Meatless Mondays is a new weekly feature which will showcase some of my hits and probably misses with living a meatless life. Many of you know I stopped eating meat about a year ago for personal reasons. While, I haven’t had any desire to go back to eating meat, it has been a struggle to find healthy foods to eat.
Everywhere you go, meat is the main dish. Since I was new to this lifestyle, it led me to eating unhealthy options. I’m on a path now to cook healthier options at home without meat. While going meatless is a personal choice for me, you can still save money by having one meatless meal a week.
Will you join me on this journey by preparing one meatless dish every week?
Vegetarian Cheddar Broccoli Soup
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp. butter
- 1 onion, diced
- 1/4 c. flour
- 32 oz. vegetable stock
- 1 head of broccoli
- 1 1/2 c. milk
- 2 c. shredded sharp cheddar
- croutons
Melt the butter.
Since we are multi-tasking moms, while the butter is melting, diced your onions. I use my Ninja Kitchen to dice mine because I use it for everything.
Cook for a few minutes until soft. If your family hates onions, like mine, this may be where you want to set aside the onions and add in the bowls individually.
Then add the flour.
It will be pasty.
Then whisk in the broth. I used vegetable broth but it would probably have more flavor if you use chicken broth. Use whatever you feel comfortable with. Plus, chicken broth is cheaper.
Bring it to a boil and then add the broccoli. You will want to stir it often so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Don’t try to multitask right now. I’m kind of talking to myself there because often I leave things on the stove and go to check my email, skype, or my website and forget about my food until it is burning or overflowing.
There is no exact timing here but it is done when the broccoli is soft. Then you will puree the broccoli mixture. I use my Ninja Kitchen and can do it all in one batch.
Once all is pureed, you will put it back in the saucepan. Add the milk and half the cheese. Cook until warm.
Top with croutons & cheese. Yummy.
Serves 4 – 6.
Post Dinner Analysis
My daughter and I both enjoyed this soup. The little ones won’t eat anything with green in it. Bryan thought it was “ok.” I think he would have liked it better with chicken broth for a bit more of a meaty flavor.
I made this both ways, once with the onions in it so they were diced up nice and smooth and another time with the onions on the side. I prefer the chunky onions on the side (like pictured at the top) in the soup. If you don’t like onions at all, just leave them out.
Freezer Friendly
I will be making this one often and freezing single serving portions for easy lunches. Pair with a salad or a sandwich for a complete meal.
Meat it Up
Top with ham or bacon.
Vegan Option
Use soy milk and vegan cheese.
If you have any questions about the vegetarian lifestyle, you can read more about it at GoVeg.com.
**This recipe has been adapted from the All You Eat Well, Save Big Cookbook.
PrintMeatless Monday: Vegetarian Cheddar Broccoli Soup
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp. butter
- 1 onion, diced
- 1/4 c. flour
- 32 oz. vegetable stock
- 1 head of broccoli
- 1 1/2 c. milk
- 2 c. shredded sharp cheddar
- croutons
Instructions
- Since we are multi-tasking moms, while the butter is melting, diced your onions. I use my Ninja Kitchen to dice mine because I use it for everything.
- Cook for a few minutes until soft. If your family hates onions, like mine, this may be where you want to set aside the onions and add in the bowls individually.
- Then add the flour.
- Then whisk in the broth. I used vegetable broth but it would probably have more flavor if you use chicken broth. Use whatever you feel comfortable with. Plus, chicken broth is cheaper.
- Bring it to a boil and then add the broccoli. You will want to stir it often so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Don’t try to multitask right now. I’m kind of talking to myself there because often I leave things on the stove and go to check my email, skype, or my website and forget about my food until it is burning or overflowing.
- There is no exact timing here but it is done when the broccoli is soft. Then you will puree the broccoli mixture. I use my Ninja Kitchen and can do it all in one batch.
- Once all is pureed, you will put it back in the saucepan. Add the milk and half the cheese. Cook until warm.
- Top with croutons & cheese. Yummy.
Joey
Hi Briana-
I just wanted to reach out to you and thank you for joining the Meatless Monday movement and for your terrific post about our campaign. Not only is Meatless Monday a terrific way to cut your grocery bill, but we’re also a nonprofit public health initiative encouraging people to cut meat to reduce their saturated fat intake and to reduce our carbon footprint.
Many bloggers think it’s fun to do weekly Meatless Monday posts, usually profiling a meatless recipe or meal, every Monday. Weekly posts really help to spread the word and I got the impression from this post that you were going to start weekly Meatless Monday posts as a feature every week. Is that something you’re interested in?
I’d love to be in more direct communication with you so we can better coordinate outreach efforts. If you’re interested in doing weekly posts please email me at jlee@mondaycampaigns.org.
Thanks so much and keep up the great posts!
-Joey Lee
Project Associate
Meatless Monday
.-= Joey´s last blog ..Crush Those Chickpeas =-.
Briana Carter
Hey – just sent you an email! Didn’t realize there was a whole movement or site dedicated to this! :)
Charlene @ MFA
I have something similar planned this week as my homage to St Patty’s Day!
Looks good!
Mercedes
This soup looks so yummy! I am hungry!
Mercedes
Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy
Sounds yummy!
.-= Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy´s last blog ..Free U by Kotex Sample Pack =-.
K
*thank you* for this post!
I am not vegetarian…..more a flexatarian :)
I find it difficult to make vegetarian meals because they frequently contain obscure ingredients that are either difficult to find and/or I have no idea how to prepare.
Any websites that you can suggest would be appreciated!
Briana Carter
You might check out this site: http://www.meatlessmonday.com/
K
thanks :)
Emmy
Awesome recipe! I’ll certainly join you as I am in the process of converting to vegetarian/vegan.
.-= Emmy´s last blog ..Heaven in a Pan!! =-.
Ryann
Looks like you could also add in some cooked rice to make this a cheddar broccoli rice soup! Thanks for sharing.
Briana Carter
Sounds like a great idea! I will have to try another variation!
joanna
I made a broccoli, potato, and cheese soup this weekend that was a big hit with my husband. I’ll definitely be making it again!
.-= joanna´s last blog ..Recording the Journey =-.