As Good As It Gets Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup

My first few weeks of blogging, I get an email from my dear friend, Debra.  She and her lovely daughter Kyla, love eating Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup but feel so guilty after eating it because it’s filled with cream, butter and tons of cheese.  She wanted to know if I can create a healthier version for them that they can enjoy anytime minus the guilt, fat and calories.

This sparked a ‘light bulb’ moment for me.  How many people go through a diet overhaul due to lifestyle changes, allergies, health problems and/or weight?  How great would it be to have healthier versions of the ‘no-no list’ and make it ‘yes’ again?  Hence, the birth of my Naughty to Nice Challenge!  Each month I will take a recipe that you send me and turn it from something sinfully naughty to something deliciously nice!

So my first challenge:

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

I thought to myself, hmm, I could keep it simple and just replace some of the ingredients to lower the fat content and call it a day.  No!  That’s no challenge for me!  If I’m going to go there, I’m going to go all vegan and healthy!  My vegan and health conscious friends need more options and would love to have a creamy, faux cheesy soup recipe to add to their menu.

So, I started testing things out in my kitchen for the right flavors and consistency.  My results?  Something pretty darn good!  Is it like the real thing?  That’s up for debate.  My kids loved it.  My cheese-loving-husband loved it but said you can’t replace the taste of real cheese. Me?  I say, it’s as good as it gets!


As Good As It Gets Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup
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As Good As It Gets Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Print Recipe
  1. Use a large soup pot and sauté on high heat onions, cubed butternut squash and onions in 1/8 cup of coconut oil until onions are translucent.
  2. Add 2 cups of vegetable broth, turn down heat to medium low and cook it down until the butternut squash and potatoes are soft. About 20 minutes.
  3. Pour the ingredients from the soup pot into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Be careful blending hot soup. Set aside.
  4. Use the remainder of the coconut oil and sauté the broccoli and carrots for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle sea salt and sauté for 5 more minutes.
  5. Add both cans of coconut cream and light coconut cream, remainder of vegetable broth, and the pureed onion/squash/potato mixture.
  6. Stir well and let it cook for another 20 minutes until broccoli softens and breaks apart.
  7. Add nutritional yeast and nutmeg. Stir well. Add more salt if needed and add pepper to your liking.
  8. Your vegan broccoli soup is ready to serve!
Recipe Notes

What is nutritional yeast?  I'm glad you ask! 

Nutritional yeast is jam-packed with essential vitamins and minerals. In fact, it’s one of the best non-animal sources of folic acid and vitamin B-12.  The yellow color of the flakes is a result of their large amount of vitamin B – ½ tbsp. fulfills your entire daily vitamin B needs. In addition to B-12, nutritional yeast is high in 15 different minerals and 18 amino acids. Talk about a super food!

The yeast itself is grown on beets and dehydrated, so don’t let the word “yeast” scare you away. Since it is plant derived and dried out, it’s free of the harmful candida that can wreck havoc on your digestive system. Think of it as the kind of yeast your body will love!


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