I wanted to write up a story about this soup. Not particularly fascinated with it, or soups in general, but hoping to add a few thematic notes, I scoured the Net and I can’t tell you how surprised I was to discover that no solid data exists on this soup. Nothing about the origin, first use, or mention, as if this thing appeared out of nowhere. It’s a shame really, considering how popular and nutritious it is. Sarcasm aside (like I expected to find medieval roots for a soup), I did uncover a few valuable facts:
- It was a White House soup of the day back in 2011. Apparently George H. Bush was not a big fan of broccoli (like my own dad, really). Mr. Obama has a different perspective, obviously. Must be something about broccoli that appeals to democrats. Republicans likely associate it with higher taxes. This whole thing sounds really made up.
- Amazon sells Campbell’s version of Cream of Broccoli Soup on the Go for $15.47. It is made in the U.S., microwaveable, and can be purchased with 20% coupon on first purchase. You actually get a 8-pack for that money. Hell of a deal, as far as I can tell. Campbell started producing the soup in 1990 and complemented it with a recipe booklet that used cream of broccoli as an ingredient. Apparently it had a great success.
- There are broccoli jokes out there (believe it or not). I picked one:
- Broccoli: I look like a tree
- Walnut: I look like a brain
- Mushroom: I look like an umbrella
- Banana: Dude! Change the topic
And that’s it, really. But lack of historic perspective or wide news coverage doesn’t change the fact that Cream of Broccoli soup is awesome. Enjoy it real hot, with a slice of artisan bread (sourdough or rye would be top choices), and think about all the things you could say about this soup.
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 8 cups broccoli florets
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- salt and black pepper to taste
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in medium sized stock pot, and saute onion and celery until tender. Add broccoli and broth, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup right in the cooking pot.
- In small saucepan, over medium-heat melt 3 tablespoons butter, stir in flour and add milk. Stir until thick and bubbly, and add to soup. Season with pepper and serve.
