2% milk or half-and-half, but note this will increase calories and fat.
  • To keep the soup gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend or cornstarch slurry.
  • Using low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese helps maintain lower fat and calorie content while boosting protein.
  • If you prefer a chunkier soup, reserve some cooked broccoli florets and stir them in at the end without blending.
  • This soup can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stove or microwave.
  • Frozen broccoli can be used if fresh broccoli is unavailable; reduce simmer time as frozen broccoli cooks faster.

Nutrition

Keywords: broccoli cheddar soup, high protein soup, creamy broccoli soup, healthy soup recipe, vegetarian soup

Find it online: https://delishfamilyrecipe.com/high-protein-broccoli-cheddar-soup-creamy-and-healthy-recipe/