Just 176 calories, and low in fat, my 6-minute vegan broccoli & cheese blender soup is as delicious as it is quick to make. Just throw everything into the VAC2 blender, blitz for a few minutes, et voilà - soup in an (almost) instant! Decant some into a flask, and you have a speedy, healthy lunch to take to work in less time than it's taken for your morning toast to cook!
Y'know, there's something I've noticed about living on the east coast seaside in winter... it rains a lot, and is very windy. All. The. Gorram. Time.
Which means of course, that I always have an excuse to make soup. Not that I need one - I'm the kind of person who greedily devours soup all year-round, no matter what the weather, or wherever I am in the world. For me, soup is one of life's great culinary pleasures.
As you know, I recently took charge of a fab new high-speed Optimum VAC2 Air Vacuum Blender from Froothie. And if you don't know, you need to go and read my review right now.
It's okay, I'll wait...
So anyway, one of first things I wanted to try in my Optimum VAC2 Air Vacuum Blender was soup. Why? Quite honestly because I was highly sceptical of the claim that it could make hot soup in six minutes... but guess what? It's totally true! And it really couldn't be easier; simply add the ingredients to the blender jar, press the soup preset, and then the on button. That's all there is to it. The VAC2 does the rest, and six minutes later, you have a jar of piping hot soup!
Now, I'm not saying that all soups will be suitable for making in the VAC2 - my caramelised onion and hearty mushroom soups, to name but two, won't work, nor will my Tuscan bean soup because all of these are chunky (to a greater or lesser degree). I'm also not sure how pumpkin or potato soups would work - not very well, I imagine. In fact, I tried a raw pumpkin soup once, and it really was barfable.
However, for delicate veggies which don't really need to be cooked, such as broccoli, spinach, mange-tout, asparagus, mushrooms, etc. making soup in the VAC2 is a great option because the soup is heated, rather than cooked, which means that fewer nutrients are lost during the process.
I must admit that I'm utterly hooked on making soup with the VAC2 blender... and I bet you would be too! Chop, dump, blend... soup! Easy-peasy!
(Of course, if you don't have a high-speed blender, you can cook this soup in a pan, then blend afterward - it will still be delicious!)
6-Minute Vegan Broccoli & Cheese Blender Soup
Is...
- ridiculously easy to make
- ready in a jiffy
- nutrient-dense
- low-fat
- low-cal
- gluten-free
- nut-free
- full of goodness
- super-deelish!
Depending on the cheese you use, this 6-minute vegan broccoli & cheese blender soup can be soy-free too, and is ready in less time than it takes to make two slices of toast! Serve with some croutons or some crusty bread, and you're good to go! Enjoy!
What's your favourite way to make broccoli and cheese soup?
6-Minute Vegan Broccoli & Cheese Blender Soup
Ingredients
- 1 large onion roughly chopped
- 4 cloves garlic halved
- 250 g tenderstem broccoli roughly chopped
- 6 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- 750 ml vegetable broth
- 100 g vegan cheese, grated (note 2)
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients, except the cheese, into the Optimum VAC2 Air Vacuum Blender, push the lid down firmly, press the soup preset button, then press the on/off button.
- Decant the soup into bowls, and stir in the vegan cheese, reserving a little for decoration.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days, or in the freezer for up to three months.
Notes
- I use home-made but if you use low-sodium stock or bouillon cubes/powder instead, I recommend going for the low-sodium option.
- I used Tesco's Free-From Blue Cheese Alternative.
- 1 cup = US cup = 240 ml
- 1 tablespoon = US/UK = 15 ml
- 1 fl oz = US = 30 ml
I used my Optimum VAC2 Air Vacuum Blender for this recipe; if you want to try out this great blender for yourself (more information in my review), Froothie is offering yumsome readers free shipping. Simply add the following code into the comments box when you check out, or if you order by 'phone, relay the code to the person taking your order. The delivery charge will be refunded to your credit or debit card.
In addition, Froothie offers a no-risk 30 day trial, plus a no-deposit, interest-free payment plan on every blender on the Froothie website. The VAC2 is currently on special offer, with £100 off the usual price.
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Cathy @ Planet Veggie
I haven't made soup in my VAC2 yet as I like to fry garlic and onions first when I make soup but I am intrigued by the convenience of it. Just one thing though - do you really take over six minutes to make toast? You must like it 'well done' 🙂
Nico
Yep - I can't bear pale, insipid toast! Also, I don't like it hot, so once it's cooked, I prop it up on its side, and leave it to cool before putting anything on it. 😉 xx
Kate | Veggie Desserts
Oooh this looks incredible! I must whiz a bowl up very soon!
Nico
Thanks Kate - I hope you love it! xx
Corina Blum
This sounds so delicious! I'm eating a lot of soups at the moment and always love soup recipes. That blender sounds so useful too. Thanks for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice!
Nico
Oh me too - I'm such a huge fan of soups. I'm sure I could have a blog just for soups, and never run out of recipes! xx
Midge @ Peachicks' Bakery
YUM! What a lovely colour - definitely going to save this one for later! thanks for sharing 🙂
Nico
It's a beautiful colour, isn't it? And fab-tasting too! xx
Claudia
Sounds like a perfect soup for my eveninngs, when Ím comng back hungry from work. ?
Nico
Oh, it really is, Claudia - especially since it's so quick! xx
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Broccoli cheddar soup was always one of my moms favorites!
Nico
You mum is clearly a lady of taste, Rebecca! xx
Nicole | What She Ate
I haven't made broccoli cheese soup in a few years, but now I'm craving it. Love the sound of your version! Great comfort food for these windy, rainy days.
Nico
I really hope you love it too, Nicole! xx
Jacqui Bellefontaine
Wow so quick and it looks delicious.
Thank you for linking up to #CookBlogShare
Nico
Thanks so much Jacqui - I hope you get to try it! xx
Choclette
Oh fabulous Nico. I haven't tried the soup function yet and am also a bit sceptical, so it's good to know you've tested it and it works. Your soup sounds delicious. Not sure about mushrooms though. As I understand it, they're not that good for you unless cooked.
Nico
That whole thing about mushrooms is pretty much nonsense, Choclette. There is no science to back up Fuhrman and Greger's claims (which actually contradict each other). Agaritine has not be found to have any deleterious effect upon humans, and the studies which Fuhrman cites were a) carried out on mice, and b) very out of date (1986 & 2002). Subsequent studies on mice who consumed agaritine every single day have found no effect whatsoever.
There's a world of difference between lab animals exposed to a concentrated form of a toxic compound that's found in tiny amounts in edible mushrooms, and humans consuming the actual food. Furthermore, a recent study upon leukaemia cells in petri dishes showed that actually, far from being carcinogenic, agaritine can have the opposite effect, and may be useful in treatments against cancer. Also, agaritine dissipates when mushrooms are dried, or kept in the fridge - so again, there's no need for concern.
You have to remember that people like Fuhrman and Greger et al have an agenda... which is to part people from their money. They often use shockingly bad science and scaremongering to frighten people into buying their products (e.g. books), and rely on the fact that most people are happy to be told how they should be living their lives. Most people won't conduct any research themselves but it's easy to find, and get to the truth of things.
Bottom line though, is that we all have a choice, and we don't feel comfortable doing a thing (e.g. eating raw mushrooms), then we can choose not to. But I do believe we owe it to ourselves to find out facts, and base our decision-making upon real evidence, and not manipulated half-truths designed to exploit people's naivety, while making someone a fat pile of cash! xx
Choclette
Hahaha, you obviously know a bit more about it than me. I shall set CT onto it. He's the main researcher in our household. I'm just about to make your soup now - or a version of it anyway 😀
Nico
I make it my business to know, Choclette! I really hate bad science, and I hate it even more when it's used in conjunction with fear-mongering to manipulate people into parting with their money. 😉
How did you get on with the soup? I'm about to make your apple and parsnip one... which I was going to the do the other day but got sidetracked! I won't be making it in the VAC2 though! xx
Emma @ FreeFromFarmhouse
I always have bits of small leftover broccoli in my frozen bag so this sounds like a great way to use it up. I keep meaning to experiment with nutritonal yeast so I'll give it a go. I love a good batch of soup!
Nico
I love nooch (nutritional yeast), Emma; it's so good in so many dishes, and while it doesn't taste exactly the same as mature cheddar, for example, it really does add a cheesy flavour to things. In smaller quantities, it's a great flavour enhancer too. Definitely worth experimenting with! xx
Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food
I am all ABOUT broccoli cheese soup—especially with a ultra-low calorie count like yours!! I may have to add an Optimum VAC2 Air Vacuum Blender to my kitchen gadget arsenal in the very near future...
Nico
At the risk of sounding like an evil enabler, do it, Michelle! LOLOL! xx
Corina Blum
This looks really delicious! I can imagine that living by the sea you definitely need lots of soups at the moment to warm you up and I love the sound of your blender. Although I have to remind myself I really don't need another kitchen gadget! Thanks for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice x
Nico
You're so right - it's very chilly here in Kent... but today is bright and sunny too. I may go for a walk along the beach a bit later! I hear you about the gadgets; I try to make sure that big ones have multiple functions, or else I'd be inundated! My CrockPot, for example, as well as slow-cooking, also roasts, bakes, sautés, steams, and cooks perfect rice too. I'm actually wondering whether I can use it for canning too! My VAC2 is a similar kind of workhorse, and I really do love that it has so much oomph! xx
Mandy
I actually don't know that I've ever had broccoli soup - which is something I intend to rectify asap now I've read this recipe and seen your delicious looking photographs!
Nico
Have you not, Mandy? You definitely need to rectify that! When I'm not slicing them thinly and using them as water chestnut substitutes in stir-fries, I very often just use calabrese stems - they're fab in broc soup. I hope you enjoy it when you make it! xx