Italian Broccoli Soup | No Cream Broccoli Soup Recipe | Mantitlement (2024)

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This Italian Broccoli Soup is just like my Grandma used to make! No cream in this soup recipe so it’s comfort food that’s good for you, too!

Grandma’s recipes are the best, aren’t they? Not only do they taste amazing but they bring back so many memories of the food and the people that were making the food for you. One of our most popular recipes is our Grandma’s Sunday Meatballs and Sauce, perfect for those big Sunday meals.

Italian Broccoli Soup | No Cream Broccoli Soup Recipe | Mantitlement (1)

No Cream Broccoli Soup Recipe

This Italian Broccoli Soup recipe is made without any cream, so it’s a lot better for you than most broccoli soup recipes with heavy cream and/or cheese. We’re calling this “Italian” broccoli soup only because it’s how my Italian Grandma and aunts used to make it and we absolutely loved it.

There’s no “al dente” broccoli treatment here, either. This broccoli is cooked to death, as my dad always says. Mushy, even, in the best way possible. Top this soup recipe with lots of nutty parmesan cheese, fresh black pepper and a drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil and you’ve got a giant bowl of comfort food.

How To Make Italian Broccoli Soup

This broccoli soup recipe is so simple, but you can add your own twists too! Start by cooking broccoli florets and stems in chicken broth with a few cloves of garlic. Smash the garlic cloves but keep them whole so that you can remove them after the broccoli has cooked.

Italian Broccoli Soup | No Cream Broccoli Soup Recipe | Mantitlement (2)

Again, this is not the time and place for al dente vegetables. We want this broccoli cooked – like super soft and almost mushy. That’s how my grandma made it and that’s how were making it here for this Italian Broccoli Soup.

After the broccoli has been cooked, mash it with a potato masher to break it up into smaller pieces but leave some pieces larger for texture. Don’t break it up so much that it’s like baby food, just enough to make it soup-like.

Add orzo, ditalini, broken spaghetti or whatever small sized pasta you have on hand. Cook the soup for another 15 minutes until the pasta is tender and serve.

Italian Broccoli Soup | No Cream Broccoli Soup Recipe | Mantitlement (3)

How To Serve Our Italian Broccoli Soup

Serve this broccoli soup in big bowl with lots of fresh black pepper and good quality grated parmesan cheese on top. Crackers or a loaf of crusty bread for dipping is a must at our house, too!

This broccoli soup recipe is fairly light, not heavy like some broccoli soup that has cream or cheese in it, so this soup can also be served as a side dish to many main courses. My Grandma used to serve this soup with her famous Pot Roast Recipe or alongside a comforting Beef Lasagna.

We ate big in those days.

Italian Broccoli Soup | No Cream Broccoli Soup Recipe | Mantitlement (4)

Other Ways To Make This Soup

This is the basic recipe, but there are many ingredients that you can add to this basic broccoli soup too!

  • Add in other vegetables like carrots or celery
  • Cook onion and garlic in olive oil before adding the broccoli for added flavor
  • Keep it vegetarian by using water instead of chicken broth (bump up the seasonings if using only water)
  • Use cauliflower rice for a lower carb soup option
  • Make this same soup recipe with cauliflower instead of broccoli
  • Add a touch of cream and/or stir in some grated sharp cheddar cheese

Italian Broccoli Soup | No Cream Broccoli Soup Recipe | Mantitlement (5)

Looking For More Soup Recipes?

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  • Beefy Tomato Soup
  • Split Pea Soup with Ham
  • Slow Cooker Pasta fa*gioli
  • Turkey Soup From Scratch

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    Italian Broccoli Soup | No Cream Broccoli Soup Recipe | Mantitlement (6)

    Italian Broccoli Soup

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 37 reviews
    • Author: Dan
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 45 minutes
    • Total Time: 50 minutes
    • Yield: 6 Servings 1x

    Print Recipe

    This comforting Italian Broccoli Soup is just like my Grandma used to make! No cream, just broccoli, garlic and parmesan cheese so it’s actually good for you too!

    Scale

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound broccoli, cut into stems and florets
    • 4 cups chicken broth (can substitute vegetable broth or all water)
    • 2 cups water
    • 34 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • Fresh black pepper to taste
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
    • 3/4 cup orzo or ditalini pasta
    • Grated parmesan cheese for garnish
    • Extra virgin olive oil for garnish

    Instructions

    1. Add the broccoli to a soup pot or dutch oven. Pour in the broth and water along with the salt, pepper and garlic cloves. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes, covered.
    2. Smash the broccoli with a potato masher, or you can use an immersion blender but don’t blend until smooth. Leave larger and smaller pieces of broccoli for texture.
    3. Stir in the pasta and cook uncovered for 15 minutes until the pasta is tender, stirring often so the pasta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
    4. Add the nutmeg, taste for seasonings and adjust if needed. Serve with grated parmesan cheese and more fresh black pepper if desired.

    Recipe Notes

    Nutrition information is without parmesan cheese and olive oil garnish.

    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Stove Top
    • Cuisine: American

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    Italian Broccoli Soup | No Cream Broccoli Soup Recipe | Mantitlement (2024)

    FAQs

    How do you thicken cream of broccoli soup? ›

    Add Flour Or Cornstarch

    You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

    Why did my cream of broccoli soup curdle? ›

    Curdling in a cream soup usually occurs when the milk or cream is added at too high of a heat. As you incorporate the milk and broth into the cooked onion and flour mixture, keep the heat at medium and stir continuously with a whisk. Once all is mixed in, then proceed to heat to a boil.

    Why does my broccoli cheddar soup taste gritty? ›

    The temperature you cook Broccoli Cheese Soup at is key to making sure it doesn't end up grainy or curdled. Medium heat is best for dairy-based soups so it doesn't boil and curdle.

    Is broccoli cheddar soup good or bad for you? ›

    Broccoli Cheddar Soup is not only delicious but nutritious as well. Broccoli is loaded with vitamin C and K, potassium, and fiber, offering numerous health benefits like improved digestion, reduced inflammation, and boosted immunity.

    How do you make soup creamier and thicker? ›

    6 ways to thicken soup:
    1. Blend all or part of it. If you've made a broth with chunks of vegetable in it, such as minestrone soup, then pour the soup through a sieve. ...
    2. Add cream or yogurt. ...
    3. Add flour or cornflour. ...
    4. Use a butter and flour paste. ...
    5. Blend in bread. ...
    6. Add lentils or rice.

    Why is my cream soup watery? ›

    The solution to this problem is to either utilize more of the roux or slurry, or to utilize a roux or slurry that contains more starch. Another reason that cream soups can become watery is that the vegetables or other ingredients in the soup continue to emit moisture through the cooking process.

    Is it safe to eat curdled cream in soup? ›

    Whether you've added too much acid or turned the temperature too high, the proteins within the cream have decided to separate from the sauce and cling together, forming the clumps you see in the sauce. Despite how they look, a curdled cream sauce is completely edible, so you won't get sick from eating it.

    How do you add cream to soup without curdling? ›

    Here's some tips to prevent curdling:
    1. Prepare a warm milk/flour mixture to add to hot soup.
    2. Stir some hot soup liquid into cold dairy product to temper it, then add to the soup.
    3. Do not boil the soup after adding any dairy product, especially cheese.
    4. Add acid to the milk instead of milk into the acid.
    Dec 15, 2016

    What cheese melts best in soup? ›

    Mild cheddar, Colby, Monterey jack, mozzarella, Swiss and queso blanco can all work well. “The best cheeses to melt into soups are cheeses that are higher in moisture and have a lower melting point,” says Bauer. In addition to cheddar and Monterey jack, he recommends Fontina and Gruyère.

    Why won t my cheese melt in my broccoli cheddar soup? ›

    When you add the cheese to the soup, make sure that the pot is over very low heat. If the heat is too high, the cheese won't incorporate into the soup, giving it a thin, gloopy texture. I also recommend adding a little at a time and stirring well between additions.

    Why does my broccoli taste weird? ›

    Even if the head is small, pick your broccoli when the florets are tight, close together and bright green. If the florets are loose, turning yellow and spreading apart, the plant is going to seed and the heads will be bitter.

    Why does broccoli cheddar soup make my stomach hurt? ›

    Broccoli also can be the culprit behind a slew of stomach-related symptoms. Not only does the veggie — or more specifically, the intestinal bacteria that breaks the fibrous content down — cause gas, but that gas can actually be painful, too.

    What is the unhealthiest soup? ›

    Just avoid these five soups listed below, and swap them out for the healthier alternatives we've provided:
    1. Clam chowder. Anything with the word "chowder" in it is probably going to be high in cream, fat, and calories. ...
    2. Potato soup. ...
    3. Lobster bisque. ...
    4. Chili. ...
    5. Broccoli and cheese soup.
    Jan 12, 2012

    What does broccoli soup do to your body? ›

    Salads and soups with broccoli are a delight to many diners. Broccoli is one of the richest sources of good carbohydrates which aid digestion maintaining low blood sugar. And because it has the right amount of fibrous roughage it also helps in preventing constipation.

    Is broccoli soup good for high blood pressure? ›

    Broccoli is also particularly high in the amino acid glutamic acid (the flavor enhancing compound responsible for taste sense of “umami”). A Northwestern University Chicago study found higher dietary intake of the amino acid glutamic acid via vegetables like broccoli, was linked to lower blood pressure.

    Why is my broccoli soup not thick? ›

    There are several ways to make broccoli soup thicker or creamier: Add Potatoes or Cauliflower: Boil and blend potatoes or cauliflower and incorporate them into the soup. They add creaminess without altering the flavor significantly. Use Heavy Cream or Milk: Add heavy cream or whole milk for a rich and creamy texture.

    How do you fix watery broccoli cheddar soup? ›

    One common way to thicken broccoli cheese soup is to add some flour to it. You can do this by mixing the flour with a little bit of water to form a paste, and then stirring it into the soup. Another way to thicken the soup is to puree some of the vegetables in it, which will make the soup thicker and creamier.

    How do you thicken broccoli sauce? ›

    Use one tablespoon cornstarch mixed with one tablespoon cold water (aka a cornstarch slurry) for each cup of medium-thick sauce. Thoroughly mix the cornstarch and water together, then pour into your sauce. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.

    How do you thicken soup with cornstarch or flour? ›

    The most classic and surefire way to thicken a broth-based soup is with a cornstarch slurry. Whisk together equal parts cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water or broth, then whisk it into the pot of soup. A good ratio to get to a pleasant thickness without your soup tasting goopy or heavy is one tablespoon.

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