CHEESY CREAM OF BROCCOLI SOUP – KETO BEST

Is there anything better on a cold, rainy day than a bowl of homemade soup? I remember walking home for lunch on snowy Michigan afternoons, hoping Mom had a bowl of hot soup waiting for me.

Broccoli cheddar soup was, and still is, a favorite of ours among soup recipes. This recipe is not only low in carbs, it’s rich, cheesy and filling. We prefer the taste and the texture of fresh broccoli over frozen, hands-down. The broth in this recipe contains intact broccoli florets. You can vary the thickness of the soup with 2 types of thickener (see instructions), or choose to keep it on the thin side. If you prefer a puree, pulse the finished soup in an immersion blender until it reaches desired consistency.

WHAT TYPE OF CHEESE IS IN THIS BROCCOLI SOUP RECIPE?

Since I’m a big fan of cheese, and all cheese is keto-friendly (high in fat, low in carbs) I’ve made sure to include two different varieties: cheddar and Parmesan. I prefer the sharpest variety of cheddar I can buy, but mild cheddar works great too. Use fresh Parmesan, either already shredded or in block form and shred it yourself.

INGREDIENTS FOR THIS LOW CARB SOUP RECIPE 

Butter 

Green Onions – We love cooking with green onions because of their mild flavor, but if you prefer a more robust flavor, add minced garlic, shallots, leeks or yellow onions to total one cup.

Celery Seeds 

Chicken Broth or Stock – Adds flavor and volume to the soup. Using low sodium instead of regular chicken stock reduces the sodium by 180 mg per serving.

Cheeses – Since we’re a big fan of cheese, and all cheese is keto-friendly (high in fat, low in carbs) we’ve made sure to include two different varieties:  cheddar and Parmesan.  We prefer a sharp variety of cheddar, but mild cheddar works great too.  Buy fresh Parmesan, either already shredded, or in block form and shred it yourself.

Heavy Cream –  Provides a creamy texture and fat for satiety.

Almond flour OR Xanthan gum – We prefer thick and hearty soups, but the usual thickeners, flour and cornstarch, are full of carbs. We suggest 2 ways to thicken this soup: 1) add 8 tbsps of almond flour into the heavy cream and whisk until smooth. Return to pot and simmer. 2) Xanthan gum. This is the first time we’ve tried it, and it worked as promised. The trick is to completely dissolve the xanthan gum in about 1/2 to 1 cup of hot water first before incorporating into the soup, or you’ll wind up with clumps. For each cup of liquid you want to thicken, you’ll need 1/8 teaspoon of xanthan gum. This recipe produces about 16 cups, so you would sprinkle in approximately 2 tsps into hot water while vigorously whisking. Add to heavy cream, then pour into soup. The benefit of xanthan gum is it thickens the soup quickly.

Spices – We add celery salt, freshly ground pepper and Lawry’s seasoned salt in this recipe, but there are several other spices that work well with broccoli. Add a shake or two of dried thyme, tarragon, or nutmeg for a flavor variety.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING THIS CHEESY BROCCOLI SOUP

Sauté: melted butter and green onions about 5 minutes.

Add: broccoli florets, chicken broth and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Simmer.

Thicken the soup: Either use 8 tbsp of almond flour and whisk into heavy cream, or sprinkle xanthan gum in hot water in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Add to heavy cream and whisk unto soup.

Add: shredded cheeses and mix into soup. Top with additional shredded cheese if desired.

CAN I DOUBLE THE RECIPE?

We double the recipe when serving a crowd. Refrigerate leftovers and heat throughly before serving. As always, soups taste better the second, third, and fourth days! This is truly the best broccoli soup recipe we’ve tasted. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

HOW DO I STORE THIS LOW CARB BROCCOLI SOUP?

Put leftovers in an air tight container. This soup lasts a good week in the fridge. We do not recommend freezing this soup.

Like most soups, we find it tastes better after spending a night in the refrigerator, so making the night before can be a time-saver on a busy day. Just reheat and serve with a green side salad for a spectacular meal.