Dairy Free Broccoli & Cheddar Soup
Dec 18, 2023
This Dairy Free, Creamy Broccoli & Cheddar Soup is my go-to in the winter! It has the perfect amount of creaminess, flavor, and will have you reaching for seconds.
CATEGORY:
Dinner, Lunch, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Vegetarian Option, Refined Sugar Free, Keto, Soy Free, Corn Free
As soon as the weather drops below 60 degrees, it is automatically soup season for me. There is literally nothing better than a warm bowl of soup - especially one that is creamy, flavorful, and can fill me up!
This Dairy Free, Broccoli & Cheddar Soup recipe has been at the top of the weekly menu rotation! I love how you can prep the roasted broccoli and bacon beforehand, so with the right tools it is super easy to whip up. It is dairy-free so it's easy on the gut, and the added gut-loving ingredients of bone broth and nutritional yeast makes it even better for your digestion.
I have been perfecting this recipe over the past month because I literally didn't want to tell the difference between this soup and "normal" broccoli and cheddar soup. Since broccoli and cheddar soup has to be one of my fav things in the winter, I wanted it to fill up every inch of my soul when the temperature dropped in the city. And I have to admit, I think I cracked the code!
What you need to make DF Broccoli & Cheddar Soup
For this recipe, I was inspired by a recipe from The Fit Cookie, but I wanted to make it a little bit easier on my gut. So, I used the below ingredients to add in additional macronutrients like zinc, selenium, magnesium, Vitamin B, and more! Your gut will love you for it but your tastebuds will be loving you even more 😉
But the real winner in this recipe is the nutritional yeast. It not only gives this recipe a nutty and cheesy flavor, but it's a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals like Vitamin B, zinc, potassium, and more! Plus, it's gluten, soy, and sugar free, so I know it won't trigger a flare up.
Roasted broccoli florets - This will give you the best flavor.
Bone Broth - Essential for repairing your gut lining (especially if you have leaky gut) plus gives this soup a higher protein content.
Coconut milk - A great alternative for heavy cream. Make sure it is unsweetened and go for the full fat one for extra creaminess.
Yellow onion and celery stalks - Has prebiotics and fiber to help your digestive system.
Arrowroot powder - The perfect alternative to cornstarch and is also gluten free. Have been using it as a gentle thickener for soups lately since I am intolerant to corn. A little goes a long way, so start out with the recommended amount and increase by 1/2 teaspoon as needed.
Nutritional Yeast - Incredible source of Vitamin B that is essential for overall digestive health and metabolic function.
The spices - Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that can reduce overall inflammation in your gut.
Dairy-Free Cheddar Cheese - Is just fun to have on top and really gives it the illusion it has dairy! Plus, I found this amazing dairy-free brand that is gentle on the gut and doesn't have as many additives since it is olive oil based.
Bacon - Provides the most flavor and texture to this recipe. Definitely not great for the gut, but we need balance in our diet! If you are vegetarian/vegan, you don't have to include it!
I cooked this soup in a large pot and used my Vitamix blender to blend the base of the soup. Then, I pulsed in the broccoli because we still wanted a chunky, thick soup (no broccoli puree here!).
It keeps well for a week in a tightly-closed container, but I doubt it will even last that long!
Give it a try and let me know what you think! Stay cozy my friends 🍜✨
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Another recipe I think you'll love!
Dairy Free Broccoli & Cheddar Soup
10 minutes
30 minutes
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Total Time:
Servings:
Category:
40 minutes
6 Servings
Dinner, Lunch, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Vegetarian Option, Refined Sugar Free, Keto, Soy Free, Corn Free
This Dairy Free, Creamy Broccoli & Cheddar Soup is my go-to in the winter! It has the perfect amount of creaminess, flavor, and will have you reaching for seconds.
Ingredients
Avocado oil or any neutral cooking oil
4 Cups fresh broccoli florets
1/2 yellow onion, roughly chopped
2 stalks of celery, chopped
32 oz (4 cups) bone broth
1 1/2 cups of coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon garlic poweder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 1/2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
Salt & pepper to season broccoli and soup
1 cup dairy-free shredded cheddar style cheese
6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
Instructions
Step 1
Set oven to 400 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. With washed and dried broccoli florets, spread them evenly between the two baking sheets. Drizzle with avocado oil (or any cooking oil) and lightly season with salt and pepper.
Roast for 20 minutes until broccoli edges are starting to brown.
Step 2
While the broccoli is cooking, add the chopped onion and celery to a heated pot with about 1 tablespoon of avocado oil. Sauté 6-8 minutes, until vegetables have softened and are slightly browned.
Step 3
Once the onion and celery are softened, add in your bone broth, all of the spices, and bring to a slight boil until reducing to a simmer. Cover with a lid and allow it to simmer
Step 4
While the broth is simmering, gently whisk the coconut milk and arrow root powder in a medium bowl. Slowly add this mixture to your broth, stirring occasionally until it starts to thicken.
Cover and continue to simmer for about 5 minutes.
Step 5
Once the broccoli is done, remove and let cool for a few minutes, until you can safely touch it. At this point, you can pop the bacon slices in the oven to let cook while you finish the soup. (Follow the instructions on the bacon ackage to cook properly).
Step 6
After the soup has simmered and is thickened for about five minutes, it’s time to prepare your standalone blender or immersion blender.
If you are using a standalone blender, Add all of the broth mixture to your blender. If pouring the broth, be careful and pour away from your body; it will be hot!
Add the lid and start blending on low, gradually increasing to a medium speed until everything is blended smoothly, about one minute.
Step 7
Once everything has blended smoothly, add 3/4 of your roasted broccoli to the blender. Pulse for about 30 seconds. You don’t want it to be completely smooth, but you do want it blended until it’s speckled with bits of broccoli.
Step 8
Add the blended soup mixture back to your pot. With your stove on a low heat, slowly stir in the dairy free cheddar style cheese. Serve hot, topped with roasted broccoli and crumbled bacon!