Soupy Sunday- Best Broccoli Soup Ever!

May I present - bar none- the best soup that I have ever presented to you on the Soupy Sunday portion of my blog. Broccoli soup fit for Royalty!

I love broccoli soup with a bit of orange cheddar, and when I can make it at home from scratch, yum, and when it tastes like the best soup I have ever made... even better!

This recipe is actually an adaptation from the famous Food Network chef Emeril Lagasse. I believe what makes this soup super is the simmering of herbs and spices with the butter.

Broccoli and Cheese Soup

Ingredients

•           3 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

•           1 cup yellow onions or sliced leeks (white parts only, well rinsed)

•           1/2 teaspoon salt

•           1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

•           Pinch nutmeg

•           1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

•           1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves

•           3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

•           3 cups chicken stock or canned, low-sodium chicken broth

•           1 (16-ounce) package frozen broccoli, thawed and separated (I used a head of fresh broccoli)

•           1/2 cup heavy cream (I used milk)

•           1 1/4 cups shredded medium Cheddar (I used light cheddar)

Directions

In a medium pot, melt the 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and cook, stirring, until soft, 3 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme cook, stirring, until fragrant, for 20 seconds. Add the flour and cook, stirring until the mixture is well blended and smells fragrant, 2 minutes. Slowly add the chicken stock, whisking constantly, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the broccoli and cook, stirring, until tender, for 10 minutes.

Remove the pot from the heat and puree with a hand-held immersion blender.

Add the cream and bring to bare simmer to heat through. Add the cheese and cook over low heat, stirring, until melted. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons cold butter, stirring to blend.(omitted this step).

 

Now here's a little bonus, remember Emeril always going 'Bam' with the spices on all his food, well here is the secret recipe.

Emeril's ESSENCE Creole Seasoning (the BAM): 

•           2 1/2 tablespoons paprika

•           2 tablespoons salt

•           2 tablespoons garlic powder

•           1 tablespoon black pepper

•           1 tablespoon onion powder

•           1 tablespoon cayenne pepper

•           1 tablespoon dried oregano

•           1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly. 

Yield: 2/3 cup