Description
Panera’s broccoli cheddar soup delivers comfort in a creamy bowl of cheesy goodness. Home cooks can easily recreate this popular restaurant favorite with simple ingredients and minimal cooking skills.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 cups (2 liters) broccoli florets
- 1 large yellow onion (diced)
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 28 oz (796 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups fresh shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup half & half or heavy cream
- 2 tbsps butter
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium-low heat, gently sweating onions and garlic with a pinch of salt and pepper until translucent and fragrant, releasing their delicate essence.
- Build Soup Base: Introduce broccoli florets to the aromatic foundation, pour in chicken broth and Dijon mustard, creating a harmonious liquid environment that will nurture the vegetables’ natural flavors.
- Simmer and Infuse: Elevate heat to coax broccoli into tender submission, allowing it to dance gently in the broth for 15-20 minutes, periodically stirring to ensure even cooking and flavor distribution.
- Cream Integration: Temper the heat and slowly cascade half-and-half into the soup, maintaining a delicate simmer to prevent separation while warming the liquid to a silky consistency.
- Cheese Transformation: Gradually shower sharp cheddar and Parmesan cheeses into the soup, whisking continuously until they melt into a luxurious, smooth emulsion that blankets the broccoli in rich, tangy warmth.
- Final Refinement: Conduct a comprehensive seasoning assessment, fine-tuning with additional salt and pepper to orchestrate a perfectly balanced flavor profile before transferring to warm serving vessels.
Notes
- Prevent Curdling: Slowly add half-and-half at low heat to maintain smooth, creamy texture without separating.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Sprinkle cheese gradually and stir continuously to achieve silky, uniform consistency without clumping.
- Broccoli Tenderness Tip: Simmer broccoli until just fork-tender to preserve vibrant color and prevent overcooking or mushiness.
- Flavor Enhancement: Use sharp cheddar and Parmesan for deeper, more complex taste profile that elevates traditional soup recipe.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg