Homemade Italian Broccoli Soup (Printable)
Comforting velvety soup with fresh broccoli, aromatic vegetables, and Parmesan. Ready in 45 minutes.
# Ingredient List:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 large head broccoli (about 1.1 lbs), 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 (optional)
13 - Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling (optional)
# Steps:
01 - Heat 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 diced potato and broccoli florets to the pot. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally to coat vegetables.
03 - Pour in broth and add dried Italian herbs. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes until vegetables are very tender.
04 - Remove from heat. Using an immersion blender or carefully transferring to a standard blender in batches, puree soup until smooth and creamy.
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, a drizzle of olive oil, and fresh herbs if desired. Serve hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The potato trick creates a silky texture without any heavy cream
- It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
02 -
- Never puree hot soup in a regular blender without venting, or it will explode everywhere
- The potato is not optional, it is what gives the soup that velvety restaurant texture
03 -
- Start with less salt than you think you need, because Parmesan adds plenty on its own
- Use an immersion blender if you can, it makes cleanup so much easier