If you enjoy puréed soups, and specifically broccoli soup, this is a simple, rich, and creamy vegan version made of wholesome ingredients, with no added oils of any kind. The health and nutrition benefits of broccoli make this soup a healing superstar and provide a highly anti-inflammatory, alkalizing, anti-cancer, and detoxifying meal. This soup will also provide you with healthy carbohydrates, including fiber, healthy fats, healthy protein, as well as a wide range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. It is great to make when broccoli is fresh and in season in your area, or during the colder times of the year.
Characteristics
TYPE: Soup, Meal
PREP TIME: ~ 10 minutes
SERVINGS: Makes 24 - 32 oz / 750 - 1000 ml of soup; serves 2 to 4 (2 large / 3 medium / 4 small portions)
- Whole food
- 100% Plant-Based (Vegan)
- Gluten-free
- Wheat-free
- Grain-free
- Soy-free
- Corn-free
- Oil-free
- Refined sugar-free
- Isolated sugar-free
Goodies Needed
- 4 cups Fresh Broccoli (florets with stems)
- ½ cup Soaked Organic Raw Cashews (2 - 4 hours of soaking)
- ½ - 1 Lemon (juice)
- 1 - 1.5 cup Water
- 1 - 2 TBS Nutritional Yeast
- 1 Garlic Clove OR ½ - 1 tsp Organic Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp Unrefined Salt (Himalayan Salt or Sea Salt)
- ¼ - ½ tsp Organic Black Pepper
Tools Needed
- Wide stainless steel pan / skillet with lid
- Measuring cup
- High-powdered or immersion blender
- Spatula and utensils
Instructions
- Soak cashews ahead of time, in a bowl of water, for about 2 to 4 hours.
- Begin to heat a thin layer of water in a pan (about a ¼ cup) with the lid on.
- Wash broccoli, cut off its stalk, and set aside for another meal. Chop up the florets and their stems into smaller pieces, and transfer onto the pan.
- Steam-cook the broccoli in the pan with the lid on for about 4 to 5 minutes.
- While broccoli is cooking, prepare your lemon by washing and cutting it in half. Begin by squeezing half of the lemon’s juice into the blender. When you make your soup and taste it, you can decide if you would like the other half.
- When broccoli finishes cooking, transfer it, along with its water, and add the remaining ingredients into the high-powered blender. Start with the smaller amounts of the ingredients and use more if needed.
- Blend on high speed until smooth and creamy.
- Heat the soup on the stove if needed, otherwise consume fresh.
- Store any leftovers in the fridge, in a sealed container, for about 24 hours.
Health & Nutrition Benefits
Broccoli
- provides healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and is virtually fat-free
- provides lots of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
- provides vitamins, especially vitamin A, C, K, and most B vitamins, including folate
- provides minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc
- supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
- supports healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
- protects against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, infections, and other diseases
- for more information, visit the broccoli detailed overview from World’s Healthiest Foods
Cashews
- provide healthy fats, protein, some carbohydrates, and fiber
- provide phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
- provide vitamins, especially vitamin K and some of the B vitamins
- provide minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium
- support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
- support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
- protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases
- for more information, visit the cashews detailed overview from World’s Healthiest Foods
Lemons
- provide alkalizing, cleansing, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial benefits
- provide lots of phytonutrients and antioxidants
- provide some vitamins and minerals, most specifically vitamin C
- support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
- support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and liver function
- protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, infections, and other diseases
- for more information, visit the lemon detailed overview from World’s Healthiest Foods
Nutritional Yeast
- great source of highly-digestible protein and nutrients
- provide vitamins, especially B vitamins, including vitamin B12
- provide minerals, especially molybdenum, iron, selenium, zinc, phosphorus and manganese
- supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
- for more info, see the nutritional yeast overview on Best Natural Foods
- Tips: Choose a reputable brand of nutritional yeast, as vitamin and mineral amounts will vary widely and some can contain GMO contamination. Note, not all brands contain vitamin B12, so choose a dependable source. Sari Nutritional Yeast is all-natural and non-fortified.
Garlic
- provides anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties
- provides lots of phytonutrients and antioxidants
- provides vitamins, especially vitamin C and some B vitamins
- provides minerals, especially manganese, selenium, calcium, phosphorus, and copper
- supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
- supports the immune system and iron metabolism
- protects against cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes type 2
- supports healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
- for more info, see the garlic overview on World’s Healthiest Foods
Unrefined Salt
- unrefined sea salt unrefined Himalayan salt
- naturally alkalizing
- a source of over 80 essential and trace minerals
- supports optimal blood pressure, heart and nervous system health
- supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
- for more info, refer to unrefined salt on Green Med Info
- Health Tip: avoid all forms of refined, white salt and processed foods made with it
Black Pepper
- not a significant source of calories or macronutrients (carbs, fats, protein)
- provides phytonutrients and antioxidants
- provides anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties
- provides vitamins, including vitamin A, C, and K
- provides minerals, including potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron
- supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
- supports digestive health; helps prevent bloating and gas
- supports healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
- protects against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases
- for more info, see the black pepper overview on World’s Healthiest Foods