Broccoli Soup au Gratin

This creamy green soup topped with cheesy, homemade au gratin croutons is a delicious way to use broccoli in a vegetarian first course.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 475 Calories

Ingredients

• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1 pinch ground cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 5 cups vegetable broth, or more to taste
• 2 pounds broccoli, trimmed
• 3 slices country white bread, halved crosswise
• 0.5 cup heavy whipping cream

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Step 2

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large pot over medium heat; add onion. Cook and stir until onion turns translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Add garlic; stir for 1 minute. Pour in broth; bring to a simmer over high heat.

Step 3

Separate florets from heads of broccoli. Cut large florets in half. Cut stems in half and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Add broccoli to simmering broth. Cover and cook until broccoli softens slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is very tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

Step 4

Blend broccoli with an immersion blender into a very smooth puree. Stir in cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne. Return soup to medium-low heat; cook until cream is heated through, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

Butter both sides of bread with remaining 1 tablespoon butter and place on the lined baking sheet.

Step 6

Bake bread in the preheated oven, turning halfway through, until toasted and crisp, 4 to 5 minutes.

Step 7

Place 6 oven-proof soup crocks on the foil-lined baking sheet. Ladle soup into the crocks, filling almost to the top. Place 1 piece of toasted bread in each crock; cover with Cheddar cheese.

Step 8

Place baking sheet under broiler and broil until cheese is browned and bubbly, 3 to 4 minutes.

Step 9

Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.