Servings: 6 Prep: 15 mins Cook: 15 mins Total: 30 mins

I’ve never liked cheese based soups. For the most part, I’ve just never really trusted them! It’s always been my belief that a cheese soup was somehow that weird “cheese food” that you get on the nachos at ballgames. It’s entirely possible that I’m full of pretentious snobbery and pompous hoity-toity, but … I’ve just always struggled with these strange processed cheese foods, generally feeling the issue comes down to texture for me. There’s just a strange glutinousness to it that I’ve always struggled with. Even in my darkest days, I’d still manage to avoid this particular foodstuff.

In any event, this is not about that. There are benefits to processed cheeses, one of which is its ability stay emulsified or … “together”. Many cheeses will melt and separate into stringy strands of protein, floating around in pools of oil. I happen to love this particular behavior in things like Queso Fundido, but … in a soup, it makes for an ugly stringy mess. The same is often true of things like cheese sauces for Macaroni and Cheese. If a cheese is sufficiently emulsified or diluted, it tends to stay smooth and creamy, even when melted. This is why some cheesy cream sauces stay “creamy”. It’s also why thickeners are added to sometimes allow for other ingredients to be added, while adding flour to help with the “mouth feel”.

I’m way off track, here … I can tell.

Point being, melted cheese is fussy stuff. It’s tough to make a good soup out of it, without some trickery! In my case, the “trickery” is … cream cheese! This is an emulsified soft cheese, which is thick and tasty. It makes a perfect vehicle for a cheese soup. It creates a thick and velvety “sauce”, in which the cheese can make itself at home in. Throw in some cooked broccoli, simmer and eat! It’s an AMAZING taste sensation!

In case you’re wondering … I’ve been trained to be a little full of myself. Sorry! Blame the chefs that came before me! 😉

Bacon Note: If you’d like, you can use bacon fat, in place of the butter at the beginning. You can also replace the vegetable stock with chicken stock, and garnish with bacon bits. You know … if you’re not a vegetarian.

Ingredient Calories Fat Protein Carbs SA’s Fiber Net Carbs 1 tbsp (14g) butter, melted 100 11 0 0 0 0 0 1 small (110g) onion, diced 44 0 1 10 0 2 8 4 each (12g) garlic cloves, minced 16 0 0 4 0 0 4 2 tsp (2g) fresh thyme, chopped and divided 2 0 0.1 0.5 0 0.3 0.2 2 cups (470g) vegetable stock 24 0 0 6 0 0 6 1/2 large (420g) bunch broccoli, including stalks, cut into florets 143 1.4 11.8 27.6 0 11.1 16.6 8 ounces (227g) regular cream cheese, warmed and softened 777 77.3 13.7 8.8 0 0 8.8 1/2 lb (227g) cheddar cheese, grated 902.4 74.4 56 2.8 0 0 2.8 salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Grand Totals (of 6 servings): 2008.5 164.1 82.6 59.7 0 13.3 46.3 Totals Per Serving: 334.7 27.3 13.8 9.9 0 2.2 7.7 g

Broccoli Cheddar Soup 3.89 from 9 votes Print Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Servings: 6 Servings Author: DJ Foodie Ingredients 1 tbsp butter melted

1 small onion diced

4 each garlic cloves minced

2 tsp fresh thyme chopped and divided

2 cups vegetable stock

1/2 large bunch broccoli including stalks, cut into florets

8 ounces regular cream cheese warmed and softened

1/2 lb cheddar cheese grated

salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste Instructions Place a medium sized soup pot on the stove over medium-low heat.

Add your butter to the pan and melt it.

Add your onions, garlic, thyme and a little salt and pepper. Sweat the onions for about 3 minutes, or until translucent.

Add your vegetable stock and bring to a simmer.

Once your stock comes to a simmer, add your broccoli and a little salt and pepper.

After about 2 to 3 minutes, the stock should begin simmering again. Whisk in your cream cheese and cheddar cheese.

Allow to simmer for about 5 more minutes, or until the broccoli is soft and tasty.

Taste, adjust seasoning and then serve!

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