Homemade Italian Broccoli Soup (Printable)

Velvety Italian-style broccoli soup with aromatic vegetables and Parmesan, ready in under an hour.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large head broccoli, 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 - 1/2 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 (optional)
13 - Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Sauté for 5–6 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
02 - Add the diced potato and broccoli florets. Cook for another 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Pour in the broth and add the dried Italian herbs. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are very tender.
04 - Remove from heat. Using an immersion blender (or carefully transfer to a blender in batches), puree the soup until smooth and creamy.
05 - Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with extra Parmesan, a drizzle of olive oil, and fresh herbs if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The potato creates this incredible silky texture without any heavy cream
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
  • Perfect for using up broccoli that is starting to look a bit tired
02 -
  • Never blend hot soup with the blender completely sealed or it might burst from pressure buildup
  • Letting the vegetables get really tender before blending makes the difference between grainy and silky smooth
03 -
  • Reserve a few small broccoli florets to steam separately and use as a pretty garnish
  • Stir the Parmesan in off the heat to prevent it from separating or becoming grainy

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