This is a chunky Broccoli and Potato in a thick and creamy soup broth that’s made with no cream. It’s hearty, filling and surprisingly low-cal(ish), clocking in at 400 calories for a generous bowl (and I don’t skimp on serving portions!).
For a hit of protein, add some prawns/shrimp or shredded chicken. And we can pretend that finishing with a sprinkle of bacon is optional….
Potato and Broccoli Soup
This is a thick and creamy soup with potato and broccoli that you’d swear has a bucket of cream in it, but it doesn’t have a single drop. It’s hearty, comforting, tastes rich and indulgent but is in fact relatively healthy with just 405 calories for a VERY big bowl!
It’s one of those recipes that I classify as “accidentally healthy” – I haven’t done anything to reduce calories and thereby compromise on tastiness. It just happens to have a sensible calorie count for a generous size serving that is satisfying to have as a meal in itself.
How this soup is thick and creamy WITHOUT cream
The base of this is a creamy white soup which is made from a roux – sounds fancy (it’s French 😉 ) but it’s just melted butter + flour mixed together which thickens whatever liquids you pour into the soup. A core cooking technique that will serve you well in life once you know how to make it!
It’s the base of almost all creamy things you will find on my website – like this Ham Potato and Corn Chowder, Seafood Gratin Pasta Bake, Creamy Broccoli Gratin and the Cheese sauce topping of things like Lasagna and Greek Moussaka. And it’s the very foundation of the creamy cheesy sauce of a great Mac and Cheese!
Much healthier than using loads and loads of cream!
What you need for this Potato and Broccoli Soup
Here’s what you need for this creamy soup:
The cheese in the above is for stirring through the broth. It doesn’t make it ultra cheesy (we’re not making Mac and Cheese here), it just adds a little touch of flavour and seasoning into the soup, as well as thickening it slightly.
I originally intended to make it optional, but I changed my mind. It’s not a deal killer. But it’s very (very) highly recommended to include it.
Bacon – on the other hand, I’ve left out the sprinkle of bacon because I do consider that as an optional extra. You can also switch it for something else that provides a similar special finishing touch to soups – like croutons (see here), crispy fried shallots (ie the Asian essential), some grated cheese or parmesan. So there’s a few options here.
How to make it
And here are process photos for how to make it. Basically, it starts by making the above described roux, then we cook small cubes of potato first and add the broccoli later (because it cooks faster). The idea here is that by the potato and broccoli are both cooked perfectly, the soup has thickened so it’s beautifully creamy!
Variations
I’ve used broccoli here, but it’s a direct switch out for cauliflower or broccolini as an alternative. Works great and looks elegant – a pure white soup.
But actually, you can use any vegetables you want here. Just put it in so it cooks through within the prescribed recipe time!
And lastly – soup dunkers. I know this already has a starch in it, but who ever says no to something hot and crusty for dunking? Even better if there’s something molten and cheesy on it, and if it has garlic in it as well? Swoon.
Soup Dunkers
That said and done, I do swear that this soup is delicious in its own right, just as it is. Enjoy! – Nagi xx
Watch how to make it
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Broccoli and Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 40g / 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 small onion , finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/3 cup flour
- 2 cups milk , any fat %
- 2 cups chicken broth/stock , low sodium
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 800 g / 1.6 lb potato , peeled and cut into 1.25 / 1/2" cubes (Note 1)
- 5 cups broccoli, small florets (1 large head, ~300g/10oz, Note 1)
- 1+ cups grated cheese , cheddar or tasty (or other of choice)
Garnish, optional
- Cook bacon pieces (highly recommended)
- Shallots/scallions , finely sliced
- Grated cheese
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic, cook for 3 minutes or until onion is softened.
- Add flour and mix into onion mixture. Cook for 30 seconds.
- While stirring, slowly pour the milk in and keep mixing as it turns into a thickish paste that's mostly smooth. Use a whisk to make it smooth if needed.
- Add chicken stock, water, salt and pepper. Stir, then add potato.
- Bring to simmer then adjust heat so it's simmering gently. Cook for 8 minutes (no lid) or until potato is almost cooked. Stir ocassionally so the base doesn't catch.
- Add broccoli and stir. Cook for 2 minutes (or until broccoli is cooked to your liking), then take the pot off the stove.
- Stir through cheese (I use 1 cup) - broth soup be nicely thickened. Add more salt if needed.
- Ladle into bowls and top with garnishes of choice.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published January 2017. Updated with new photos, video and process photos.
More creamy cream-less soups
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Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup – bid Heinz goodbye!
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Browse all Soups
Life of Dozer
Normally I add an update to the Life of Dozer. But in this case, this photo and caption from the original publication date still applies! 😂
From the original publication date:
Not a fan of broccoli…
Hi nagi,
I love your recipes everyone I make it comes up really good . And they are so easy to prepare. Thanks. Have a great day . 👍👍
I love this soup and make it every time we get broccoli in our vege box. It’s delicious, healthy, quick and economical. Two mistakes I have made when impatient to eat it: 1) Putting the broccoli in before the potato is ready. The only thing more heartbreaking than under-cooked potato is over-cooked broccoli – so wait until the potato is soft and ready to eat before throwing in the broccoli 2) Like the recipe says, cut the broccoli into small florets. Tonight in a rush I left them on the big side (I was too focused on eating the finished product…) and while it’s still delicious, very small bits work better in a soup. (Note the recipe is correct on both fronts! Just two shortcuts I’ve regretted in rushing to get it in my bowl.)
Found this recipe last year, and it has become a staple in our household for winter soups! Absolutely amazing, and very simple to make.
Absolutely YUM and very easy I blended the soup for a smoother texture. Well done Nagi
Something that the whole family enioyed tremendously, especially when we just need something easy for the stomach (and teeth). Will be one of our staple. Thank you for the great collection of yummy recipes.
I forgot to add my 5 stars!
That’s amazing Geraldine! I’m glad you liked it!! N x
I just made this and it was AWESOME! I did add some carrots and celery and a little red pepper flakes
Just made this – easy and delicious! I fried up some chorizo (instead of bacon) and added it in at the end with drippings…delicious and so so simple!!
Ummmmm – YES! That sounds amazing! N x
Absolutely delicious, budget friendly and luxurious. The perfect use for leftovers (including pan-fried prosciutto on top). Thanks Nagi, your recipes are brilliant.
Hello Nagi,
Thank you for this delicious soup recipe. I had a head of broccoli cut up in the fridge and I did not know what to use it with. This recipe was perfect! I also only had four potatoes left in the house, so I used them up too! My husband tasted it and said it was very good. Thanks for making and sharing such yummy recipes!
I love a recipe that uses up the leftovers!! N x
I made this and added shredded chicken from a left over BBQ chicken; it was delicious
Made this today on a dreary, rainy day in NE Ohio. Quick and easy with minimal cleanup. I followed the recipe and used shredded white sharp cheddar cheese. The cheese really thickened the soup up well. Would definitely make again. Thanks Nagi.
I am happy that you enjoyed it Linda! N x
I did the recipe exactly as written until the end.. I’m not a big fan of cheese mixed in with soup ..so at the end I added about a 1/4 bag of Idahoan potatoes..I had cheese & bacon flavor..yum.. thanks for the amazing recipe
We love your recipes in our house. I have a vegetable avoiding daughter and two heads of broccoli in the fridge. Am I able to blend this soup to “hide” the vegetables? Or does this cause the consistency to be not as good? Thanks.
Hello! Did you ever try to blend amd did it come out okay? Thanks!
What do the %’s next to nutrition information mean? How to work out how many calories in 1 portion of this soup please?
Hi Kavita – The percent is the percent of the recommended daily allowance of that item one serve makes up. The calories for one seerve are listed there at 405 calories assuming you divide the recipe into 5 servings. N x
Sooooo good! I did half broc/half cauliflower and added a couple sprigs on rosemary I found in my freezer. Tastes like I got it at a fancy restaurant, and it’s made from all pantry ingredients!
Can I use frozen broccoli for this?
Delicious- but a few changes made it fabulous. More garlic. Half onion half celery. Instead of 1 c water used 1/2 c vegetable stock, 3/4 c Chardonnay and 1 T better then bouillon. Add d 1/2 t red pepper flakes and since used more liquid added 1/2 & 1/2 to my 2% milk. Use 1 lb potato and more vegetables- I used cauliflower and broccoli. Superb!!
OOPS! I forgot to add all the stars! 5+.
Oh, this was awesome! As a kid, I was always assigned to stand over the double-boiler to make the roux at holiday meals. Call me naive but I just now realized I’d mastered the art of it in 6th grade home economics; (that was the USA’s torture-required class for girls vs. boys. They got to do woodworking shop) but this is a base for so much else! I admit I cheated a little and pre-cooked little golden nugget potatoes leaving the skin on to hold them together. I also blanched the veg, to just bright green, again my convenience vs. really tiny kitchen. I used extra cheese and a tiny bit of cornstarch/water for extra thick chowder-type finish. It was great! Not one bit leftover! Thanks again for a real winner. Flap/Florida