Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup

This vegan cream of broccoli soup is a staple in our house. This brilliant broccoli soup tastes like it’s got gobs of cream in it, but the velvety texture comes from the alchemy created between the cauliflower and the blanched almonds. Oh, the amazing results you can get in your blender!

I cannot believe it’s the week of Thanksgiving already! Where has the year gone? I am not complaining because I absolutely love the holiday season. I really enjoy entertaining, cooking for friends and family, and celebrating all of the wonderful things I am thankful for with loved ones. It is a really special time.

This year, Scott’s parents and his best friend Richard have flown down from Sacramento to spend the week with us. We have a lot of cooking and eating planned! Except on thanksgiving! Ha! We don’t cook at home on that day. We have a tradition where we all cook and feed the homeless with our dear friends in Santa Monica, then we all enjoy an early dinner at The Ivy, and then come home for cocktails and dessert.

The cooking occurs on all of the days around thanksgiving and well into Christmas. On December 18th (yes I am counting the days) I turn in the manuscript for my next book which will be released in January 2017, and pick up my parents from the airport. They are staying with us for 5 weeks! Yipppeee! We will all head up to Sacramento to spend Christmas with Scott’s parents. We’re also going to tour around Napa, drink some lovely wine, then we’re all going to Mexico for a much needed family vacation! I cannot wait.

In the meantime I am cooking up a storm and creating some awesome holiday recipes for our holiday parties. I always start winter meals with a bowl of soup, and this vegan cream of broccoli soup is on the menu for this year! This broccoli soup is quick and easy (you can throw it together in less than 30 minutes), and it is absolutely delicious.

When making plant based soups the broth you use is critical. Because you’re not using chicken broth or meat to hit that umami note, you need a broth that has incredible flavor, but not an overbearing taste that overpowers that natural character of the vegetables. In a perfect world we would make our own broth, but most of us don’t have the time. So, convenience products come in really handy when you need to get a quick healthy meal on the table in a limited amount of time.

There are a lot of commercial vegetable broths on the market. But, most of them either taste bland and revolting, are over-salted and have too many additives, or could be mistaken for MSG-assisted swill.

I love Massel vegetable broth. I grew up using Massel (like most families in Australia), and would never use anything else. I have been using Massel stock cubes and broth for over 35 years, and I still haven’t found any other commercial product that comes anywhere close to the depth of flavor and purity of the Massel products.

The Massel broth is so incredible, they dominate over 70% of the market in Australia. I don’t know an Aussie family that doesn’t have their product in their pantry. It’s almost a national treasure like Vegemite! But, unlike Vegemite, Massel is still Australian owned, and still a family owned company.

Everybody I give the broth to completely freaks out when they taste it, agreeing with me that it is the best broth they have ever tried. It is so good you can literally drink it like tea! And the best part? It is inexpensive, tastes phenomenal, and is gluten-free, vegan (dairy-free and egg-free), preservative free, kosher, no trans fats, GMO-free, no added MSG, low carb, and salt reduced. This broth is made with all natural ingredients, and you can buy broth in the form that you like, too.

You can get Massel broth in concentrated liquid stock, bouillon cubes, handy travel 7’s cubes, and all-purpose bouillon powder and seasoning. You can get Massel broth in three flavors – vegetable, chicken, and beef, and they are all vegan! The chicken broth literally tastes like it’s made with chicken fat, but it is not! Sooooo good!

In the US, you can get Massel broth on Amazon.

This vegan cream of broccoli soup is sensational, and freezes really well. Enjoy.

*I am an ambassador for Massel. But, my opinions are my own.

LESS

Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup

This vegan cream of broccoli soup is also gluten-free and paleo-friendly and is super creamy thanks to a blend of cauliflower and blanched almonds.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 4 to 6

Author Tess Masters

Ingredients

1 tablespoon grapeseed oil (or extra-virgin olive oil)
2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)
1 cup (150g) diced yellow onion
1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt, plus more to taste
1 1/2 cups (180g) cauliflower florets
7 cups (1.65l) Massel vegetable broth
8 cups (600g) roughly chopped broccoli florets
1/4 cup (35g) blanched slivered almonds
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste

Instructions

In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat and sauté the garlic, onions, and 1/4 teaspoon of natural salt for about 5 minutes, until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the cauliflower and sauté for another minute. Add the vegetable broth, increase the heat to high, and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer partially covered for about 10 minutes, until the cauliflower is just tender.
Add the broccoli and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt. (The broth may not completely cover the vegetables but the broccoli will release liquid as it cooks.) Simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, just until the broccoli is al dente and still vibrant green. Be careful not to overcook.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the soup to cool slightly; stir in the nuts. Pour the soup into your blender in batches and blast on high for 30 to 60 seconds, until smooth and creamy. Return the soup to the saucepan and warm it over low heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
To serve, ladle the soup into bowls, and serve with crusty bread or a scoop of cooked grains.

Recipe Notes

Photo by Trent Lanz; styling by Alicia Buszczak

Comments

Comments 16

kidney cleanse diet
November 30, 2015 at 10:11 pm

Thanks for the wonderful recipe you have shared here of broccoli soup its really looking very yummy. Really going to make it as soon as possible.

Reply
kidney cleanse diet
November 30, 2015 at 10:11 pm

Thanks for the wonderful recipe you have shared here of broccoli soup its really looking very yummy. Really going to make it as soon as possible.

Reply
Pennie
December 1, 2015 at 11:12 am

Can this be frozen?

Reply
1. The Blender Girl
  December 21, 2015 at 9:12 pm
  
  Yes. It freezes really well. I defrost, throw it back in the blender to maintain ultimate creaminess. Enjoy~
  
  Reply
The Blenders Guide
January 2, 2016 at 2:01 pm

Great vegan soup recipe. I’m looking for a healthy vegetable soup and this recipe fits well. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
1. The Blender Girl
  January 25, 2016 at 6:01 pm
  
  Great. Enjoy.
  
  Reply
Chelsea
January 22, 2016 at 3:01 pm

Hey! This looks amazing. Could you substitute the nuts for walnuts or would that taste weird? thanks!

Reply
1. The Blender Girl
  January 25, 2016 at 6:01 pm
  
  Chelsea, walnuts are just too bitter and pungent. Cashews and blanched almonds will give you that cream-like flavor. Walnuts won’t.
  
  Reply
Malin Andersson
March 18, 2016 at 5:03 am

I already made a number of tomato recipes without following any proper recipe. Now I am thinking to make this recipe with your instruction.

Reply
1. The Blender Girl
  April 16, 2016 at 10:04 pm
  
  Enjoy.
  
  Reply
Amy
March 29, 2016 at 7:03 pm

That looks so good! My vegan friend is coming to visit… This makes me not even sad to skip my usual cream based soups. Love the bowl in your picture too! I have the same ones! Heath, right?

Reply
1. The Blender Girl
  April 16, 2016 at 10:04 pm
  
  Yes! I just love their products. Aren’t they just gorgeous?!
  
  Reply
Munay
April 8, 2016 at 6:04 pm

I love all your recipes! I am a bit disappointed with your recommendation for Massel products though … I just purchased it, and read the ingredients to find out that the second ingredient is sugar!

Reply
1. The Blender Girl
  April 16, 2016 at 10:04 pm
  
  Thanks Munay, I appreciate your kind words and your honest feedback. To be honest, I’m not concerned about the sugar content in the Massel products. You’re diluting a stock cube with 2 cups of water, then adding it to a huge batch of a recipe, so the amount of sugar you’re consuming per serving is actually very little. Having said that, I am in discussions with Massel about reducing the sugar and removing the Maltodextrin. They are the most amazing company that are always looking to improve their product, so I will pass on your feedback, too.
  
  Reply
nadiya
August 5, 2016 at 1:08 pm

Hi, I just came across your site. Im always looking for easy recipes that are packed with nutrients and not time consuming. I noticed that you had a cauliflower listed as an ingredient for this and a some other soup recipes. I was wondering if the cauliflower helps make the soup creamy? I do not have any on hand at the moment and wondering if it would be a total killer to the taste of the soup if I omit it this time 🙂 thank you!

Reply
1. The Blender Girl
  August 22, 2016 at 1:08 pm
  
  I do use cauliflower to thicken and add a creamy texture to my soups. It does make a real difference if you leave it out.
  
  Reply