123 Shares
This creamy broccoli stalk and potato soup is so good that you’ll forget it’s healthy for you. Seriously. This recipe not only keeps you from wasting your broccoli stalks, it’s paleo, Whole30, and dairy free. To top it off, this recipe is also easy! Gotta love a recipe that is easy, delicious and healthy.
Does your family love broccoli crowns but scoff at the stalks?
I understand your plight.
As a food waste conscience mom, I was constantly at a loss for what to do with my stalks. The kids don’t love them roasted with the florets, and to be honest I really don’t either. I always find myself picking out the more desirable pieces just like the kids!
I tossed my stalks in the compost bin a few times and didn’t feel as guilty as I would have if I’d thrown them in the trash. Yet I still felt like I could do better. I knew I could do better.
Enter my journey to make the most delicious creamy broccoli stalk and potato soup.
RELATED POST: 8 Ways to Decrease Food Waste
Broccoli stalks are perfect for soup
I started making this soup for lunches during Whole30. I’ve always been one to tinker with soups. I love throwing a bunch of stuff in a steamer until tender and then blending it together with heavy cream and broth. I’m a firm believer that you can’t go wrong with heavy cream.
When I decided to skip the cream to make this Whole30 compliant, I was a little nervous. After all, did I even know if broccoli stalks would taste good without cream and cheese?
Wasn’t the whole point of a broccoli soup to add lots of dairy in order to make it palatable?
Turns out, you don’t need dairy to make broccoli soup delicious and creamy!
Do you call them broccoli stalks or broccoli stems?
I had a hard time figuring out what to call this recipe. Should it be broccoli stalk soup? Or should it be broccoli stem soup?
For some reason broccoli stalk sounds better to me. No matter what you call the base of the broccoli, you absolutely can put it in soup.
How to make broccoli stalk soup
Half the time that I make this, I don’t measure or use a real recipe.
I cut up the stalks of the broccoli and then cut up enough potatoes to make it an even ratio. Sometimes I steam the veggies in my instant pot and other times I boil them. It just depends on the mood and what pot is already out and clean. Boiling the veggies makes them taste a little bland and doesn’t allow the broccoli to retain all the nutrients.
I always add garlic. I’ll either throw it in with the veggies or sometimes I’ll roast a whole head of garlic and add it at the end.
Once the veggies are tender I add enough beef broth to cover the vegetables. I’m currently on a big beef bone broth kick, but any type of savory broth or liquid will work. Let everything come to a boil and then simmer for at least 5 minutes, 20 if you have time.
Next, I blend everything together, plus some olive oil, in my Vitamix. If you don’t have a Vitamix, wait until your soup is cool to blend or use an immersion blender.
I rarely add salt and pepper until I’m eating. I almost always add bacon and green onions.
If you need a real recipe with actual measurements, check it out below. This is about as precise as I can get, though I do encourage you to change things up and make it your own. The whole point is to reduce food waste and be creative, not to follow a recipe to a t.
Print Pin
Creamy Broccoli Stalk & Potato Soup
Don't toss the broccoli stalk! Use it in a soup. This creamy dairy free soup is flavorful and healthy.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword broccoli, food waste, soup
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 1 hour hour
Servings 4
Author Hannah @ Eat, Drink and Save Money
Ingredients
- 2 large broccoli stalks woody layers and ends removed
- 2 baking potatos 2 large ones or 3 small ones
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 5 C beef bone broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
Cut potatoes and broccoli into 1-2 inch pieces
Steam or boil potatoes, broccoli, and garlic until tender
Discard water, cover the vegetables with broth and bring to a boil.
Once at boiling, bring back to simmer and let sit for 5 minutes.
Add olive oil
Blend with an immersion blender or in a blender.
salt and pepper to taste
Notes
Feel free to manipulate this recipe to your liking. Change the broth type, use a head of roasted garlic, throw in the broccoli crowns if you want.
The point of a recipe like this is not to create stress, but to show you that you can make something delicious from a less loved part of food.
Use what you have on hand. If you have less potatoes that is fine! All you really need to do is make sure the liquid covers the top of the vegetables before blending. You can add more broth if you prefer a more liquid soup.
Do you have to peel the broccoli stalks?
Confession: I rarely peel my stalks.
Personally, I’ve found that the Vitamix works so well that I never have a problem with tough woody pieces of the broccoli. I do still cut off the bottom because it is usually dried out and gross looking.
Feel free to add cream and cheese
If you aren’t dairy free, then by all means add less broth to this recipe and sub in a little heavy cream. But let me reassure you that you don’t need it. Even my kids like this soup without the dairy! It’s flavorful on its own.
What else can you make with broccoli stalks?
So much!
Check out this post with 11 different ways to use your broccoli stalks, and 5 recipes.
Like this post?
Don’t forget to follow me on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) to see more of what I’m up to in real life. If you like this post, you’ll love my social media accounts too! Want to know another way you can see more of what I love? Follow me on Pinterest. I’d also love for you to pin this post to Pinterest if you liked it!
Want more posts like this?
I bet you’ll like these posts too:
- How to make soup from leftovers
- Taco Soup Recipe | Crock Pot Taco Soup
- Broccoli slaw with peanut butter sriracha sauce
- Easy roasted vegetables recipe
Related
123 Shares
