Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Soup

Category: Soups & Salads | Blog URL: http://biz319.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/homemade-panera-broccoli-cheddar-soup/

This recipe was entered in The Foodista Best of Food Blogs Cookbook contest, a compilation of the world’s best food blogs which was published in Fall 2010.

Photo: Beth Velatini

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

2 cups fat free half and half

2 cups chicken broth (I use dry soup base – 2 teaspoons dry mix with 2 cups 10 ounces fresh broccoli, chopped

1 cup carrots, chopped

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (don’t go low fat on this ingredient!)

salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Melt butter in stock pot. Add the flour and stir to a paste for about 2 minutes. Slowly add the fat free half and half – you are basically starting with a roux. Once you have your thick white sauce, add chicken broth, broccoli and carrots. Simmer for 30 minutes or until the veggies are tender.

The only thing I don’t like about Panera’s soups is that sometimes I have a giant piece of broccoli in my soup, so I pureed mine.

Remove from heat and stir in cheese until melted. I tend to under salt the soup because I think the cheese is salty enough, but you can decide for yourself!

This made 7 cups of soup for me: Each one cup serving: 284 calories, 17 fat, 15.3 carbs, 2.1 fiber and 13 protein.