Do you know that broccoli is an edible green plant in the cabbage family? Well, it is and its large flowering head and stalk is eaten as a vegetable. The word broccoli comes from the Italian plural of broccolo, which means "the flowering crest of a cabbage". Broccoli is, according to many health reports, a nutritional source of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. It can keep you healthy by improving your blood sugar control, boosting your immunity, reducing inflammation and promoting heart health.
Broccoli can be enjoyed either raw or cooked. For the former, it can be used as one of the ingredients in salads. For the latter, it can be steamed (quick steaming is the best way to retain its nutrients), stir-fried, roasted or made into soups. Broccoli soups are easy to make with the ingredients easily available in our fridges or larder.
Ingredients:
Broccoli can be enjoyed either raw or cooked. For the former, it can be used as one of the ingredients in salads. For the latter, it can be steamed (quick steaming is the best way to retain its nutrients), stir-fried, roasted or made into soups. Broccoli soups are easy to make with the ingredients easily available in our fridges or larder.
Ingredients:
- 1 head of broccoli
- 1 yellow onion
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1 big potato
- 3 tbsp cream (or more)
- cooking oil
- salt
- pepper
- water
- butter (optional)
Method:
- Cut the broccoli head from the stem. Cut the head into florets. Peel off the hard exterior of the stem and slice it.
- Remove the skin of the yellow onion and slice it thinly.
- Chop up the garlic.
- Skin the potato and cut into smaller pieces.
- Heat up 2 spoonfuls of cooking oil in a pot.
- Saute the onion till it is fragrant.
- Add the chopped garlic and continue to saute till garlic is fragrant.
- Add the sliced broccoli stem and potato.
- Add water into the pot till it covers the ingredients. Let the water boil till the onion, broccoli stem and potato are soft.
- Add the florets and boil till they soften.
- Turn off the fire and let the pot of ingredients cool down.
- Once they have cooled down, blend them either with a hand-held blender or a blender. If using a blender, blend the ingredients in about 3-4 batches.
- Return the soup to the pot.
- Heat up the soup and add cream.
- (Optional) Add a dollop of butter.
- Add salt and pepper according to taste.
- Serve hot with baguette or garlic bread.