Broccoli and cheese are to soup what peanut butter and jelly are to sandwiches. Adding potato and sour cream gives this hearty winter soup a creamy texture with a touch of tang.

This recipe was featured as part of our Winter Ingredients photo gallery.

  • Yields: 4 to 6 servings
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Total: 1 hr 10 mins

Ingredients (10)

  • 1 1/2 pounds broccoli (about 1 large head)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion, medium dice
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 medium russet potato (about 8 ounces)
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 5 ounces)
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream

Instructions

  1. Remove the florets from the broccoli head and cut them into 1-inch pieces. Place half in a large bowl and half in a small bowl; set aside. Cut off the bottom of the stalk and use a vegetable peeler to trim away the woody outer layer. Cut the stalk into 1-inch pieces and place them in the large bowl with the florets; set aside.
  2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, peel the potato and cut it into 1-inch pieces. Add the potato, chicken broth, water, and reserved pieces of stalk and florets from the large bowl to the saucepan, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the potato pieces and broccoli stalks can be easily pierced with a knife, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the remaining florets into 1/4-inch pieces; set aside.
  4. Using a blender, purée the soup in batches until smooth, removing the small cap from the blender lid (the pour lid) and covering the space with a kitchen towel (this allows steam to escape and prevents the blender lid from popping off). Place the blended soup in a clean saucepan and return it to low heat. Add the reserved broccoli florets and simmer until they are tender and can easily be pierced with a knife, about 10 minutes. Stir in the cheese and sour cream. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.