Description
This creamy and comforting Smoked Gouda Broccoli Soup combines tender broccoli and sweet carrots with the rich, smoky flavor of gouda cheese. Perfect as a warming appetizer or light meal, this soup blends sautéed onions and garlic with a smooth, cheesy broth, creating a velvety texture that’s both satisfying and flavorful.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Base
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
Liquids & Seasoning
- 16 ounces vegetable or chicken broth
- 16 ounces whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Vegetables
- 1 large head of broccoli, chopped into small florets
- 1 large carrot, grated
Cheese
- 8 ounces (226 g) smoked gouda, freshly grated
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add diced onions and cook for about 4 minutes until they start to brown and turn translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds to release their flavors.
- Create Roux: Sprinkle the flour over the onion and garlic mixture, stirring continuously to form a paste. Cook this for 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste, ensuring it doesn’t brown too much.
- Add Liquids and Seasonings: Gradually whisk in the vegetable or chicken broth and whole milk, followed by salt, paprika, and pepper. Whisk thoroughly to combine and avoid lumps in the soup base.
- Cook Vegetables: Stir in the chopped broccoli florets and grated carrot. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then cover the saucepan, reduce the heat to low, and let it cook for 10 to 12 minutes until the vegetables are tender to your preference.
- Melt Cheese: Remove the soup from heat and slowly add the freshly grated smoked gouda while stirring continuously. Keep stirring until the cheese fully melts into the soup, creating a smooth and creamy consistency.
- Serve: Ladle the warm soup into bowls and optionally top with croutons for added texture. Serve immediately for the best flavor and warmth.
Notes
- For a smoother texture, puree the soup partially with an immersion blender before adding the cheese.
- Use vegetable broth to make this recipe vegetarian.
- Adjust the amount of smoked gouda based on your desired cheesiness and smokiness.
- Freshly grated cheese melts better than pre-shredded cheese due to the lack of anti-caking agents.
- Croutons add a delightful crunch but can be omitted for a gluten-free option.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 240 ml)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
