Nothing says fall and winter more than soup season. And this hearty and creamy broccoli feta soup recipe is surely a winner. So, make a big batch, enjoy leftovers throughout the week, or freeze them for longer storage.
And if you enjoy this dish, be sure to check out our Sweet Potato Soup, Turkish Lentil Soup, French Lentil Soup, Pumpkin Ginger Soup, and Carrot Ginger Soup recipes.
Ingredients You Will Need
The ingredient list for this healthy broccoli soup consists of olive oil, onions, celery, garlic cloves, Kosher salt, cracked pepper, large Yukon gold potato, vegetable broth, broccoli crowns, fresh parsley, and feta cheese.
Ingredient Substitutions and Optional Add-Ins
- Chicken Stock: Swap out vegetable broth for Homemade Chicken Broth if you are okay with it not being a vegetarian soup.
- Fresh Herbs: Compliment the broccoli and feta with a small handful of fresh mint or fresh dill instead of parsley.
- Make it more green and nutritious by adding a cup of baby spinach in the last 10 minutes before pureeing the soup.
- Cheese: Top it with your favorite cheese, like mozzarella, cheddar, or freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Seasoning: Finish with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, sumac, a squeeze of lemon juice, or a drizzle of olive oil or heavy cream.
- Vegan: Omit the feta cheese or swap it out for vegan feta.
How to Make This Broccoli and Feta Soup?
Broccoli feta cheese soup comes together in less than 30 minutes after a quick and gentle simmer on the stove. Puree right in the same pot, or use a countertop blender to blend in batches. Here’s how to do it:
- Saute aromatics: Warm olive oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven or large pot. Add onion and celery, and cook until translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the cloves of garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add potatoes: Add potatoes and salt and pepper. Pour in vegetable stock.
- Simmer: Bring it to a boil, then reduce it to a simmer and allow it to cook for 10 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.
- Add broccoli: Stir in the broccoli florets and cook briefly for 8-10 minutes over medium heat.
- Puree: Add the parsley. Then, using an immersion blender, puree the soup in the pot. Alternatively, you can puree it in batches in a blender.
- Garnish and serve: When ready to serve, ladle into bowls, and garnish with feta crumbles and more parsley.
What To Serve it With?
While you can enjoy this cream of broccoli soup all on its own, there are a few ways to jazz it up. You can try:
- Crusty Bread: Serve it with a side of warm No Knead Artisan Bread, make croutons out of leftover bread or go for soft and pillowy Brioche Buns.
- Salad: Go for a soup and salad meal combo and enjoy it with a healthy green salad like Mixed Green Salad or Kale and Brussel Sprout Salad.
How to Store, Freeze, Thaw and Reheat?
What I love the most about this vegetable soup with feta is the fact that it stores well, so you can enjoy the leftovers in the following days. Here is how I store it:
- Storage: You can store leftovers of this broccoli soup with feta in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: If you plan to freeze this soup, I recommend not adding the feta to the soup, as dairy doesn’t freeze well. Follow the recipe as written, cool completely, and store it in a freezer-safe airtight container. Label, date, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw: Thaw the frozen broccoli soup overnight in the fridge.
- Reheat: Reheat a bowlful of soup in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring each time in between, or reheat the whole batch on the stovetop over medium heat until bubbling and simmering. Top with feta cheese crumbles.
Expert Tips
- Use an immersion blender. This way, you can puree this feta cheese soup in the same pot with no extra dishes. This Kitchen Aid stick blender (affiliate link) is the one I own and recommend.
- If you do not own an immersion blender, you can blend the soup in a blender or food processor. However, whichever gadget you use, fill it about halfway full and be extra careful when blending hot liquids.
- Puree to desired consistency. Keep a few chunks of broccoli intact or puree until silky smooth.
- Mash with a potato masher. Rather than blending, mash the soup with a potato masher to keep it chunky.
FAQs
Yes, it is. As the main ingredient in this soup, broccoli has a long list of health benefits. It is packed with minerals, vitamins, and antioxidant properties. Plus, this soup is packed with other good-for-you ingredients like onions, celery, garlic, and potatoes, which are also recommended as foods that should be in a healthy diet.
Yes, this soup freezes well. Omit the feta cheese before freezing, and top with the cheese once thawed, reheated, and ready to serve.
Yes, you can, but putting it at the end is recommended.
Other Broccoli Recipes You Might Like:
- Broccoli Cauliflower Raisin Salad
- Kale and Quinoa Salad
- Chicken and Broccoli lo Mein
- Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry with Broccoli
This recipe is adapted (with minor changes) from Emilie Raffa’s The Clever Cookbook
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Broccoli Feta Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large Yukon Gold Potato peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 4 cups low-sodium vegetable stock plus more as needed
- 6 cups broccoli florets rinsed and drained
- 1/3 cup Italian parsley rinsed and chopped coarsely – plus more as garnish
- 1/3 cup feta cheese crumbled – plus more as garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven (or any large, heavy bottom pot would work). Add in the onion and celery. Cook until they are soft, 5-7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in the potatoes, salt, and black pepper. Pour in the vegetable stock. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for 10 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.
- Stir in the broccoli florets and cook briefly, 8-10 minutes, over medium heat.
- Right before you are ready to puree the soup, add in the chopped parsley.
- Using a hand blender, puree soup in the pot. Alternatively, you can puree it in batches in a blender. I prefer my soup rustic-style with chunks of broccoli, but if you prefer it to have a smooth texture, then puree it until it has a silky texture.
- Taste for seasoning and add in more seasoning* if necessary.
- When ready to serve, ladle some into bowls and garnish with feta crumbles and parsley leaves.
Video
Notes
- *While we want the soup to be properly seasoned, be sure to taste your feta cheese before adding more.
- It is optional, but you can finish it with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sumac if you have it.
- Storage of leftovers: Bring to room temperature, place in an airtight container, and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: Follow the recipe as written (except omit using crumbled feta in the end), cool completely, and store it in a freezer-safe airtight container. Label, date, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw: Thaw it overnight in the fridge.
- Reheat: Reheat a bowlful of soup in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring each time in between, or reheat the whole batch on the stovetop over medium heat until bubbling and simmering. Top with feta cheese crumbles and garnish with fresh parsley right before serving.
4waystoyummy
Very easy, quick, and delicious. I didn’t use the sumac this time because I added some of my lemon Keifer. I added in a pinch of cayenne and smoked paprika!
Aysegul Sanford
I am happy to hear that you liked it. Thanks for coming by.
CHeers!
Sally S.
I love this soup!
I love Emily and her book as well. I was thinking about making it and when I saw you sharing it made me so happy. I made it last night and it was a hit. Nothing left. 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I will definitely make it again.
Aysegul Sanford
Oh yay! So happy to hear that it was a hit.
I love this soup and make it often myself.
Thanks for letting me know Sally.
Cheers!
Heather
Would this soup freeze ok? I tend to think no, but would love if you tell me I’m wrong.
Aysegul Sanford
Hi Heather,
I think it would. I would recommend freezing it without the feta cheese and adding it right before serving. Also, be sure to store it in an airtight container in the freezer.
I hope this helps. Best.
Beeta @ Mon Petit Four
I know how you feel, Aysegul. It is always such a bummer when a recipe doesn’t turn out the way you want. I recently tried out a “one-bowl” apple cake recipe that I found, only to have it end up tasting super egg-y. Such a disappointment when that happens. But it’s great to have foolproof recipes like this soup on hand to comfort you and nourish you when plan A fails! This soup looks so yummy <3
Aysegul Sanford
Yeah.. I guess it is a natural part of what we do. Still, I wish it was happening less often.
Yes, this soup is super yummy, easy to make and failproof. :)) Thanks for stopping by Beeta.
Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire
I completely understand about baking taking time and requiring lots of testing. I am working on a cake that sadly, will likely need to be completely changed. Nothing seems to be going right with it! At least now I have a tasty soup I can make when I am feeling down about my baking woes. I love broccoli and feta, but never had them together in a soup. I really must try it soon!
Aysegul Sanford
YAY! Thanks Amanda. Sorry to hear about your cake. I feel your pain my dear friend. :/
Jennifer Farley
This soup looks incredible. I’m a big fan of broccoli cheddar, and this is a wonderful twist. I know what it’s like to have recipe fails! Nothing more frustrating. This is clearly a winner.
Aysegul Sanford
Thank you Jennifer. 🙂
Chrissann
This sounds AWESOME!! I can’t wait to make it – I’ve never made broccoli soup before. 🙂
Aysegul Sanford
I know you would love this soup. Plus, you can find all the ingredients easily in Supa Value or baby Bucks. 🙂
Aimee | Wallflower Kitchen
I know the feeling, all too well. To have multiple failed attempts at a recipe and all you have to show at the end of the day is a pile of dishes, waiting for you to wash… That really sucks. But when you get something right, it makes it worth while. Really looking forward to seeing your bakes! in the mean time, just looking at this soup is making me feel warmer already…
Aysegul Sanford
Oh I wish I could warm you up with a cup of this delicious soup my friend. Seriously, we need to meet up at some point to talk about failed recipes, holidays, and yummy soups. I need to vent!!! Ha ha ha.. :)))