Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Today I wanted to share another soup recipe. I think it’s evident by now, that the health benefits of broccoli are countless. But to be honest, I don’t find broccoli that great tasting just boiled or fried. However, I decided to try out broccoli in a soup, and guess what? It’s delicious and very easy to make!

Ingredients: 

1 medium fresh broccoli

2-3 cloves of garlic

1 onion

about 3 1/3 cups water

1 tbsp flour

1 1/2 cup cheddar, grated

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

Directions:

1. Using a sharp knife separate the hard stems of broccoli from the florets (you should get about 5 cups of florets). Cut the onion and garlic into chunks. 
   
2. In large saucepan, combine broccoli florets, onion and garlic cloves. Add water covering the vegetables.
3. Boil the vegetables until they become soft. Don't overcook the vegetables, in order to preserve their nutritional value. Transfer about half of the water in a separate container. Puree the mixture until smooth using a hand mixer or a blender. If the vegetable-water puree seems to be a bit too thick, you can dilute it with the water from the container to a preferred consistency.
   
4. Transfer the pureed soup back to a saucepan. Mix flour with a couple drops of water and add to the soup. Bring to boil, let the soup thicken a bit, and reduce the heat. 
5. Add shredded cheese. Mix well. Serve with some croutons and crème fraiche.  
   

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