Recipe: Creamy Wild Rice & Broccoli Soup (2024)

is rich and colorful. This dish does not take much time, but the taste is delicious, greasy and full of vegetables. Enjoy this hearty soup!

Recipe Description

Well, I made it! Twelve difficult months, six-and-a-half of which I was unemployed or underemployed, most of them shrouded by the constant threat of eviction, and not one Three Day Notice or Unlawful Detainer received! WOOHOO!!! Thanks to friends, family, my own resourcefulness, and many of you incredibly generous readers, I made it through the toughest year of my adult life a little shaken, but in one piece. And though I’m still waiting for that first paycheck to see if I can spare a few bucks for some new food before it all goes to rent (though Santa was very generous and gave me some Grocery Outlet gift cards for Christmas, which will definitely help), I can’t help but feel lighter & brighter already. Next year is bound to be better than this one was, and I’m really looking forward to the opportunities it will bring.

But first things first. I had to figure out what to feed myself during these last paltry weeks, and with my bare-bones staples dwindling, that task was more of a challenge than usual. I’ve done alright, though. I’ve enjoyed some old bare-bones recipes like my Farro & Red Beans with Caramelized Onions, plenty of eggs, and even whipped up some Fiesta Corn & Potato Chowder to take away some of the chills in the air. And because it just keeps getting colder and I have the perfect excuse to enjoy soup, soup, and more soup, I decided I would make…. more soup. But exactly what the heck would I be able to make with so few supplies?

Here were the contents of my kitchen this morning: a quart of milk, half a stick of butter, mustard, a jar of olives, half a bag of baby spinach and some leftover quinoa in the fridge; a couple of loaves of bread from the yard sale, frozen berries, homemade veggie stock and some frozen broccoli florets in the freezer; dried herbs, spices, flour, raw sugar, about five cans of sliced beets (what the…? I totally forgot I had these. Already brainstorming ideas for their use), canola oil, some dried black & navy beans, some rice pilaf mix that I’d forgotten about, and about a cup of honey in the cupboard; and two heads of garlic and one yellow onion, in Big Bowl. Not completely out of food, but not exactly the best mix of ingredients for a sensational soup, at first glance.

But that’s what food math is for, and once I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and thought about what I could make for a warm, filling work lunch, I honed in on the wild rice pilaf, the basics of flour, butter and milk, and the broccoli. They may seem like pretty mundane ingredients, but when all is said and done they make a fantastic winter soup. It can only get better with the addition of extra veggies like carrots or mushrooms, or perhaps some diced chicken or ham, but it’s quite satisfying as is. Some of my absolute favorite PGEW dishes have come about in a very similar fashion to this one, and as one of the last recipes of 2010, this uber-bare bones recipe will definitely be part of my regular winter rotation from now on. It’s cheap, it’s filling, it’s tasty (with enough herbs & seasonings), and far better than some can of sodium-laden canned soup or pasta.

Just goes to show that a little effort and plenty of patience with one’s paltry kitchen contents can go a heck of a long way to make sure one eats as well as one deserves.

Details Recipe Information

  • Serving: 3-4 people
  • Cost per serving: $1.05
  • Nutrition: for each serving
  • Calories: 302.8
  • Fat: 11g
  • Cholesterol: 14.3mg
  • Sodium: 419.1mg
  • Potassium: 463.7mg
  • Carbohydrates: 33.7g
  • Protein: 11.1g

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup cooked wild rice pilaf (any rice or rice pilaf will do just fine)
  • 3/4 cup broccoli florets
  • 3 cup vegetable stock or broth
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1/4 cup flour (or corn starch)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 tbsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tbsp ground pepper
  • 1/2 tbsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tbsp garlic powder

Method

Melt the butter in a large pot and add the onions. Sauté over medium heat until translucent, then add the salt, garlic powder, pepper, and thyme, and stir together. Next, add the vegetable stock & milk, stir to combine, and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to incorporate.

Add the cooked rice and simmer for 2-3 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the flour slurry by whisking together the water & flour. Slowly add the slurry to the broth, whisking constantly to ensure there is no clumping while the broth thickens. Finally, add the broccoli florets to the soup and allow to cook for another 2 minutes or so. Reduce heat to low, check for seasoning, and adjust according to taste.

Add diced chicken or ham towards the end of the cooking process with the broccoli, if you like. Serve generous amounts in soup bowls or mugs, garnish with extra black pepper, and enjoy!

Further Reading:

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Recipe: Creamy Wild Rice & Broccoli Soup (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken cream of broccoli soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

How do you add rice to soup without getting soggy? ›

If you add the rice too early, it may become overcooked and disintegrate into the broth. Here are some general guidelines: If your soup is already fully cooked and simmering, add the cooked rice towards the end, about 5-10 minutes before serving.

Why did my cream of broccoli soup curdle? ›

Curdling in a cream soup usually occurs when the milk or cream is added at too high of a heat. As you incorporate the milk and broth into the cooked onion and flour mixture, keep the heat at medium and stir continuously with a whisk. Once all is mixed in, then proceed to heat to a boil.

Why is my cream of broccoli soup grainy? ›

If your soup is too lean, it will taste grainy. Try adding some additional cream or milk to the soup until it reaches the desired consistency.

How do you make soup creamier and thicker? ›

6 ways to thicken soup:
  1. Blend all or part of it. If you've made a broth with chunks of vegetable in it, such as minestrone soup, then pour the soup through a sieve. ...
  2. Add cream or yogurt. ...
  3. Add flour or cornflour. ...
  4. Use a butter and flour paste. ...
  5. Blend in bread. ...
  6. Add lentils or rice.

How do you thicken wild rice soup? ›

You'll need 1-2 tbsp of cornstarch with a few tablespoons of cool water. Stir until the cornstarch is dissolved. Add a little bit of the cornstarch slurry to the bubbly soup a few minutes before serving. Stir and allow it to come to a simmer, and watch it thicken.

What is the ratio of wild rice to water? ›

What's the water to rice ratio for wild rice? Although it's pricey, the good news is that with a 1 to 4 ratio (1 cup wild rice to 4 cups water) you get a big bang for your buck. One cup of raw wild rice translates to about 4 cups of cooked wild rice.

Can you add rice to soup to thicken it? ›

A handful of uncooked rice. That's all folks, just a handful of white rice. Any kind will do: jasmine, basmati, short grain, long grain. When added to a brothy (or watery, even) soup, and left to simmer for 20-30 minutes, the rice breaks down, releasing its starch and thickening the liquid that it's cooking in.

Can you cook rice in soup instead of water? ›

Think of this Cream of Mushroom Rice recipe like a shortcut risotto- a creamy delicious rice dish that's done in 15 minutes! It could not be easier- basically, you're making instant rice, but instead of water you use condensed cream of mushroom soup and chicken broth.

Can I add milk to soup to make it creamy? ›

Milk or Half-and-Half: This is the other magical ingredient that turns your homemade chicken noodle soup into the creamiest soup ever. Use 1 cup of whole milk or 1 cup of half-and-half.

What cheese melts best in soup? ›

Mild cheddar, Colby, Monterey jack, mozzarella, Swiss and queso blanco can all work well. “The best cheeses to melt into soups are cheeses that are higher in moisture and have a lower melting point,” says Bauer. In addition to cheddar and Monterey jack, he recommends Fontina and Gruyère.

What is cream of broccoli soup made of? ›

Primary ingredients are broccoli, stock and milk or cream. The broccoli used may be chopped, sliced into small florets or puréed, and some preparations combine both chopped and pureed broccoli. Some versions may use frozen broccoli, and the soup may be thickened using a roux.

Can you use pre shredded cheese in soup? ›

Pre-shredded cheese is often coated in anti-caking agents that can prevent the cheese from melting into a lusciously creamy soup. To ensure that your broccoli cheddar soup has the best smooth and creamy texture, buy a block of cheese and grate it yourself.

How do you make creamy soup without curdling? ›

Here's some tips to prevent curdling:
  1. Prepare a warm milk/flour mixture to add to hot soup.
  2. Stir some hot soup liquid into cold dairy product to temper it, then add to the soup.
  3. Do not boil the soup after adding any dairy product, especially cheese.
  4. Add acid to the milk instead of milk into the acid.
Dec 15, 2016

How do you make soup super smooth? ›

Puree the soup in batches in a blender until smooth. If using an immersion blender, leave the mixture in the pot and blend the soup until smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Stir in half-and-half (if using), salt and pepper.

Why is my cream soup watery? ›

The solution to this problem is to either utilize more of the roux or slurry, or to utilize a roux or slurry that contains more starch. Another reason that cream soups can become watery is that the vegetables or other ingredients in the soup continue to emit moisture through the cooking process.

How do you make watery soup more creamy? ›

Add Flour, Cornstarch, or Other Thickener: Starches thicken soup and give it body. Whisk a few tablespoons of starch into a little of the broth in a separate bowl before whisking it into the main pot. This prevents the starch from clumping and helps it dissolve into the soup evenly.

How do you thicken broccoli sauce? ›

Use one tablespoon cornstarch mixed with one tablespoon cold water (aka a cornstarch slurry) for each cup of medium-thick sauce. Thoroughly mix the cornstarch and water together, then pour into your sauce. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.

How do you thicken soup with cornstarch or flour? ›

The most classic and surefire way to thicken a broth-based soup is with a cornstarch slurry. Whisk together equal parts cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water or broth, then whisk it into the pot of soup. A good ratio to get to a pleasant thickness without your soup tasting goopy or heavy is one tablespoon.

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