Creamy Broccoli Soup
Instead of cream, this creamy broccoli soup gets its texture from avocado, and has added nutrients from three cups of baby spinach and one head of broccoli.
Whole Living, January/February 2013
157 Ratings
- 5 star values: 41
- 4 star values: 37
- 3 star values: 41
- 2 star values: 26
- 1 star values: 12
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
05/11/2017
One of my favorites! You would think avocado oil would be a flavorful subs[filtered]ution, but it truly is better with olive oil. Don't be afraid to use the broccoli stalks, just be sure to chop them up finely and cook them a little longer than the heads. Overall, it's a very forgiving recipe. I've nearly eye-balled the ingredients every time I've made it. Also, I had leek stalk on hand so I used that instead of the cleansing broth. If it tastes too earthy, just add more avocado and it'll sweeten up. Yum!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
08/27/2014
Delicious soup! I have made it several times and plan to make it again tomorrow. Just stopping by to double check the recipe!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/05/2014
The first two times I ate this it was tasty. The third time, I almost gagged. Some croutons would definitely help.
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Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
10/05/2013
very tastey soup. my kids really loved it , i love healthy foods and this is defiantly all organic.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
07/29/2013
I really enjoyed this soup. I did puree it and that made it nice and smooth. A lot of flavour!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
06/30/2013
I loved this soup. My 5 year old even asked for seconds. I did not blend it the first time and I think it takes better with the whole pieces of broccoli. The avocado gave it a nice creamy texture.
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Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
06/29/2013
Just a quick comment on the recipe format: it would be helpful to add a link to the Cleansing Broth. :)
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
04/14/2013
Excellent...my whole family enjoyed it. Not only is this soup tasty, it is also very nutritious. I omitted the avocado because I didn't have a ripe one to use. When I make the recipe again, I will use an avocado. I'm sure it will still be great!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
04/09/2013
YUMMY! This soup is so good. I accidentally overcooked the broccoli, but it was still good! Also, I didn't want to use the avocado, so I substituted some of the leftover veges from the cleansing broth. It was perfect. I didn't have to add much of those veges. I also used a regular ol' kitchen blender for the final step. WOW...I love this soup...and I am not a cook..... Thanks Whole Living for getting me interested in eating healthier.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/30/2013
Awesome. Creamy. Dee- lish! No dairy!!!!
I substituted chicken bone broth instead of detox recipe for broth. Served to the family for lunch with left over fajita chicken meat. That way mommy was still eating the somewhat like the family.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/22/2013
This was superb. Super easy, super healthy. We used an immersion blender and only cooked the broccoli; the rest we mixed in later: the spinach, lots of it, and 1/2 and avocado. Tasted like cream... but isn't! Another friend made it too and loved it. Great for winter!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 2 stars
03/20/2013
Not my personal fav, but with avocado in each bite it was good. What it really needs is some homemade croutons for texture.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/11/2013
I really enjoyed this soup,very comforting. I didn't see the calorie count does anyone know what it is? Just curious.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/11/2013
I love broccoli anything, so this was of course good to me. Next time though, I want to leave it a bit more chunky instead of pureeing it to a soupy texture.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/09/2013
Texture matters! If it's too thick if feels like baby food. Add more broth for a thinner more palettable and yummy version
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/04/2013
very yummy!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
03/03/2013
This was delicious, but only because I didn't follow the directions exactly. I make a lot of broccoli soup and know from experience that if you only cook the broccoli till it's just tender and still bright green, you'll end up with a gritty, unpleasant soup after pureeing. Cook the broccoli until it's soft. Not mushy, but easily pierced with a fork. Probably about 15 minutes. Then add in the spinach and cook till it's completely wilted, maybe another 5 minutes. Follow the recipe from there.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
02/24/2013
the soup is good. Definitely add lemon for a little zest! I do, however, feel like it would be better as a cold soup..
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
02/19/2013
Never thought broccoli could taste this good. The soup was thick and creamy. I could taste the flavours from the cleansing broth and the pepper flakes. I ended making 2ltrs of this soup!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 2 stars
02/18/2013
This was a hard one to eat, and my sister couldn't do it period, I can only imagine that I did something wrong in the prep so I'm going to try it again but from what I could tell the only good things about it were the avocado and the pretty green color the soup ended up being :/
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
02/15/2013
I liked this soup better the second day and found it to be very good. I will make this one again. I also add more heat and lemon.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
02/12/2013
This is SO tasty! The secret is getting enough salt. Without it, it's very flat. I added Red Alaea Hawaiian Salt, plenty of pepper to give it a kick, & a swirl of EVOO. VERY VERY tasty! Have had it for the last three meals because I like it so much :)
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
02/09/2013
I thought this was delicious and I did add the lemon. I think the cleansing broth really gives it a lot of flavor.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
02/07/2013
I added lemon and doubled red pepper flakes as others recommended. It was okay, but I really didn't enjoy it and only ate it once more as leftovers. The more avocado on the top I put the better it got. I doubt I'll eat this again. But apparently others really enjoyed it. My motto with this cleanse is, Try everything! You may be surprised by liking something unexpectedly (I already have).
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/31/2013
I love this recipe. So glad you can store it in the fridge for three days. I had it last night for dinner and already looking forward to having it for lunch today!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/30/2013
I also followed the lemon suggestion and was so glad I did. I also used more garlic and followed the recipe the rest of the way. I really liked this soup. Loved the avocado in it.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/29/2013
I absolutely love this soup! I did make a few tweaks though... I used 5 cloves of garlic and I doubled the red pepper flake. I also used the recommendation of lemon juice and definitely tasted the benefit of it. Next time I might leave out half the broccoli from blending so it has a little more texture...loving every recipe from my first week of the 21 day challenge!!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 2 stars
01/29/2013
This was probably the one recipe I thought I'd enjoy this week...but maybe after nearly a week of hunger, the thought of having the soup as leftovers actually made me not hungry anymore. The flavors are okay, but I thought it rather just tasted like watery pureed greens. Perhaps I just really miss cheese...
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/28/2013
...oh, and I used an immersion blender AFTER adding the avocado and it is worth it. So creamy you'd think you added cream!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/28/2013
Love this soup!!! Can't wait to share this recipe. Easy to make, filling, and yummy!
Thank you, @alpearsall!! Juice from half a lemon (and kosher salt) are exactly what's needed to balance this soup. So good!
@MissChriddy Their recipe is here http://www.wholeliving.com/216560/cleansing-broth
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/27/2013
The lemon juice works. I had added it before even reading the other reviews. Great minds think alike! MAGIC BANANAS!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/27/2013
So this soup is excellent. I don't miss the cheese and cream at all. After the clean eating plan I will make this soup with chicken broth. Either way it's delicious.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/25/2013
My husband LOVED this soup, which is good, b/c I could only stand to eat it once. I thought the taste was excellent, but I just really dislike the texture of broccoli soup. I also added a little lemon juice, per someone else's suggestion - a good tip!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/24/2013
I am going to do this with organic vegetable broth but what is the recipe for cleansing broth?
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/23/2013
YUM! I added lemon at the end as well and topped my soup with toasted walnut oil and pumpkin seeds. I also just pulsed mine in a food processor and loved the little bit of texture it left.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/23/2013
I added avocado before pureeing - I prefer no chunks as well, MissC. This is such an easy soup and SO YUMMY! Also I used organic vegetable broth since I didn't have time to make my own.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/23/2013
Yummy. I added some cayenne pepper to spice it up.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 4 stars
01/23/2013
Really good. Lemon juice and a little corse salt at the end are a must.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 4 stars
01/22/2013
I definitely liked it. I wonder how it would turn out if the avocado was added just before the puree? I think I would like the creamier texture rather than the chunks in my soup. Any words of wisdom from someone who might know better? Much appreciated. Thanks for sharing the lemon idea, btw. I agree it was a nice addition.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/22/2013
Very good - I tasted as I went along - and I agree the lemon is a must.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
01/22/2013
I was surprised about how good this recipe tasted.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/22/2013
I just made this recipe and really liked it. Like the others, I added lemon juice.. it was bland with out it. I also topped it with a swirl of home made cashew cream.. this recipe is a keeper :)
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
01/20/2013
This was great - made it with the lemon and am amazed at how I enjoy this soup! (thank you for the tip @alpearsall)
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/17/2013
Just finished my first bowl of this good food. Thanks for the lemon idea - next time I will add it. Wondering how it is going to reheat?
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 4 stars
01/15/2013
A couple tweaks: I recommend blending everything (emersion blender, if you can) after the addition of the spinach to your desired consistency. This recipe also benefits **a lot** from the addition of the juice of half a lemon once it's been removed from the heat (really, it needs it - just add some lemon).