I love cheesy broccoli soup.  Unfortunately, if you are on a tiny budget or a diet, it’s not exactly the best option.

So, I cheat.

Cook up potatoes and carrots, then blend it into an orange bisque-like base.  As they say, you eat with your eyes first, and the color plus some strongly flavored cheese (I use sharp cheddar) fools the senses.  Stir in some milk or cream, chopped broccoli, and add sharp cheddar and you’d never know how cheap the ingredients are.

Try substituting white beans for the potatoes to make this a protein packed main dish meal.  Just whiz it up into a creamy puree.

Cheater’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Serves: 4, generous portions  Time: 45 minutes

4 potatoes

4 medium carrots

1/2 med onion

8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, plus more for garnish

12 oz. frozen chopped broccoli

Put potatoes, onion, and carrots in a soup pot and barely cover with water.  Add salt and pepper, and garlic if you like.  Cook until tender.  Using a blender, puree until smooth.  Pour back into soup pot.  Add frozen chopped broccoli, heat through without boiling.  Add 2 cups milk or cream (until it is as thick or thin as you like it) and cheese, heating through until cheese melts.

Serve with whole grain rolls.

Linking up!

Pennywise Platter at The Nourishing Gourmet 

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Tagged as: 40 Days of Soup, frugal food, recipe, Soup, vegetarian