Homemade Italian Broccoli Soup (Printable)

A smooth, comforting Italian-style broccoli soup with aromatic vegetables, Parmesan, and herbs.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large head broccoli (about 1.25 lbs), cut into florets
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 medium carrot, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 medium potato, peeled and diced

→ Liquids

07 - 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Dairy

09 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

→ Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme blend)
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

12 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped
13 - Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
02 - Add diced potato and broccoli florets to the pot. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Pour in broth and add dried Italian herbs. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes until vegetables are very tender.
04 - Remove from heat. Using an immersion blender, puree soup until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, transfer carefully to a standard blender in batches.
05 - Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with extra Parmesan, a drizzle of olive oil, and fresh herbs if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The texture is incredibly velvety without any heavy cream, just the natural creaminess from potato and perfectly blended vegetables
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
  • Leftovers actually taste better the next day as the flavors deepen
02 -
  • Hot soup expands rapidly when blended, so never fill your blender more than halfway full if using a standard blender instead of an immersion blender
  • The potato is essential for texture, so don't skip it or try to substitute with something less starchy
  • Parmesan adds saltiness, so taste the soup before adding extra salt at the end
03 -
  • Use the stalks of the broccoli too, not just the florets, they add flavor and reduce waste
  • Let the soup cool slightly before blending if you're worried about splatters

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