30 October, 2007

Winter Warmers - Cream of Broccoli Soup

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Cream of Broccoli Soup with Garlic Baguettes

BEAUTIFUL Soup, so rich and green,
Waiting in a hot tureen!
Who for such dainties would not stoop?
Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup!
Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup!

Beau--ootiful Soo-oop!
Beau--ootiful Soo-oop!
Soo--oop of the e--e--evening,
Beautiful, beautiful Soup!

Beautiful Soup! Who cares for fish,
Game, or any other dish?
Who would not give all else for two
Pennyworth only of Beautiful Soup?
Pennyworth only of beautiful Soup?

Beau--ootiful Soo-oop!
Beau--ootiful Soo-oop!
Soo--oop of the e--e--evening,
Beautiful, beauti--FUL SOUP!
-Lewis Carroll


Remember this poem from Lewis Carroll’s magnificent creativity Alice in Wonderland? The story has always intrigued me ever since I was a small kid. I loved the strange and absurd things that happens in the wonderland and the amazing creativity behind it that never failed to take me to my own wonderland, playing with Dinah and singing and dancing with bizarre characters from Wonderland. Oh yes!!! I grew up as a kid with wild imaginations, just like Alice. I laughed at absurdity and loved Alice’s curiosity and cheered her courage when faced with difficult phases. Carroll opened the new world, a wonderland, to me and made me see the beauty in the unknown.

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?”

At first, the story of Alice in Wonderland would sound quite mundane. However, if you read the story carefully you will realise its not just any ordinary child fiction. Alice in Wonderland is a story filled with underlying philosophy and many secrets. It’s these strangeness and nonsensical ideas which are quite compelling. Remember the annoyingly witty Cheshire Cat? That’s one character I loved to hate. He would put Alice in trouble and yet his wittiness and that stupid grin never failed me to grudgingly adore him. Some characters made me laugh and some scared me, some of them are funny and others are rude. However, all the characters are quite colourful and will always remain part of my childhood memories be it stupid Dodo or foul tempered Queen of Hearts and her diminutive husband the King of Hearts or eccentric White Rabbit and many more…

Coming back to present from my wonderland, I was singing “Beau--ootiful Soo-oop!“ while making Cream of Broccoli Soup and soon hubby dear joined me when slurping this warm and delicious bowl of soup. Simple soup with few ingredients and very little preparation needed is a joyous song to my soul ;) Little chunks of broccoli are simmered in hearty vegetable stock and milk and lightly flavoured with garlic and a peppercorn is sure to win everyone’s heart. When served with herbed garlic baguette it becomes one satisfying meal all together.

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Cream of Broccoli Soup
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 20 mins
Serves: 3-4


Ingredients:
1 small Broccoli (approx 3 tightly packed cups)
½ medium Onion, very finely chopped
1-2 Garlic Flakes, very finely chopped
1-1½ tbsp Corn Flour
1 tbsp Butter/Oil
¼ cup Cream (optional, I used single cream)
1 cup Milk
4-5 cups Vegetable Stock (Broth)/2-3 Veg Stock Cubes
Salt & Pepper to taste
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Cream of Broccoli Soup

Method:
Chop the broccoli head and stems to very fine pieces and keep them aside.
Heat butter/oil in a pan and add finely chopped garlic flakes and sauté them till they turn light golden.
Now add very finely chopped onions and sauté them for 2-3 minutes over a medium flame till the raw smell disappears and they turn light golden.
To this add vegetable broth and finely chopped broccoli. Cover and cook for 10 minutes till the broccoli becomes tender.
At this stage you can cool the stock completely and blend it into smooth puree without any lumps. Or else if you like some body to the soup and don’t mind the broccoli pieces like me continue the following steps.
Add milk, salt and pepper to taste and simmer the flame. Keep stirring the soup for few more minutes so that the milk doesn’t curdle.
Dissolve cornflour in ¼ cup of cold water without forming any lumps and pour slowly to the soup. Keep stirring the soup so that no lumps are formed.
Add cream and simmer and cook for another 5-10 minutes till the soup thickens and bubbles are formed on the surface. Serve hot with garlic baguettes and enjoy.
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Cream of Broccoli Soup with Garlic Baguettes


Tips:
If you prefer thick soup then increase the amount of corn flour used.
Adding fresh cream gives extra smoothness and body to the soup. Addition of cream is optional if you don't prefer heavy soups.

56 comments:

  1. Oye...u re back to ur soup action :)
    simplicity of the prep'n and ingredients make me wanna try this at the earliest!

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  2. MMMMMMMM....looks so comforting and creamy and delicious! :) I never really read alice in wonderland after school, must read it again and see. A lot of times, what seem to be childrens' tales, have a deeper meaning to them.

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  3. This is my all time favorite soup, Sups! winter or summer, i am all for this one :-D. and to top it all, you are talking about Alice in the Wonderland! This post is so close to my heart, in every possible way :-D.

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  4. Sia....Beautiful write-up .....Loved it absolutely....and the soup looks heavenly :-)))

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  5. Yum Yum...I love creamy soups. Recently I tried this in a restaurant and did not like it when I had my first sip. But by the time I finished the bowl I fell in love with it that I skipped the dinner and went for another bowl. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Must try it for sure. Looks so delicious and comforting with that garlic bread on the side.

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  6. hehehe! so u are a fan of Alice in Wonderland too!!
    love the Queen shouting ''off with her head'' and the duchess finding a moral in everything!!
    Sooooooooop looooooooks yum!

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  7. Love soups on winter days... this is the one soup I haven't tried yet. Great presentation as always.

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  8. I tried COB soup once with milk+corn flour. Dint like it much. Heavy cream should do the trick, I guess. Soup looks lovely!

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  9. Hey that looks so creamy with loadds of Broccoli...never tried brocoli before...should try this one sometime...Thanx for the recipe!!
    I have seen alice in wonderland when i was soo young to understand...wish now I could see again...
    Your soup poem is beautiful just like your soup!!!

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  10. Some how I never tried broccoli soup. I use it a lot in curries, pasta and even stuffed parathas. Soup looks nice. Winter has started here and even I started making soups.

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  11. just the way i love my soup - nice and healthy :)

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  12. Hello dear,How are u?
    After a long time I am visiting ur site..Oh my!Lot of changes and Ur blog became really beautiful..Loved everychanges u made...Creamy Soup looks deleicious!!

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  13. Sia,loved Alice in the wonderland as a kid I think Levis Caroll is one of the best author, but I was major into detective kind of novels, used to love reading famous 5 ,Nancy Drew cannot even tell you how much I wanted to be like her when I grow up :).
    Soups excellent for the cold chili autumn evenings

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  14. Sia..I had once tasted this soup in a restaurant in Singapore. I fell in love with its taste. Your recipe is tempting me to try it. Great Pics! I had read alot of books of Alice in Wonderland..but bleekily remember them. I need to go back and read them to tell some stories to my boy.

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  15. yummyy.. warm and comforting!!

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  16. Sia the soup is appetizing. Very nice presentation.Viji

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  17. Hi Sia,
    Delicious looking soup... Comfort food for rainy and winter season..
    Beautiful pic.. thanks for sharing.

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  18. Just what I need right now, lovely bowl of soup...things have really cooled down, haven't they...as for 'Alice...',I loved the bit with the queen of hearts...really hilarious.

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  19. Winter warmer it sure is. Simple ingredients and a quick winner.

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  20. you make soups like my father - loaded with cream. in delhi winter he used to kill us with large quantities of soup he'd prepare everyday. :D

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  21. I love broccoli soup. I have a version of this too on my blog:-)

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  22. Yay! Soup!
    Yay! Poetry!

    This looks delicious, think I'm going to skip the cream when I try it out this week - perfect soup for cold weather.

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  23. Great soup for cold. I have to start on some soup too but all these Festivals are not letting me!:D
    Love Broccoli soup with cheese. Looks delicious. I have posted one too long time ago, kids like it. Enjoy. Happy Hallowen. Yup, Diwali is coming too!:)

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  24. Beautiful Sup is back with her Beau--ootiful Soo-oops :) yummmm...

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  25. Sia,
    Warm and delicious soup for the cold days ahead? Superb.
    The 2nd pic is too good..just adore those tiny broccoli heads emerging out of the soup.

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  26. Thats a delicious bowl of soup. Thx for recipe.

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  27. I'm not a great fan for broccoli...but I do have to credit you for the beautiful soup:)

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  28. :Slurp: :Slurp: :Slurp:
    Love the rich texture of the soup dear.. It must have tasted heavenly in this chilly winters.. a definite try..:D thanks for sharing

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  29. You know I have somehow never gotten around to have this soup, I don't know why but my inners cringe at the site of it and try as I might I just avoid it. Actually I have not even tried tasting it.

    Your "BOOOO-ti-ful" son though assures me there is nothing "Boo" about it and maybe I should give this soup a fair chance

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  30. If i slurp that delicious looking soup i would also start singinh beautiful soup :-)

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  31. this is one of my fav of favs soup. I have to make some at the weekend.

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  32. Wow!!creamy and yummy!it's raining here!..and I am craving for that, my dear girl..
    ...sia, I am sure the chain would reach UK..well before the US girls can lay their hands upon...but you have to wait patiently..:)

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  33. awesome pics!! m sure the soup tasted as gud as it looks.

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  34. I love broccoli, though I don't cook at home, I have it when I go to restaurants. In any form it is always my favorite be it steamed, fresh in salad or in chinese noodles. I never had soup though, I will have to try this. It looks awesome.

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  35. That looks very good Sia. After several attempts, I've finally found one version that works great for us and have it in my draft .. yet to post. I should try yours too :)

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  36. HI Sia,
    Your blog is looking so Colorful
    i will try this soup definetly.
    vineela

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  37. Oh perfect! Never tried this one and just this past weekend, we had a friend over from the US who was asking if I could make it! Now I can try with yur yummy recipe :)

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  38. i have big head of wrapped brocolli sitting in my fridge from days
    i dont think i have engery to make this soup but that was truly beautiful...

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  39. lovely soup! i like the one they serve at au bon pain, though that has equal amount of cheese...LOL

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  40. Great....My dear what a clear photo.....yummy!!!

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  41. sia, my actual name is Alice and when i was a kid, i used to believe that i am the Alice in Wonderland! you brought back sweet memories.. :))
    the soup looks soo inviting! a nice way of eating broccoli...

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  42. hey Sia! very comforting recipe and lovely looking pics as usual!! :) So, how've u been? long time..... btw, I love the ew look of ur blog!! :)

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  43. I have been meaning to try it, but never get around to it. Yours looks delicious Sups, will try your recipe... It's been ages since I read Alice in Wonderland... wonder if I have a copy!

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  44. Gr8 soup and perfect for the cold weather.

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  45. My goodness it looks so gorgeously yummy.

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  46. chalige soup layak kandtu :) lovely picture that too liked th edescription of alice in wonderland

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  47. It looks sooo comforting! :)
    I wish I has some now... it is sooo cold here in Norht London.

    Have a great day, Margot

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  48. Nice soup!:) I love the vegetable and definitely it lends a richness to any dish!:)

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  49. yummy... I also made broccoli and mushroom soup recently :)

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  50. Looks nice Sups! Will try when I come back from India, should be cold enough for soup then. And I enjoyed all the memories of Alice in Wonderland!:)

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  51. @all,
    thank you all for ur valuable comments. due to busy scedule i am not able to individually respond to each and every comment. hugs to u all:)

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  52. This is one of the best recipes ever for broccoli soup!
    I tried this one with great misgivings:I am not a huge fan of broccoli and other recipes in the past for this soup have proved disastrous!

    Keep up the good work- I love this recipe and I can't wait to make this soup again!

    S

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  53. Hi sia,

    I want to try your recipe of cream of broccoli as my husband just loves it.

    But you have mentioned in your recipe to add vegetable broth or vegetable cubes,

    Can u explain me what are they exactly?

    Regards
    Arthi

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  54. @Arthi, veg stock is the reserved water in which mixed vegs are cooked. I usually prepare them by cooking mixed vegetables with little seasonings and freeze it in containers. If u don't have time for making veg stock u can simply use stock cubes (veg, chicke, beef etc) or seasonings that are available in any supermarket under different brands like maggi, oxo, knor etc. just google search for veg stock cubes or recipe for preparing veg broth or stock at home.

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  55. Hi Sia,
    Thanks for this recipe..I used to make it without veg stock..just the cream, cornflour, roasted almond brocolli but adding veg stock made it rich in taste.

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