Homemade Italian Broccoli Soup (Print Version)
Velvety Italian-style soup with fresh broccoli, aromatic vegetables, and Parmesan. Ready in 45 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 large head broccoli (approximately 1 lb), cut into florets
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 medium carrot, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 medium potato, peeled and diced
→ Liquids
07 - 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Dairy
09 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
→ Seasonings
10 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme blend)
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
→ Garnish
12 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped
13 - Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
# Directions:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
02 - Add diced potato and broccoli florets to the pot. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally to coat vegetables.
03 - Pour in broth and add dried Italian herbs. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes until vegetables are very tender.
04 - Remove from heat. Using an immersion blender, puree soup until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, carefully transfer to a standard blender in batches.
05 - Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with extra Parmesan, drizzle of olive oil, and fresh herbs if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The potato trick creates the most luxuriously creamy texture without any heavy cream at all
- It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
- This soup freezes beautifully, so you can always have comfort food ready
02 -
- An immersion blender is worth every penny for soup making, but if you use a standard blender, never fill it more than halfway with hot liquid
- The soup will thicken as it sits, so you might need to add a splash of water or broth when reheating leftovers
03 -
- Taste your broth before adding salt at the end, since some brands are much saltier than others
- If the soup seems too thick after blending, add more broth a little at a time until it reaches your preferred consistency