Cheese for Broccoli Cheddar Soup
You will notice that for this broccoli cheese soup recipe I use mild cheddar cheese. I find that it pairs really well with the other ingredients in the soup. It is delicious without over-powering the veggies. That being said, if you really crave that distinct cheddar flavor, use a medium or sharp cheddar cheese. This stove-top version is a faster spin on that fantastic recipe and is perfect for a quick dinner. I love comfort food that doesn’t take all day to make. I’m obsessed with Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup, and I would argue that this is even better.
Making it Gluten-Free
This soup can be made gluten free by changing out the all purpose flour for a gluten free flour. I have found that while it works, the soup is just slightly less creamy than when you use all purpose flour. It is still absolutely delicious and a great way to enjoy this soup if you cannot eat gluten. After adding the flour to the fat, you slowly add the liquid. The key is to do this slowly, just a little at a time to start. The more you add the more quickly you can go on, and the whole process should only take about a minute total.
Half and Half
Half and half is a product commonly used in the United States that is made up of half whole milk and half heavy cream. In the UK, it is often known as half cream. I love using half and half in this recipe because you get all the creaminess of heavy cream with less of the fat. While it can be frozen, you will likely face a little bit of separation when it thaws and reheats. It will still taste delicious and will be safe to eat. If you choose to microwave it, do so at half power. Stir it after about a minute and a half and then put it back in for short intervals until warmed through.
These Dinner Rolls would be great to dip in it. I love that they only take an hour. If you are hosting a lunch, Greek Quinoa Salad would be a great option to put out with this soup. And we always love my Roasted Baby Potatoes.
If you make this or any of my other recipes, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
