Description
Creamy “Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup” brings plant-based comfort straight from California kitchens, blending rich cashew cheese with tender broccoli florets. Comfort meets nutrition in this delightful bowl you’ll want to savor slowly and share with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
main ingredients:
- 4 cups broccoli florets, chopped
- 4 cups (950 ml) vegetable broth
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or oat milk
soup base ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegan butter
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large carrot, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
seasoning and flavor enhancers:
- ⅓ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
optional garnishes:
- Fresh parsley or chives
- Vegan shredded cheese
- Croutons
Instructions
- Initiate the flavor foundation by sautéing diced onions, minced garlic, julienned carrots, and chopped celery in olive oil over medium heat until the vegetables become translucent and release their aromatic essence.
- Transfer the softened vegetable medley into a high-powered blender, introducing soaked cashews, rich vegetable broth, umami-packed nutritional yeast, tangy Dijon mustard, smoky paprika, and golden turmeric to create a velvety base.
- Pulse the blender contents until achieving a silky-smooth consistency, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly integrated and transformed into a cohesive mixture.
- Carefully pour the blended liquid back into the original cooking pot, reigniting the heat to generate a gentle, bubbling simmer.
- Introduce fresh broccoli florets and creamy almond milk into the warming liquid, stirring gently to distribute ingredients evenly throughout the soup.
- Allow the broccoli to cook tenderly, maintaining its vibrant green color and nutritional integrity, typically requiring 10-12 minutes of careful simmering.
- Customize the soup’s texture by using an immersion blender to break down some or all of the broccoli, creating a more uniform or rustic consistency based on personal preference.
- Refine the flavor profile by seasoning with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, tasting and adjusting until the ideal balance is achieved.
- Serve the soup in warm bowls, embellishing with optional garnishes like fresh parsley, sprinkled vegan cheese, or crispy croutons to enhance visual appeal and textural contrast.
Notes
- Soak cashews overnight or use hot water for a quick 30-minute softening method to achieve a ultra-creamy base without compromising texture.
- Nutritional yeast provides a crucial cheesy flavor profile, so don’t skip this ingredient for authentic vegan cheddar taste.
- Use fresh broccoli with bright green florets to maintain vibrant color and maximize nutritional value during cooking.
- Customize soup thickness by adjusting vegetable broth quantity – less broth creates a thicker consistency, more broth results in a lighter soup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg