Creamy Vegan Broccoli Soup
One of my recent favorite soups. It has that rich and thickness that can be hard to find in vegan cream. It is simple and I have most of the ingredients on hand usually.
One trick for swallowing disorders is making things either thicker or thinner, depending on what is easiest for you. I recently started using potato flakes to thicken soups and really enjoy the result. Try your own version of this one and let me know what you think!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil (vegan butter or avocado oil)
- 5 cups chopped broccoli (approx. 2 heads. Both crowns and stems)
- 2/3 cups chopped carrots (approx. 2 carrots)
- 2/3 cup chopped celery (approx. 2 ribs)
- 2/3 cups chopped onion (approx. 1 onion)
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 6 tablespoon gluten-free flour (rice flour or 1-to-1 mix are good options)
- 4 cups vegetable broth (approx. 1L)
- 2 cups original or unsweetened non-dairy milk (500mL)
- ¾ cup full-fat canned coconut milk (185mL. Feel free to substitute with more non-dairy milk)
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast flake
- ½ teaspoon crushed red chili flakes (optional)
- 1-3 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
1) In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
2) Add the broccoli, carrot, celery, onion, and garlic.
3) Sauté until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
4) Sprinkle vegetables with flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
5) Gradually add vegetable broth and non-dairy milk. Keep stirring constantly, otherwise it will get lumpy.
6) Add the coconut milk and vegan cheese or nutritional yeast.
7) Simmer on medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
8) Blend until smooth. If you want, you can puree only ½, but for swallowing issues do the whole thing.
9) If you need to make it thinner, add vegetable broth or non-dairy milk. For a thicker soup stir a but of flour with a bit of cold water, add to the pot and let it simmer a few minutes. You can also thicken it with potato flakes.
10) Stir in lemon juice. Taste and add any extra salt, pepper or lemon juice.
11) If you used unsweetened non-dairy milk, you can add a small amount of sugar. If you used cheese instead of nutritional yeast you may need additional salt.
12) To serve: Top with pepper and a drizzle of oil.
VARIATION: Substitute nutritional yest and crushed red chili’s with pepper jack cheese shreds for a different flavor of creamy.