Source: Recipezaar
Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 medium chopped onion
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half-and-half cream
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 lb fresh broccoli (I used one bag of Aldi frozen broccoli instead of fresh)
1 cup carrots, julienned
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
salt and pepper
1. Sauté onion in butter. Set aside. Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly and add the half & half. Add the chicken stock. Simmer for 20 minutes.
2. Add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook over low heat 20-25 minutes. Add salt and pepper. Can be puréed in blender but I don’t. Return to heat and add cheese. Stir in nutmeg.
Note: If your kids are not keen on big hunks of broccoli, you can use an immersion blender, standard blender, or a food processor to puree the soup before serving.