Paula Deen's Lean: Broccoli Soup

When I think "broccoli soup", I immediately picture a bowl full of creamy, cheesy soup, with bits of broccoli thrown in; mostly cheese and cream. Broccoli isn't usually the main ingredient, but we feel good about eating it because, after all, broccoli is packed with vitamins. It must be healthy! Right? What I have come to find is that although this classic soup is loaded with great flavor, it is also loaded with fat and calories...not so much the healthy cup of goodness we were looking for. So, I am so excited to share this true Broccoli Soup recipe with you. Using only three main ingredients, one of them being broccoli, you are sure to get a healthy soup that will warm you up as we make our way well into the fall season.


BROCCOLI SOUP
Serves 4



INGREDIENTS


1/4 cup  FAT FREE shredded cheddar; garnish

2 cups FAT FREE chicken broth, or more for thinning
4-5 crowns of broccoli, cut into florets and steamed
1/2 cup FAT FREE half & half
Salt and pepper


DIRECTIONS


Place steamed broccoli in a blender and blend until pureed. Transfer to a pot and add chicken broth and half & half. Season with salt and pepper to taste.


RESULTS
Delicious! I am blown away by the flavor packed into this soup. I was a bit sceptical at first, afraid it may be a bit bland. How is this going to be any good without spices? Isn't the broccoli taste going to be too strong? Should I add something to it for flavor? Resisting the urges to meddle with the recipe any further, my questions were quickly answered after that very first bite. No heavy spices necessary! All I added was a little pepper and that was it. There is a perfect balance of flavor with the broccoli, half & half and chicken broth. Perfect.


Now, Paula behaved with this dish and didn't mention anything about cheese. But I just couldn't help myself. I needed a small pinch of cheese to top off my cup of broccoli soup. To me, cheese and broccoli just go together, like "peas and carrots". So, I guess my weakness has been revealed...CHEESE. Just a little doesn't hurt, especially if you use fat free or reduced-fat cheese(my way of reasoning). I thought my goal was to cut things from Paula's dishes, not add. Oooops! There is always an exception to the rule. This will have to be one of those times.


I hope you ENJOY!!

NUTRITION FACTS (per serving):  240.75 calories;  2.67g fat;  44.07g carbohydrate;  21.68g protein;  15.8g fiber