This classic American dish has been popular for countless years and for good reason. You can’t beat a delicious, warm bowl of cheesy soup. It hits all the right spots, even during the warm months. A vegan broccoli cheddar soup is the epitome of comfort food and is actually a pretty healthy choice since it doesn’t contain cream or regular cheese as opposed to the traditional version. The soup is also easy to adjust and versatile.
As you can tell, this low carb broccoli cheese soup is using nutritional yeast instead of real cheese, yet it tastes “cheesy” and yummy! Many people feel that if they go vegan, they’ll have to deal with strange flavors or no flavors at all. However, this vegan broccoli soup will surprise even the greatest skeptics and change their minds on vegan dishes.
“I Was Obsessed With Cheese”
My boyfriend and I both went vegan in September 2011 but I remember the time as a vegetarian when I was obsessed with cheese! Countless times I said to my boyfriend “All vegans are crazy…” or “I could never go vegan because of cheese…“. I actually convinced him to eat more cheese because I loved it so much and thought it’s healthy. Well, I was totally wrong! He never really liked cheese and was actually happy going vegan as I couldn’t “force” him anymore to eat cheese, lol! Now I make my own Vegan Cheese Sauce which he loves! The nutritional yeast cheese sauce is actually one of my most popular recipes that can be whipped up in less than 5 minutes!
What is Nutritional Yeast?
Nutritional yeast is a popular product among vegans and vegetarians alike as it’s a great source of vitamins and minerals. Outside of this aspect, it also has a delicious flavor that goes well with many foods. It has often been described as having a nutty or cheesy flavor, with various brands varying in flavor. It comes in the form of powder, flakes, or granules and can easily be found at most whole foods or health food stores. The yeast is deactivated, which means the yeast cells are killed off during the creation process. So, this yeast isn’t like the yeast used in baking.
How To Make Vegan Broccoli Cheese Soup?
Making this cheesy vegan broccoli soup is seriously a breeze. All you need is two pots and an immersion blender (or regular blender) to blend the cheesy soup. Check the step-by-step photos below:
STEP 1: In a large pot, heat the oil. Then sauté the onion for around 3 minutes. STEP 2: Stir in the potatoes, carrots, and garlic. STEP 3: Once combined, add all the spices, broth, and bay leaf. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the vegetables have softened. In a separate pot, steam the broccoli until fork tender. STEP 4: Using an immersion blender, blend the carrot and potato soup. You can also use a regular blender. STEP 5: Blend until the soup is creamy. STEP 6: Stir in the nutritional yeast and cashew butter. Whisk until smooth. STEP 7: Add in the steamed broccoli. STEP 8: Stir well. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired and enjoy!
Helpful Tips & Variations
Add-in suggestions – You can add in lemon juice if desired. You can add other seasonings or more of certain seasonings based on your own preferences. Just know that certain seasonings can really change the flavor of a soup, so beware when adding new ones. Storage – To store your vegan broccoli cheddar soup, place it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze this soup for up to 3 months. Garnish ideas – Top your vegan cheese soup with freshly chopped herbs if desired. You can top it with chives, for example, which is my favorite choice. Make it spicy – If you want to add a kick to your soup, you can include some crushed red peppers in with the other seasonings. You can also add in a fresh, sliced jalapeño with the other veggies. Make a keto broccoli cheese soup – If you want to make this soup keto-friendly or more low carb, reduce the amount of potatoes to one. If you have a more keto-friendly option that’s similar to potatoes, then you can use that as well. Just know substitutions may make the soup have a different flavor. Roast the broccoli – You can roast the broccoli in the oven for even more flavor instead of steaming it.
Substitutes
Cashew butter – You can use any other nut butter of choice. To me, cashew butter is the best option because the flavor is rather neutral, however, you could also use peanut butter, almond butter, etc. Use cashews if you don’t have nut butter at home. Simply add 1/2 cup of cashews to the soup and boil them with the carrots and potatoes, then blend everything in a blender. Another option would be to use coconut cream! Nutritional yeast – As far as I know, there is no substitute for nutritional yeast that makes a dish taste “cheesy”. You could add a little miso paste for flavor but it won’t taste the same. Broccoli – You can use frozen broccoli instead of fresh.
Should you decide to give this tasty vegan broccoli cheese soup a try, please leave a comment below and don’t forget to tag me in your Instagram or Facebook post with @elavegan and #elavegan – I would love to see it! If you love delicious, easy vegan soups, make sure to check out more below:
Vegan Lasagna Soup Creamy Pasta Soup Vegan White Bean Soup The Best Lentil Soup Vegan Tortilla Soup Vegan Corn Chowder Thai Coconut Curry Soup Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup Vegan French Onion Soup Vegan Carrot Soup
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