Broccoli and I have not been friends. When I was growing up broccoli was pretty much always on the dinner table, and I can honestly say I enjoyed it. But in my early 20′s I had two unfortunate experiences with broccoli at restaurants, after which I just couldn’t eat broccoli again. Those experiences both included finding little green slugs camouflaged amongst the green broccoli skewered on my fork. Thankfully I didn’t find half a green slug!
Anyway, after that I just couldn’t go near broccoli and it’s taken me a long time to get over my phobia. So, it might seem strange that I am now featuring a broccoli soup. There’s a reason for it though. One day, several months ago, my fiance was telling someone at work about Delicieux (as he often does, which I think is cute and I jokingly refer to him as my PR manager) and she asked if I could share a broccoli soup recipe.
When my fiance told me, I decided I was up for the challenge as it was about time I faced my fear of broccoli and enjoyed this healthy green vegetable again. Unfortunately it took me some time to find a broccoli soup recipe I and my fiance actually enjoyed. That’s not through lack of trying, as I have made several different broccoli soups over the months, but I can say this Roasted Apple and Broccoli Soup is the first time I have actually enjoyed broccoli in years.
I came across the recipe in Delicious magazine recently and thought that the combination of broccoli and roasted apple in a soup sounded interesting enough to try. I did have to tweak the recipe a little, to suit our tastes, and this was in the form of introducing a garlic whipped feta, and not only did I enjoy the soup, but my fiance did as well.
Nadine, this Broccoli Soup is for you. I hope you enjoy it!! Sorry it took me so long to find one.
So tell me, do you have any food phobias? Have you conquered them, and if so how?
- 2 tablespoons of chopped sage leaves
- 3 Granny Smith apples, cored
- ¼ cup of olive oil
- 5 thyme sprigs
- 400g broccoli, cut into small pieces
- 1.5 litres of vegetable stock
- WHIPPED GARLIC FETA
- 250g of Danish feta, crumbled
- 1 small clove of garlic, grated
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (400 Fahrenheit) and line a baking tray with baking paper. Add the apples to the baking paper and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Top with the thyme sprigs and 1 tablespoon of the sage leaves. Bake for 20 minutes or until the apples are tender. Set aside to cool.
- Heat remaining oil in a large saucepan over a medium high heat. Add the broccoli and 1 tablespoon of sage leaves. Cook, stirring, for 4 minutes.
- Chop the cooled apple and add to the pot and cook for 2 minutes before adding the stock and brining to the boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until the broccoli is tender.
- Puree the soup in batches, or using an immersion blender, until smooth.
- To make the whipped garlic feta combine the feta and garlic in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until smooth. Add the olive oil and process until very smooth.
- Serve the soup with the whipped feta and crusty bread.
Broccoli and I have never been friends but this soup sounds delicious. Love the combination of flavors.
Thanks Baker Street :D
Wow, this sounds super delicious!
Thanks Nadia :D I thought you would like this. :)
My mum use to crucify broccoli when I was younger, its only now that I have started eating it crunchy - like its meant to be haha. Love that the soup has savoury and sweet - sounds fab!
Thanks Nic :D
I love broccoli. I could eat it all day. I am sure the apples bring out that lovely green taste of the broccoli!! Yum
Broccoli and I have always been friends, it's bananas and I that don't get along!
I used to hate all sorts of vegetables (never broccoli though!) but just ended up being forced to eat them by my parents and now I love them! :) However, I could never eat snails. I tried some once and the thought of eating a dead slimey slug with a shell made my feel queasy.
I'm delighted to read that you got over your food phobia because this soup looks delicious! Sweet and savory... what I love in a soup!
Thanks Lisa! :D
I love this twist on regular broccoli soup. I would have the same aversion to broccoli, too, if that had happened to me.
I've got a standard broccoli recipe in my rotation, and it's surprisingly delicious and sweet. But I so want to try this with the roasted apple. Wonderful idea!
Its funny I came across this recipe of yours because ever since I saw tons of broccoli sitting my refrigerator I have been thinking of making a soup with it and was wondering where I can find a good recipe. Now I have one! Thanks :-)
Broccoli is one of my favorite begs. I guess because my mom made fabulous stir-fry dishes with them growing up. I love to try your recipe. Sound very interesting.
i love the combination you've made for this soup ! i love broccoli...but never thought of apples with it. i made a burnt garlic & broccoli soup months ago....that's yummy too
Hi Jennifer,
I finally returned from overseas and was able to get to the kitchen to try out the recipe. It was delicious and I want to personally thank you for taking the time to create the recipe and post it for me.
I'm very much looking forward to trying your recipes as they all look amazing!
Nadine.
P.S. It was lovely of you to mention me in the post :-)
Hi Nadine,
Great to hear you are finally back and even better that you enjoyed the Broccoli soup!!! I am so glad that you enjoyed it since the post was for you. I hope you'll try some of the other recipes and let me know how you go! :D
I love broccoli but I would probably react the same if I found slugs on them. Your recipe sound very delicious and looking at your pictures very appetizing soup too. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful Monday!