This is a fab soup we tried out before christmas but we have just been so busy with family events that its internet presence has been delayed until now!
On a cold winters night, recovering from the inevitable buffet over eat, soup can be a nice healthy option. Now i'm all for being healthy and I love my vegetables but I must say, I have tried this soup with and without the bacon and there is just no comparison. The smokey flavour adds a depth to the soup that broccoli just can't achieve on its own and if you want to be a little extra naughty...this recipe includes some deep fried, blue cheese nuggets of joy..wahoo!
Smoked Bacon & Norfolk Broccoli Soup
Serves 6 People
- 3 x shallots, finely chopped
- 4 x garlic cloves, crushed
- 200g free range smoked streaky bacon, chopped to lardon size
- 1.5 ltr chicken stock
- pinch of bicarbonate of soda (to keep the greens green)
- 1 kilo broccoli, roughly cut the stalks
- 150g local blue cheese
- 1 x free range egg
- 50g plain flour
- 100g fine bread crumbs
- S + P
Grab a large pan and pop it on a medium heat, add the chopped bacon and cook for 5 mins, stirring occasionally.
Add the chopped shallots, crushed garlic & roughly cut broccoli stalks, cook for another 5 mins then add your chicken stock with the pinch of bicarb.
Cut the broccoli florets and add to the pan, cover and simmer for 8-10 mins until the broccoli is just cooked.
Blend and season to taste, add a splash more stock if it's too thick for you.
Cut the blue cheese into roughly 2cm cubes and grab 3 small bowls, one bowl with the flour, one with the egg, whisked, and one with the breadcrumbs. using your hands, roll the cheese in flour, then egg and lastly the breadcrumbs and then assemble on a lined tray.
The safest way to deep fry is by using a home appliance specifically but if you're really, really careful you can heat oil in a pan and fry that way. Either way, you want the little cheese cubes to come out golden brown and just sit them on a clean tea towel or kitchen roll to drain off any excess oil.
You're ready to serve up this cheesy, meaty, but very green healthy looking soup. Congratulations !
G x