Apparently I have developed a reputation for zero waste cooking. So when a friend dropped off a bag full of broccoli that needed to be eaten yesterday, what could I do? Clean it, trim it and make soup, I decided. My anchor ingredient had been provided.
My Process
I figured onions and garlic would be a good start, so I chopped some up and got them cooking in a large stockpot with some olive oil. I was considering adding some carrots for more flavor, but then I decided they would muddle the color and I didn’t want brown broccoli soup, so I skipped them. On the other hand, I had an abundance of potatoes and they could add some body to the soup without harming it aesthetically. So I peeled and cubed a few potatoes and put them into the pot with the broccoli and enough water to cover them. I would have used some stock if I had something handy, so a parmesan rind from my treasure chest of freezer flavor gems joined the party for more flavor.
I planned to puree the soup after the vegetables were tender and add a touch of cream at the end. While it cooked, I looked in my spice cabinet and mused what else might enhance the flavor. Something verdant, but what? Mint? Why not? I have a big container of it, so I poured a generous amount into my palm and put that into the soup along with some salt. Simmered until the vegetables were soft enough to puree in the food processor, which required ladling many batches into the work bowl. If I had an immersion blender, this would have been the time to use it!
Finishing Up
I had a little cream that I whisked into the pureed soup at the end. After cooling and refrigerating in containers, I will put some in the freezer for later. I may dress it up with fresh herbs when serving or melt some cheese into it. Maybe I’ll spoon some yogurt on top. What ideas might you come up with?
Once again, my objective is not to provide a precise recipe to follow. My hope is that you continue to develop your intuition in the kitchen and create something delicious with whatever you have on hand and practice zero waste cooking. Below are the ingredients I used.
Ingredients:
- broccoli
- potatoes
- onions
- garlic
- parmesan rind
- salt
- mint
- cream
- water, vegetable stock or chicken stock
In the mood for broccoli now, but looking for something more filling? Try my suggestion for Broccoli Beef.