Vegan Broccoli & ‘Blue Cheese’ Soup
Need something to warm you up? This comforting bowl of vegan broccoli and ‘blue cheese’ soup is the perfect dish to make – and you don’t even need to buy any vegan blue cheese to make it.
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This recipe for vegan broccoli soup replicates the flavours of blue cheese without the high-fat content, or having to buy vegan blue cheese. The nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavour, the miso adds intensity and the vinegar adds acidity.
It’s truly easy to cook. Simply cook the vegetables in a saucepan with oil for under 5 minutes and then add the rest of the ingredients and bring to the boil. Then, just leave it to simmer for 20 minutes and blend. That’s it!
What is nutritional yeast?
Nutritional yeast is a powdered yeast that can be bought as flakes or powder and is perfect for recreating cheesy flavours.
It’s great for sprinkling over pasta dishes that might be classically topped with cheeses like Cheddar or Parmesan.
It’s aptly named, containing protein and lots of nutritional goodness. It contains all of the essential amino acids, which means it’s a complete protein, and most varieties have added vitamin B12.
What is white miso paste?
White miso paste is a fermented paste that’s made from a combination of rice, barley and soy beans.
It’s the type of miso that’s fermented for the shortest amount of time and thanks to this is lighter in colour and sweeter in flavour than most other types of miso paste.
It’s purpose is to add a rich umami flavour to the soup, but also adds a saltiness, so make sure you don’t season the soup too heavily yourself. Taste the soup before you add any seasoning to see how much it needs.
Cooking tips
To get the perfect consistency, it’s important to stir the soup continuously as it simmers on a low heat, otherwise it can curdle.
Be careful to add the nutritional yeast slowly while you stir to help achieve that smooth soupy texture which is easy to blend.