First things first, I am so excited to finally launch my brand new Recipe page! You guys have been asking for better ways to find and use recipes, and I couldn’t be happier about the new format. Now you can search by keyword or ingredient, print recipes in a printer-friendly format, even text recipes to your phone for your grocery lists! (If you want something similar for your own site, visit Recipage for all the details.) Now speaking of recipes, let’s dig right into the newest one…
Back when I lived in Ohio, one of my favorite places to eat was our local Panera. The broccoli cheddar soup pulled me in every time. But all it took was one glance at the nutrition facts for me to realize that Panera’s version was a lot more cheddar than it was broccoli – not good. Missing my favorite soup here in these winter months, I decided to go ahead and make my own…
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
(click here for the printable recipe!)
Ingredients: (makes 8 cups)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2lbs frozen broccoli
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup Daiya non-dairy cheese (or light cheddar)
- Greek yogurt (optional, for garnish)
To Prepare: This is definitely one of those recipes where frozen veggies are better than fresh. You want to cook the broccoli down so that it is falling apart, and that’s much easier to achieve with the frozen version.
In a large Dutch oven, start by sautéing the garlic and onions in a little bit of olive oil, until they start to brown.
Once browning, add the frozen broccoli and allow it to defrost and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add 4 cups vegetable broth and bring up to a simmer…
In order to get a good “cheesy” flavor from this soup, add 1/3 cup nutritional yeast – also boosts the protein content!
Season with salt and let it simmer (covered) for about ten minutes.
Using a ladle, transfer the soup to a Vitamix in order to puree into a smooth soup. Make sure if you are using a blender, you remove the cap on top so that it can release the steam (otherwise you get an explosion!). You can also use an immersion blender for this step – I tried both ways, and both were successful!
Pulse until you have a thick soup with just a few chunks, and then add back into the Dutch oven to heat through.
Stir in 1/3 cup non-dairy Daiya cheese for a little boost to the cheddar flavor. This soup is definitely more broccoli based than cheese, but it still tastes rich and creamy.
Top with a dollop of Greek yogurt (if you like) and a few extra sprinkles of cheese. Grab a big spoon and dig in!
Much healthier than the soup that inspired it, this version only has 100 calories per cup – including 2g of fat, and 7g of protein!
Which is why I prefer to eat several cups at a time…
Easy, simple, and healthy – just the way I like it.
Enjoy!
126 Comments so far
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I will be making this soon :)
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Yum! That soup looks awesome. I love the new recipe page – so user friendly!
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Love the format of the recipe page! And the soup looks perfect for a freezing day like today!
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Oh man, this looks great!
I always appreciate when you take mainstream meals/recipes and healthify them. Your blog is such a great resource. Now I’m off to check out this new recipe page!
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Excited to check out the new recipe page! I need to do something with mine. I hate having everything in one long list!
And the soup looks great!
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The recipe page looks great! I bookmarked it, but I think I’ll have to make that soup first :)
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What a delicious looking soup. And your recipe page sounds so fancy…which is fantastic!
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I love broccili & Cheese soup- yours looks wonderful!
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The recipe page looks amazing!*
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The soup looks wonderful and yay for new recipe pages. Nothing like a small timesuck blog project, right? :)
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hmm I have that exact bag of broccoli in my freezer. I think it’s a sign :)
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i like the new recipe formats except for your how to’s aren’t in there!!!! I was in the middle of using the spaghetti squash how to, popped over to another page and it was gone!!!! Thank goodness for site history!
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Emily Malone Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Crap – I’m sorry! I’m actually adding the tutorials right now!! Got too excited and wanted to show it off. :) They will be there within the hour!
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Tricia Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
no prob, just wanted to let you know. the squash is so good! I pulled a stray strand while its cooking. My mom said it was so good we’re not sure we even want to put sauce on it!!!!! Thanks for your how to. It’s fun having my mom try my vegetarian food with me!
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Emily Malone Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
So glad it turned out well!
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Love the new recipe page! I search your site for recipes often, and find myself searching through tons and tons of post to find something specific- this will definitely make it easier.
I haven’t bought nutritional yeast yet, but I think I am going to now just so I can try this- love broccoli cheddar soup!
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Emily Malone Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
That was my hope! The list long was driving me insane.
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Leah Reply:
February 9th, 2011 at 10:54 am
Thanks, Emily! The new recipe page is great!
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Wow the recipe page looks amazing!!! Soooo easy to navigate!!
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Emily Malone Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
So glad you like it! :)
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I love your new recipe page! Very user-friendly.
The soup looks delicious. I love that it looks more green than orange-that’s a good sign! :-)
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Emily Malone Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Exactly!!
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LOVE the recipe page. Thanks so much for doing that!
I have a question about the Diaya cheese. Does it taste like real cheddar or does it just taste different, but still good? Do you know what I mean? And, does it melt funny? I’m a bit terrified of faux cheeses, but I’m doing a vegan lent challenge and want to have some options if I need them. :)
Thanks!
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Emily Malone Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
I’m going to be honest – it’s a little funky. Definitely a little more rubbery than normal, but it’s the best one I’ve tried. Rice cheese is GAG inducing. It doesn’t melt quite like regular cheese either, but again – it’s the best option out there!
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Christie Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
I’ll put my 2 cents in here too. I think if you expect it to be just like cheese, you may be disappointed. To me, it’s melty & creamy so when you use it it makes almost like a cheese sauce. The flavor is good though.
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i am going to try this. my husband nor i are vegan (me veg) but he does not eat cheese. this way i can get a creamy yummy soup he can’t say no to cause it has NO cheese. thanks.
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I agree with everyone above, the new recipe page is the bomb.com! Slash this recipe looks so good, I love Daiya cheese and broccoli gets eaten like hotcakes in my house! :)
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Emily Malone Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
So glad you all like it!
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I have become OBSESSED with your blog :) I don’t identify with being vegetarian or vegan (my husband would have a heart attack…haha) but I am enjoying eating vegan meals whenever I’m by myself. Next, you should get with Apple to create a “Daily Garnish App” so I can have all these recipes at my fingertips! Thank you for being so positive and encouraging :)
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Emily Malone Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
Aww thanks Cara!! So glad to hear it . :)
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Looks completely brilliant. I’m adding it to my soup list immediately. Thanks.
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OOOH HOW DELIGHTFUL IS THIS DISH! aND i LOVE YOUR SOUP BOWL TOO!
oops capitals …sorry ;)
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Emily Malone Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
Haha love the capitals. :)
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That looks delicious! Now I’m wishing I had some frozen broccoli to make this tomorrow. I’m always looking for healthy versions (and now veganized versions) of recipes so I’m super happy you came up with this :)
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I have been craving broccoli soup for days now! No lie!!! But I know the dairy will ruin me so I’ve been looking for a low/non dairy version. You read my mind! :)
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To be honest, I don’t think the Panera version is that bad even if you get the 12 oz version. Obviously it’s not a source of vegetables, but I love to pair that soup with a salad and some whole grain bread and I think it’s a reasonably balanced meal.
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That looks so delicious! Wouldn’t even miss the extra cheese. :)
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perfect for a cold winters night!
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ummm I think this recipe just saved my life
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My husband loves that same Panera broccoli cheese soup, too. I don’t because liquidy cheese grosses me out, prolly due to the cheez sauce we made when I worked at Wendys. This might be a good middle-of-the-road recipe for us. Bookmarking now!
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I love your new recipe page and all the great searching options! Can’t wait to make this soup — I have been looking for additional ways to use my nutritional yeast and this sounds like a great way to do it!
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Looks perfect!! And I love your new recipe set up! That is going to come in VERY handy! :)
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Yay! Yet ANOTHER vegan recipe that my heart (and tummy!) so desires :D
Looks delicious. Just this past week my boyfriend was asking me if I could find a vegan broccoli/cheddar soup because he really missed me making my old non-vegan one.
This should do the trick :) Thanks Emily!
PS. 100 calories a cup?! You can’t beat that!
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I’ve seen broc and cheddar a few times lately – makes me crave it!
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I love the new recipe page! Thank you so much for putting pictures next to each recipe. I am a visual person so I really appreciate it.
Broccoli Cheddar soup is my mom’s favorite. I know what to make her for her birthday!
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I love the new recipe page! Super cool!
This looks amazing. I’ve actually never had broccoli cheddar soup before (because of the calorie bomb it can pack) but I can’t wait to make this!
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It’s -30 degrees here. Broccoli cheddar soup might just be the warm up I need.
I have to laugh every time I see the lid to the Vitamix. Good thing those pooches are so gorgeous…! The recipe page looks great. Well done.
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That sounds delicious! I didn’t know it was going to be vegan (since I know you eat cheese on occasion) and I don’t love broccoli and cheese soup…but I love broccoli and I love fake cheeze and this recipe sounds sooo good! I will definitely try it!
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You are lucky to be out of Ohio tonight- it’s absolutely bitter cold! That soup looks like a perfect way to warm up!
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Mmmm..Can’t wait to make this! Unfortunately, I haven’t been in the kitchen lately so I am really antsy to start back up again :)
LOVE the recipe page!! So convenient and easy!! Thank you!!
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This looks really good. I find the best part about winter eating are the soups. Blender soups to me are the best. You get that creaminess so easily. Thanks for sharing – I’ll be adding this recipe to my soup arsenal!
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This looks fantastic! I’ve never tried nutritional yeast but I might have to for this recipe :)
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looks good! i will have to try this out!
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Emily, where do you get nutritional yeast? I haven’t been able to find it anywhere (including TJs!) and everywhere online I’ve seen only sells it in huge quantities!
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My awesome husband gave me a Vitamix for Christmas. I burned out the motor on my old blender making green smoothies. The cost is well worth the investment. I love it. I modified the brocolli cheese soup recipe in the book I got with the vitamix. Almond milk, brocolli and seasonings to taste. I have found curry with califlower and brocolli to be really good. I left out the “cheese”, but am looking to try the Daiya.Thanks for your post!
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Looks delish! My hubby and i love the cream of wild rice soup from Panera, but it’s way heavy on cream. I would love to recreate it one day :)
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emily! i just got a food processor over the weekend and i’m dying to try this recipe just so i can use my new toy. you continuously amaze me with your recipes!
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Definitely making this soon. I love broccoli cheddar soup!
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The soup looks delish, and I LOVE the new recipe page! Thank you!!!!!!!
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thank you thank you thank you. this recipe looks so good! i also always go for the broccoli cheddar at panera. i will skip it from now on & just make this version!
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lovelovelove. emily, is daiya your favorite brand of fake cheese? saw it in wholefoods yesterday and wondered how good it is.
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Oh my goodness…that new recipe page is AMAZING!! I’m too obsessed with Panera’s black bean soup to ever branch out, but this soup looks awesome!
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Is there anything that I could use in place of the nutritional yeast?
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Emily Malone Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
If you are not vegan you could use parmesan cheese!
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Beth Reply:
February 9th, 2011 at 9:42 am
I was actually going to ask the same question. I am curious about nutritional yeast, but I’ll be honest, it freaks me out just a bit. Could you include a some info about it sometime? Love the recipe!
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This looks amazing! I’m excited to check out your recipe page now :)
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There is nothing better then a warm bowl of cheesy soup on a cold day! Can’t wait to try this!
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Your new recipe page is supergalafragilisticexpialadocious!!!! (not sure if I spelled that right. . .) And I just bought some nutritional yeast last week. I haven’t used it yet but I will soon!
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We are getting snow in Texas tomorrow & this will be perfect for dinner! I love dayia and I heard the are introducing a pepper jack version.
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That looks great. That is going to rotate into my family’s meals very soon.
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Aww yeah! I am so making this! Thanks Emily!
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I was just about to ask.,… “is it vegan?” You beat me to the bunch and always impress me, Emily! Love how it’s made with nooch and daiya instead of regular cows milk cheese :) Such a fun twist, and I’ll definitely be trying this!
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Love the recipe page. I’ll be emailing you about it when I get the energy :)
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Looks YUMMY!!! And so comforting, too!
BTW, I’ve been reading your blog for a while and I think you’re doing an awesome job :) I really love how you put so much effort into developing recipes and showing step-by-step instructions. All your food comes out looking (and I’m sure tasting) delicious. I’m not a vegan or vegetarian, but I’m tempted to make the stuff you show on your blog!
Keep up the great work!
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Hi Emily I’ve been reading your blog for a long, long time but it’s the first time I actually commented! And I really love it, I love your personality, your passion and the joy you transmit through your post. And of course I adore your recipes! :D I’ll be making this one very soon.. Thank you so much!
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Wow, this looks great! I really need to buy some nutritional yeast!
Love the new recipe page! The only thing I might like (again this is personal, and feel free to ignore), would be to be able to browse by category as well. Sometimes I go to people’s blogs just to get ideas and I don’t have a particular keyword to search in mind. Thanks for all the effort you put into your blog!
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Saved this recipe..it looks great.
Um, THANK YOU. I made a pureed vegetable soup two weeks ago, in the blender, soup went everywhere! I had NO IDEA you were supposed to remove the cap. Most helpful blog tip I’ve read this morning ;)
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What a nice way to lighten up an awesome soup – can’t wait to check out the new recipe page!
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Oh yum! I always avoid the creamy/cheesy soups at restaurants because I can only guess what is in them. This looks delicious and not a nutritional minefield. Thanks!
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So happy you made this. I love broccoli cheese soup and NEVER allow myself to order it b/c it’s always so terrible for you. Now I can make it for my family and know it’s healthy and good – thanks!
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If our roads weren’t iced over I’d run out right now to buy some frozen broccoli. I want that soup for my breakfast! I should keep frozen broccoli on hand, shouldn’t I.
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This looks delicious! I’m going add the ingredients to next week’s grocery list. Thanks for creating simple, but delicious recipes!
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I used to love broccoli cheddar soup, though it gave me stomach pains to no end (dairy and I aren’t friends)- I LOVE how this version is dairy-free!!
xo
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LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe. Great work on the soup and just can’t beat 100 calories a bowl. Can you purchase nutritional yeast at a place like Earth Fare? Or do you have to go some where else to pick it up?
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Just wanted to say thanks for the recipes page. :) This soup sounds delicious. I made your quinoa and black bean soup from a few weeks ago to my non-vegetarian boyfriend and he loved it. Really interested to try the nutritional yeast again (your other soup was my first time trying it).
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Yum! I’m making roasted cauliflower soup tonight – so so excited!
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Looks yummy! When I make broccoli cheese soup I add in a can of purred white beans (which you can’t taste). It makes the soup really thick and filling!
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Great recipe! I can’t wait to try it. And your recipe page looks awesome too! I want one just like that! :)
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What a yummy thick soup! Definitely going to give this one a try :)
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YAY! This soup sounds fantastic! Thanks! I have been reading your blog for the last couple of weeks and want to say thank you for giving me something to look forward to reading each day when I get home from my desk job!!! And congrats on the recipe page…this will be come in very handy!
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Broccoli and cheddar are two of my favorite foods but I’ve never had their “soup” because its so loaded. Thank you for this healthier version!! I can’t wait to finally get a taste of their beautiful marriage :)
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I would like this soup for lunch today! It’s so cold and this would be prefect.
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I’m so happy that you’ve started featuring more vegan recipes! As a vegan, myself, I really appreciate it. And I’m shocked that you only started cooking a few years ago. Your recipes always look amazing; I had assumed you grew up cooking. Anyways, I love your blog!
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every time i see your dog-chewed blender cap, it makes me laugh (i have two chewy puppies). this soup looks delicious and awesome, yum!
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Broccoli cheese soup @ Panera is sinfully delicious! Can’t wait to try your version, thanks!
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I really wish I’d seen this BEFORE I went to the grocery store LOL. . . Guess I’m adding frozen broccoli onto next weeks list! I absolutely LOVE your new recipe page- it is exactly what you’ve been needing! My favorite feature, being able to text myself the recipes, because all too often I find myself in the kitchen desperately washing and drying my hands to scroll through your post for the recipes (or running back to my desktop computer. . . )
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Emily,
The recipe index is terrific and I love it.
I finally found this daiya cheese today actually but I do not have the frozen broccoli only fresh. So I will get some tomorrow the soup does look good. Anxious to try this cheese. Had to make a drive again nothing close. I’m ready to open a natural food store, we have them but not what I am looking for.
Blessings,
Lancaster CO PA Gal
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Yummm!! I have a brocc/cheese soup that I love making. It’s not vegan but is much lower in fat than the original version. I use potatoes to make it creamy. :) Awesome recipe page!
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Wow, I love the your blog ‘make over’! Very pretty and user friendly. I need to add you to my home screen on my blog so I can visit more often and share you with my readers.
Oh, and I love broccoli cheddar soup as well, I made a healthified version too. Yours looks so yummy, but I believe in cheese in moderation. ;)
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YUM!! I was always a fan of the Panera broccli cheddar soup! Must give this a try :)
PS… that bowl (cup?) you used is ADORABLE!! Where did you find it?!
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That soup looks fantastic! And I have all of the ingredients!
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Yummmmmmmmmm! This looks AMAZING! I <3 broccoli cheddar soup but NEVER eat it because it's sooo bad for me. This is definitely on my recipes to try list (and soon!)!
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Made this tonight because I’m in Texas and we’re “snowed in.” Not really but we got an inch or so last night so we all freaked out. I just bought some broccoli last night but didn’t have enough for the soup so I added edamame. Turned out fantastic! Thank you for the recipe!
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I’ve been craving broccoli cheddar soup lately. This looks perfect!
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Hi Emily! I have been a “Silent” reader for a while now, but I had to speak up when I saw this last night! I just made it for dinner & it now one of my new favorites! Thank you!
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Emily, my Trader Joes had many packages of the peanut flour when I was there yesterday. I am sure they would store well in the freezer. Would you like me to send you some? I would be happy to pick them up and mail them to you. Let me know. You can send the address to my email address rather than post it in the blog.
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How is yoga going lately? Have you found a good studio yet?
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Love the new lay out! Got an ice cream maker for Christmas and want to make your Coconut Milk Ice Cream, but I didn’t see the recipe on the recipe page. Did I miss it? Thanks.
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I made the broccoli & cheddar soup last night and loved it! We had a ton of broccoli left over from the Superbowl so this was perfect. I think this recipe will be making a regular appearance on our table. Thank you!
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What brand of nutritional yeast so you recommend? I am totally obsessed with your blog. You motivate the hell out of me. ;)
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Yum I love broccoli and cheese soup and love that you veganized it!!!
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Way to go Emily… I love your blog and seeing what you whip up next!!!
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Love the new recipe page!
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The simplicity of this recipe is genius! For someone as busy as I am this is totally what I look for—delish, healthy, super easy(to cook and take to work for lunch) and a great vehicle for veg consumption! I’ve made it once and I’m putting it in the weekly rotation :)
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WOW! Love the new look! I have been out for awhile and looked at my RSS feed wondering who The Daily Garnish was! lol. It looks awesome and I can’t wait to catch up!
:)
Jen
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Just bought a case of peanut flour off Amazon. When It came I mixed up 1/4 cup and ate it with a spoon :-p.
made the Broccoli soup last night. It’s gone already. DELICIOUSNESS!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the new recipe page! LOVE it. Thank you for makig it easy to find and print your recipies. Do you have a cookbook yet cause I have printed off all of them so far. Been following you for awhile. Everything is super yummy. I’ve lost weight since I started following you as well. 10k Saturday:-)
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The recipe page is awesome! Thank you! I just printed off several recipes I’ve been dying to try.
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Thank you for this recipe!
I had to adapt it to what I actually have in the house – I have no nutritional yeast or non-dairy cheese, so I just added a sprinkle of fresh grated Parmesan (but I am in Italy, so it’s really good!), not very much so that it tasted more of broccoli than of cheese… and it came out yummy!
I tried it cold too – thinking of future summer melas – and it was great!!
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Your recipe page…Wow, very impressive! I can’t wait to go through it all!
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This is awesome! I just made it and it is wonderful! Thanks so much for posting it! I love that it is more brocolli tasting then ‘cheese’.
If you haven’t tried it yet, do!
Lynne
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This soup is sooooo good! Oh my, a nice cheesy taste with a healthy broccoli chunks all through the soup! My 20 month old daughter loves it too!! I added more nutritional yeast for some extra cheesy favor. We are loving nutritional yeast dishes, please keep them coming! Any chance you can come up with some healthy Brewers Yeast recipes?
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Emily Malone Reply:
February 17th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
I have actually never cooked with Brewers Yeast.
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Just made tonight for me and the fam- delicious, creamy, satisfying and nourishing. I think I love it better than the classic, non- vegan version! Or it may just be that it has nooch in it :)
Added smoked paprika, black beans, and avocado for my own twist!
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[...] were a great accompaniment to Emily’s broccoli cheddar soup. I doubled the amounts of cheddar and nutritional yeast in the recipe to really boost the cheesy [...]
I made this the other night – so simple and delicious! I used 1lb of broccoli instead of 2 and it still came out very broccoli tasting..love it!
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Emily Malone Reply:
January 31st, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Thanks for letting me know! :)
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