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Gwyneth's Broccoli & Cheese Soup


I was really pleased to receive a copy of Gwyneth Paltrow's Notes From My Kitchen Table and surprised about how much I enjoyed reading it.

It is one of those real comforting cookbook reads you can take to bed. Real home cooking with a lovely introduction where Gwyneth talks about her family and how her love of food grew. From there on in it is photo after gorgeous photo. Guaranteed to make your mouth water and your tummy rumble. Each dish has a lovely personal intro, which I though was a nice touch. Although there are fish, chicken and meat recipes in the cookbook, there are plenty of veggie and vegan dishes to enjoy.

Here are a few of the recipes that caught my attention:

White Bean Soup topped with melted parmesan toasts
Portobello & Slow-Roasted Tomato Burgers
Fried Courgette Spaghetti
Sweet Potato Ravioli
Artichoke & Pine Nut Pesto
Vegetable Paella
Spiced Apple Crumb Muffins
Fudgy Chocolate Brownies
Margarita Granita

However, the day I decided to make a dish was dull and dreich, so I decided comfort food was the order of the day. I settled on the Broccoli & Cheese Soup, thinking that wee Cooper would enjoy it too. Because I was making it with him in mind, I made the soup with cheddar and then just added a crumble of stilton to my bowl. Graham hates blue cheese with a vengeance, so he stuck to the cheddar too. We really enjoyed the soup and I will be adding it to my repertoire.



print recipe
Gwyneth's Broccoli & Cheese Soup
A really comforting bowl of green, green soup finished off with cheddar or if you are more adventurous, crumbly and punchy stilton. Mmmmmmmm!
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 onion, peeled and roughly diced
  • 2 large stalks broccoli, cut into small florets
  • 1 litre vegetable stock
  • ½ tsp coarse salt
  • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 40g rocket (or watercress)
  • 30 - 60g crumbled strong assertive Stilton for the adults or grated cheddar for the kids
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and saute for just a minute, or until fragrant. Add the broccoli and cook for 4 minutes, or until bright green. Add the stock, salt & pepper, bring to the boil, lower the heat and cover. Cook for 8 minutes, or until the broccoli is just tender. Pour the soup into a blender and puree with the rocket until quite smooth. Be very careful when blending hot liquids. Start slowly and work in batches is necessary. Pour the soup back into the pan, stir in 30g of the cheese, taste and add more if you'd like. Serve with black pepper and a drizzle of your best olive oil.
Details
Total time: Yield: Serves 4





While we are talking about soups, I would really appreciate it if you would head over to New Covent Garden Soup Co and vote for my Roast Onion and Lemon Thyme Love Soup. I have submitted it to them for their special monthly soup, for Valentine's Day. Thank you.

Just a wee reminder. If you fancy winning a cute apron, then be sure to entry my Giveaway.

A new monthly list of challenges and giveaways is live on The Food Blog Diary now. There are still more to be added, so be sure to visit regularly.

I also have a rather tasty Tomato Couscous Salad over at Little Tums. I'm not getting many visitors over there, so be sure to stop by and say hi, so I don't get too lonely.

Disclosure Statement: I received this book free from the publisher to review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

27 comments

  1. That soup looks really delicious and warming, perfect now the weather has turned chilly in Scotland! Looks like a great cookery book :-)

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  2. Hey Nicola, It isn't too bad tonight, but I put my heating on one night last night. I think that is shocking in the middle of August.

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  3. This sounds like a really good book!

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  4. It wasn't what I expected it to be Pam, at all.

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  5. I was one of those people who didn't think I would like any of her recipes, and then I tried one from a Bon Appetite magazine without realising it was one of Gwyneth's and it was so yummy I had to concede lol. That soup is such a lovely colour!

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  6. I've been debating buying her book since I saw her on Something for the Weekend...it really does look like a good family cookbook...the soup looks perfect for this dreary weather...keep my fingers crossed for some lovely autumn days :)

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  7. I've got this book, it's tucked on my 'pile of books to read in front of the fire on a winters night', I've just not had time over the Summer unfortunately.

    This recipe looks lovely.

    I popped by and voted for your soup recipe too, now THAT looks good!

    Sue xx

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  8. There are some great recipes in the book and the soup looks and sounds delicious!
    Karen

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  9. I've voted!

    You are equal first, so everyone should get their votes in!!!

    I think your onion soup is even better than this one - not that I'd refuse a large bowl of broccoli and cheddar!!!

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  10. Yeah, it's a funny one. I think I read a review and a few recipes in the Observer Food Monthly a while back and like many, I'm sure, was surprised that the recipes looked pretty good. On the down-side I was a little disappointed that Gwyneth had jumped off the meat-free wagon, but, oh well...

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  11. It looks like a tasty soup - broccoli and blue cheese is always a good combo!

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  12. Yes, it is definitely soup weather, today is even worse than yesterday raining all day. That looks lovely and warming and I adore blue cheese.

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  13. I love a good broccoli soup - would love some stilton in it but I think I would be alone in that in my house too

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  14. I was pleasantly surprised too Chele :)

    Hi Victoria, I think good autumn days are about all there is left to hope for *sigh*!

    Thank you for the vote Sue :)

    Thanks Karen :)

    Thank you for the vote Brownieville Girl, much appreciated :)

    Hey Adam & Theresa, it is a shame she has stepped away from the veggie diet, but she does still hold the side up with some rather yummy recipes.

    It is really tasty C, real comforting stuff.

    Me too, I love blue cheese Janice, I just wish I could persuade my hubby.

    So much in common Johanna, so much :)

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  15. I tried out one of Gwyneth's recipes a while back and was surprised that it wasn't bad. I love broccoli and cheese soup so I'll give this version a try (especially with the incorporation of beans).

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  16. Hey TB it is a good soup, but there are no beans I am afraid, unless you want to add some :D

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  17. this is one of my favourite soups :) Have a great day!

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  18. Mmm, great comfort food, i'll have to check out the book!

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  19. I'm not a blue cheese fan, so I think I'd prefer the cheddar version, too :)

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  20. I've borrowed this book from my local library. I was plesantly surprised too. I still thought she was macrobiotic! but apparently the cookbook just lacks red meat. Fine by me as we try to eat less red meat. I've yet to cook anything from it but I'm sure it won't be long.

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  21. I watched an Italian cooking/travel series she did with Mario Batali. Thought it was inane, actually. So I'm glad to see Gwyneth might actually know what she's doing. Will put the book on my wish list.

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  22. This kind of soup is one of my favorite for the winter, with a slice of good bread it makes a perfect dinner! I want to try to make your wholewheat cobs tonight...I'll let you know... :)

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  23. Sounds like another good book - where are you managing to stash them all? Broccoli soup is so nice and yet I don't think I've ever made it before.

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  24. It is a soup I have neglected up until now Tandy.

    It is perfect Autumn comfort food Anne and we are well into an early Autumn now.

    Just as good with cheddar Rachel, I would be tempted you use a really strong one, but just use your favourite.

    I have a shelf full of library cookbooks at the moment. I need to find the time to use them too Claire.

    I didn't catch the series Barbara, but it sounds like a disappointment.

    So let me know how you get on with the cobs El Pasticcio :)

    I have a bookcase especially for my cookbooks Choclette, although I am sad to say they are two deep.

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  25. wow, looks yummy... going to try this today... love ur blog

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  26. Thanks Priya, hope you enjoy your soup.

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  27. Oh my this is my favorite the most comforting soup on the planet and this so easy to make thank you so much for posting!

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I love reading comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one. Unfortunately, I'm bombarded with spam, so I've turned on comment moderation. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can and respond to them. Don't panic, they will disappear when you hit publish. Jac x