Broccoli & Smoked Cheese Soup

Hello again,

I'm back with another soup recipe today.  This one originated as a recipe in a vegetarian cookbook I got as a present many years ago.  The original recipe used stilton but I'm not a big fan of blue cheeses so I adapted it by using mature cheddar.  Making it with smoked cheese has been a recent variation but I really like it.

Broccoli & Smoked Cheese Soup

Serves 4

Ingredients:
10 ml spoon olive oil
knob of butter
1 onion, chopped
1 head of broccoli (approx 300g), cut into small florets
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1 litre veg stock
100g smoked cheese (I used Applewood), grated or crumbled
3 tbsp double cream
Freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil and butter in a large pan, add the onion and cook for a few mins until softened.  Add the broccoli and garlic and continue to cook for a few mins more, stirring regularly.  Add the thyme and stock.  Bring to the boil then reduce heat and simmer for 30 mins or until the vegetables are tender.  Blend the soup then reheat in the pan with the cheese until melted.  Add the cream and heat through.  Check the seasoning you will probably not need to add salt with using the smoked cheese but you'll need a good grind of pepper.

This is just as good made with mature cheddar or stilton if you like it.

Shona x