French broccoli soup

Sure my kids ask for seconds of roasted asparagus and whipped purple potatoes, but I couldn’t coax them past a few tries of this recipe for broccoli soup. But I didn’t mind. I wanted the leftovers. Ever since I tried the recipe a few weeks ago, I’ve been having it for lunch nearly everyday since.

I do have hope for my kids–see, this recipe comes from my mom. When she claimed she’d been making it for years, I called her bluff, “But, I’ve never had it?!” I told her. “No, you wouldn’t try it, but I’ve been making it,” she explained. Hum, maybe she wanted leftovers too; and maybe, just maybe my kids will be calling and asking for this recipe someday (although I’m still going to offer it to them whenever I get the chance).

Recipe

Prep time: 30 minutes, start to finish

Servings: 4

Ingredients

2 cups broccoli, chopped, leaves and stem included (if desired)

1 cup celery, chopped

1/3 cup parsley, torn into pieces

2 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon cornstarch

3-4 cups chicken broth

Parmesan cheese shavings, for serving

Heavy cream (optional)

1/4 teaspoon hot paprika or cayenne (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Placed the chopped broccoli, cauliflower, garlic and parsley in a heavy bottomed pan or Dutch oven.
2. Pour the chicken broth over the veggies (you can add more than 4 cups, depending on your desired thickness; I rarely measure, I just pour until it covers the broccoli about 1/2 an inch).
3. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the veggies are soft; discard the garlic clove.
4. In batches, puree the veggies and broth until smooth. Return the mixture to the pan. (I also stir in cayenne pepper or hot paprika at this point to give it a kick.)
5. In a small cup, whisk the cornstarch with some of the soup, then stir it into the rest, bring it to a simmer, reduce heat and serve.
6. Top individual servings with Parmesan cheese.

*A note from mom: the original recipe calls for you to stir in heavy cream. When she serves it to guests, she puts warmed cream on the table for those who want to add it in, but she doesn’t use it. I don’t either–it doesn’t need it.

Your turn–do you have a favorite dish your secretly glad your kids aren’t crazy about because then you can have the leftovers?