Broccoli, Bacon and Cheese Soup Recipe - Mom On Timeout (2024)

FAQs

Why is my broccoli cheddar soup not creamy? ›

Soup needs some fat to smooth out the texture and help the ingredients bind together. If your soup is too lean, it will taste grainy. Try adding some additional cream or milk to the soup until it reaches the desired consistency.

Sometimes an acidic ingredient, like wine, can prevent the soup from curdling. Slowly add the cream or milk and continually stir after adding. This will help prevent it from curdling. Use shredded cheese and always reduce the heat to about low to medium before adding.

Is Broccoli Cheddar Soup Healthy? Broccoli Cheddar Soup is not only delicious but nutritious as well. Broccoli is loaded with vitamin C and K, potassium, and fiber, offering numerous health benefits like improved digestion, reduced inflammation, and boosted immunity.

The best options for thickening soup are cream or half and half. Plain yogurt or even freshly grated cheese works well and adds an extra layer of tangy, salty flavor. Add the dairy at the end and avoid bringing the soup to a boil since this can cause yogurt, cheese, or cream to split.

Whether you use a few tablespoons or a few cups, cream gives soup a silky mouthfeel and rich flavor. You can definitely add milk or other dairy as well, though it will taste gradually less creamy as you go down in percent.

Why does my cream of broccoli soup taste bland? You have to build flavor during each step when making soup. Make sure you're taking the time needed to properly sauté the onions, fully cook the broccoli, and season to taste as you work.

Curdling in a cream soup usually occurs when the milk or cream is added at too high of a heat. As you incorporate the milk and broth into the cooked onion and flour mixture, keep the heat at medium and stir continuously with a whisk. Once all is mixed in, then proceed to heat to a boil.

Mild cheddar, Colby, Monterey jack, mozzarella, Swiss and queso blanco can all work well. “The best cheeses to melt into soups are cheeses that are higher in moisture and have a lower melting point,” says Bauer. In addition to cheddar and Monterey jack, he recommends Fontina and Gruyère.

If heated too high, you risk clumping and if too low, not melting properly. With soup, you might be able to fix it with an immersion blender, or you might not. At a temperature of 150 or so, the protein bonds in the cheese break down and as a result, too much fo the moisture escapes too quickly.

Grate the cheese yourself.

Pre-shredded cheese is often coated in anti-caking agents that can prevent the cheese from melting into a lusciously creamy soup. To ensure that your broccoli cheddar soup has the best smooth and creamy texture, buy a block of cheese and grate it yourself.

What does broccoli soup do to your body? ›

As per studies, broccoli helps improve bone and joint health. It is a rich vitamin K, C, A, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc source. These are crucial nutrients that help strengthen bones and joints. Along with this, antioxidant sulforaphane in broccoli may prevent osteoarthritis.

Broccoli is also particularly high in the amino acid glutamic acid (the flavor enhancing compound responsible for taste sense of “umami”). A Northwestern University Chicago study found higher dietary intake of the amino acid glutamic acid via vegetables like broccoli, was linked to lower blood pressure.

High Heat: Cheese is sensitive to high temperatures. If you add cheese to your soup when it's too hot or boiling vigorously, it can become overcooked and develop a grainy or curdled texture rather than melting smoothly. To avoid this, reduce the heat to low or medium-low before adding the cheese.

There are several ways to make broccoli soup thicker or creamier: Add Potatoes or Cauliflower: Boil and blend potatoes or cauliflower and incorporate them into the soup. They add creaminess without altering the flavor significantly. Use Heavy Cream or Milk: Add heavy cream or whole milk for a rich and creamy texture.

The temperature you cook Broccoli Cheese Soup at is key to making sure it doesn't end up grainy or curdled. Medium heat is best for dairy-based soups so it doesn't boil and curdle.