10 Weeks of Winter

Winter soups…

On a peaceful early January day with low cloudy skies and a gentle cold breeze that nudges at the moss-covered leafless branches of the oaks there’s a special calm that settles the mind. By this time when New Year has sufficiently passed people have returned to their regular day-to-day habits. I see them jacketed and hooded walking briskly down the sidewalks or sloshing over wet roads in their cars. They remind me of closed up flowers enduring a cold night until the morning sun comes out to warm them up again. Winter can weigh on the spirit. Even those of us who love it may begin to feel the long dark closing in around us as the world grows colder for quite a stretch of time yet to come. Part of enjoying rather than enduring the winter comes from understanding and following the rhythms of the season. It’s a time for rest, introspection, planting seeds of creativity in the grand spaciousness of the bare time, and indulging in some healing and supportive foods.

Like tea, soups complement the winter season bringing in warmth and lightness to stand against the cold outdoors. After a long hard day of outdoor labor or activity a hearty soup with buttered bread tastes like heaven. But if you, like me, rarely have the opportunity to spend a full day outdoors, vegetable soups and broths hit the spot a bit better. Soups and broths can also be supportive contributors to satisfying lower calorie meals, cleansing and detoxing, and getting better nutrition. Instead of cold salads or shakes, why not get your veggies in a steaming hot bowl of goodness? Soups are easy to batch and freeze. If you’re trying to fit home cooking into a demanding schedule, taking an hour or two to make soup somewhere in your week can eliminate the need to cook or prep meals for six or seven days, and you’ll have something warm and delicious to look forward to that takes mere minutes before it’s ready to eat.

I have plans to make multiple pots of soup this winter, but the one I’ve been craving most is broccoli soup. Something about creamy greens is calling my name. I’ve adapted a recipe which is a broccoli inspired “green soup” recipe which incorporates other green vegetables.

Broccoli Soup Recipe

Total cook and prep time: 60-90 minutes

Makes 8-10 servings.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 tbsp olive oil or butter
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 leek, chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp butter
• ¼ cup flour
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup cream
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 5 cups broccoli
• 1 bunch parsley, roughly chopped
• 3 cups spinach
• 4 cups bone broth (or other broth/stock as desired)
• 1 avocado, roughly chopped (note: I used 2, but only add more if you don’t mind a notable avocado taste in the soup, alternatively more cheese or cream will make it creamier)
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions:

1. Sauté the chopped onions, garlic, and leek in olive oil (or butter) until slightly translucent
2. Add ½ tsp salt, pepper, butter, and flour whisking or stiring together
3. Slowly add 1 cup of vegetable broth in small parts mixing thoroughly before adding more
4. Slowly stir in cream
5. Slowly stir in remaining vegetable broth
6. Add lemon zest and simmer for about 15 minutes stirring occasionally
7. Meanwhile roughly cut 4 cups of broccoli including stem parts
8. Add lemon juice, broccoli, parsley, spinach, and bone broth (or other broth/stock), stir and simmer for 20 minutes
9. Add avocado and simmer for another 5 minutes
10. Use blender, masher, or immersion blender to thoroughly blend the soup and add back to the pot
11. Chop remaining broccoli into small, bite size florets, and add broccoli and cheese to the soup stirring until mixed in
12. Test seasoning and creaminess and add any additional salt, herbs, powdered spices, broth, or cream as desired – I added garlic powder and additional vegetable broth to my soup
13. Simmer for another 10 minutes
14. Optional: garnish with parsley and shredded cheddar cheese and serve over boiled potatoes
15. Optional: for protein add shredded chicken, sliced hard boiled egg, unflavored protein powder, tofu, or chopped sausage

Broccoli soup photo album…

Sautéing onions, garlic, and leeks:

Adding flour and butter:

Adding cream and broth:

Final additions of broccoli and cheese:

Delicious bowl of broccoli soup: