Easy, Cheesy, Creamy Broccoli Soup (Dairy Free and Gluten Free)
Occam's razor:
The quest for the simplest solution, the one with the most minimal components.
The question: Can we make broccoli soup taste
Cheesy and creamy, but
with minimal ingredients and steps?
Method
Recipe source: Martha Stewart's Creamy Broccoli Soup
Dairy-Free Modifications:
None needed! This recipe is inherently free from any dairy ingredients.
Bonus but recommended: Add in nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor. Read on for details!
Procedures:
1. Saute some onions, then add grated/ground nutmeg at the end.
2. Add broccoli, broth, and oats.
Simplicity Tip #1: I used vegetarian chicken-flavored consomme powder mixed with water instead of broth, though I also enjoy using homemade vegetable stock when I have it on hand.
Simplicity Tip #2: I used a bag of frozen broccoli instead of fresh. Either add straight from the freezer and add a few minutes to the cook time, or defrost in your fridge before using.
3. Blend!
Simplicity tip #3: If you have one, you can use a high powered immersion blender directly in your pot, perhaps minimizing some clean up.
4. Bonus but highly recommended step: Dare I aim to improve on Martha? Rarely, but in this case I feel brave enough. Return the soup to the pot, and stir in nutritional yeast. I added about 3-4 tablespoons.
Freezing notes: This soup froze well in my Souper Cubes! It separated a bit as it defrosted but homogenized nicely with just a stir of the spoon.
Results
Ta da! In 3-4 steps, we have cheesy, creamy, and deliciously dairy free broccoli soup.
Serving recommendation: serve warm in a bowl with dairy-free, gluten free, 4 ingredient almond crackers!
Per reviews: "The soup is delicious!! Super creamy and savory. Almost tastes like there is ham in there? SO good!!"
Discussion
Sometimes, simple ingredients and steps can truly yield complex, delicious, and inclusive results. With minimal ingredients and procedures, we can have soup that is good for those who cannot have dairy or gluten, but will also be enjoyed by anyone!
Why does this recipe work? A few considerations for your interpretation:
The oats soften with the broth to thicken and add creamy texture to the soup. Why add oat milk separately, when you can just add oats directly?
Sauteeing the onions enriches the flavor
Nutmeg and nutritional yeast both add complexity and cheesiness
Frozen broccoli is picked at the peak of freshness, maximizing flavor
Would you try adding oats to your soup? What other creaminess hacks do you have?
Go ahead and enjoy this soup on your next Meatless Monday, and consider how to bring simplicity to your week.