This Spicy Broccoli Soup is absolutely amazing. Creamy, vibrant, full of wonderful flavors. It's so simple, yet so delicious and healthy, packed with SUPERFOODS and super-spices - cinnamon, turmeric, and GINGER. A real Winter comfort food favorite.
This broccoli soup is high on my favorite list since I made it for the first time many years ago. Surprisingly, my boys love it too despite the fact it's made with BROCCOLI (and they are not fans). But this soup, we all love. Once you taste it, you'll know why.
It's quite spicy but so delicious. Luxuriously smooth and creamy but free of added flour or heavy cream. It’s rich and indulgent, but not in the way to overburden your belly or weight you down.
It's full of SUPERFOODS and fresh flavors, packed with nutrients. Perfect immune-boosting soup for colder days. Great for fighting off colds and flu.
And the best part, it's super easy to make!
Ingredients used
This broccoli soup is very basic. You’ll just need a few simple ingredients:
- BROCCOLI: Broccoli is definitely a star in this recipe. A star with many health benefits. When you eat broccoli you're getting dozens, maybe even hundreds, of super-nutrients that support optimal health. Broccoli is called a SUPERFOOD for a reason. It's packed with powerful antioxidant Vitamin C, as well as Vitamin K and dietary fibers.
- PARSNIP: Parsnip is a wonderful addition to creamy soups like this one. It's sweeter than carrots with a bit of a nutty after-taste. Parsnips are incredibly nutritious, packed with antioxidants, soluble and insoluble fibers.
- GINGER: I used fresh ginger root here. Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. It's a SUPER-SPICE know in India for centuries.
- CINNAMON: I bet you find it strange putting cinnamon in the soup. But believe me, you'll get surprised how amazing it tastes here. I'm using Ceylon cinnamon, also known as "true" cinnamon. It's a highly delicious spice with many health benefits. Cinnamon gave this broccoli soup a wonderful smell and touch of sweetness needed to balance spicy ginger.
- TURMERIC: Turmeric may be the most potent spice in existence. Curcumin, the active component in turmeric, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries due to strong antioxidant properties. (1) Antioxidants are essential for our immunity too. Curcumin also has potent anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. (2) I recommend using organic turmeric powder, if possible.
Other ingredients you'll need:
- Extra virgin olive oil.
- Salt and pepper.
Substitutions
- You can substitute PARSNIP with other root vegetables, like celery root (celeriac) OR even potato. The role of the root vegetable here is to make soup dense and creamy.
- If you have homemade vegetable stock use it here. If not, simple water and salt are great. I prefer using WATER & SALT instead of store-bought vegetable broth or cubes. They can contribute to the unwanted color, off-putting flavors, and excess salt.
- I recommend using EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL here, but you can substitute it with flaxseed oil. Flaxseed oil has a bitter taste but it's packed with Omega-3s.
How to make Spicy Broccoli Soup
- Wash the broccoli head and cut into florets. Cut the stem into small pieces. Use whole broccoli, don't waste anything.
- Peel the parsnip and ginger and cut into small pieces.
- Place broccoli, parsnip, and ginger in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add water just enough to cover the vegetables. Add olive oil, cinnamon, and turmeric. Season with salt (add just a half teaspoon).
- Bring to a boil. Cover, lower the heat, and simmer for 15 minutes until vegetables are soft enough to puree.
- Take the soup off the heat. Remove a cup of the liquid and set aside.
- Using a stick blender (a food processor or blender) blend the soup to the desired constancy (adding some of the stock a bit at a time if necessary).
- Taste the soup and add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot with additional toppings:
- Dizzle of cold-pressed flaxseed oil or extra virgin olive oil. Pumpkin seed oil is a great option too.
- Seeds: pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, or sunflower seeds.
- Crispy croutons or a slice of toasted sourdough bread.
- Makes 4 bowls that serve 2 - 4 people.
Tips for storing
- Keep stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- HOW TO FREEZE: Broccoli soup freezes really well. Allow it to cool completely before freezing. Portion the broccoli soup into freezer-safe bags or containers. Place in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature before reheating.
What to serve with Broccoli Soup
This soup is a light meal on its own. But if you want to make a proper meal, serve this soup with a sandwich or crisp salad, like:
Pro tips
- Seasoning is the key to the perfect soup. Salt gradually and taste as you go.
- Ginger adds a lot of spicinesses. If you want to make this soup less spicy and kid-friendly, add just a pinch of ginger. Don't skip it thou. Ginger is a key ingredient here in this recipe.
- Don't substitute FRESH GINGER with ginger powder. It won't work well here.
- If the soup is too thick and you don't have enough reserved broth from cooking, just add a bit of boiled water.
Broccoli Buying Guide
- Look for bright green broccoli with firm stalks.
- Avoid woody stems that get chewy when cooked.
- Avoid yellowing florets. This indicates it has gone past the desirable freshness.
- Choose broccoli with compact florets. The more open the florets, the older it is.
Safety note
- Never fill a stand blender past the maximum fill line.
- To allow steam to escape, remove the centerpiece of the cover so the contents don’t build pressure as they blend. Cover the hole with a tea towel, but don’t place your hand over it because the steam is hot.
Spicy Broccoli Soup benefits
- It's simple and easy to make in just 20 minutes.
- It's made with FRESH ingredients, vibrant and packed with flavor.
- It's loaded with NUTRIENTS, immune-boosting Vitamin C, and Vitamin K.
- It's full of powerful antioxidants that protect and detox our bodies.
- It's enhanced with healing spices - ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric.
- It's low in calories, without added creams.
- It's vegan, gluten-free, and perfectly HEALTHY!
- Perfect lunch or starter.
I must say, I cooked this soup many times and every time I get surprised by how amazing it tastes. How can some simple soup taste so good? Well, I hope you'll give this spicy broccoli soup a try and get surprised as well.
Enjoy!
Spicy Broccoli Soup
This Spicy Broccoli Soup is absolutely amazing. Creamy, vibrant, full of wonderful flavors. It's so simple, yet so delicious and healthy, packed with SUPERFOODS and super-spices - cinnamon, turmeric, and GINGER. A real Winter comfort food favorite. V+GF.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large broccoli head
- 1 large parsnip or 1/2 medium-sized celery root
- 0.8 inch fresh ginger rooth
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Ceylon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 4-5 cups water
- Himalayan salt to taste
Instructions
- Wash the broccoli head and cut into florets. Cut the stem into small pieces. Use whole broccoli, don't waste anything.
- Peel the parsnip and ginger and cut into small pieces.
- Place broccoli, parsnip, and ginger in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add water just enough to cover the vegetables. Add olive oil, cinnamon, and turmeric. Season with salt (add just a half teaspoon).
- Bring to a boil. Cover, lower the heat, and simmer for 15 minutes until vegetables are soft enough to puree.
- Take the soup off the heat. Remove a cup of the liquid and set aside.
- Using a stick blender (a food processor or blender) blend the soup to the desired constancy (adding some of the stock a bit at a time if necessary).
- Taste the soup and add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot with additional toppings.
Notes
Makes 4 bowls that serve 2 - 4 people.
TIPS FOR STORING
Keep stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
HOW TO FREEZE: Broccoli soup freezes really well. Allow it to cool completely before freezing. Portion the broccoli soup into freezer-safe bags or containers. Place in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature before reheating. SUBSTITUTIONS
Keep stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
HOW TO FREEZE: Broccoli soup freezes really well. Allow it to cool completely before freezing. Portion the broccoli soup into freezer-safe bags or containers. Place in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature before reheating. SUBSTITUTIONS
- You can substitute PARSNIP with other root vegetables, like celery root (celeriac) OR even potato. The role of the root vegetable here is to make soup dense and creamy.
- If you have homemade vegetable stock use it here. If not, simple water and salt are great. I prefer using WATER & SALT instead of store-bought vegetable broth or cubes. They can contribute to the unwanted color, off-putting flavors, and excess salt.
- I recommend using EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL here, but you can substitute it with flaxseed oil. Flaxseed oil has a bitter taste but it's packed with Omega-3s.
- Seasoning is the key to the perfect soup. Salt gradually and taste as you go.
- Ginger adds a lot of spicinesses. If you want to make this soup less spicy and kid-friendly, add just a pinch of ginger. Don't skip it thou. Ginger is a key ingredient here in this recipe.
- Don't substitute FRESH GINGER with ginger powder. It won't work well here.
- If the soup is too thick and you don't have enough reserved broth from cooking, just add a bit of boiled water.
Nutrition
Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 55mg | Potassium: 638mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 947IU | Vitamin C: 142mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Pease take a moment and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you!
DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but I have endeavored to be as accurate as possible.
More soup recipes to try
Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below or share a picture on Instagram tagging me.
This post is originally published on September 20, 2015. It's updated on November 10, 2020, with more information and new photos.
I love the spice in this recipe!
This looks like the perfect winter soup. I must give it a try.
I love anything spicy even though my friends are not very good at it. I live in Mexico and this could be a unique dish to bring to Christmas parties! I will definitely try making this. Wish me luck! Thanks for sharing, Natalie!
I'm a big broccoli fan so this soup looks really tempting! I love the spices you've added for extra flavour and health properties. Sounds like a great winter soup. Definitely on my to make list!
The ginger and tumeric add so much flavor and spice to this soup! Such a wonderful twist on broccoli soup. I love it!
Broccoli soup is one of my go-to soups! Such a nutritious and delicious soup to cozy up to in the winter.
I like this idea of spicy broccoli soup instead of with cheese. Love this variation and is on my to do list.
What a unique twist on this classic recipe. Looks super tasty and easy to make!
The spice in this makes this soup SO MUCH better than any others. My girls LOVED it and my husband is still asking for it! Thank you!
Ginger and turmeric are our best allies in the soups we make, so this spicy broccoli soup is hitting all the right notes. It looks vibrant in color and flavor. Simply delicious!
I love soup all year long. This recipe is so easy to make and most of the ingredients I already own.
Avoid the yellowing florets...got it, Natalie! I am good to start on this soup, then.
It's soup weather and this broccoli soup can't get any better. Love how easy it is to make and the vibrant color it looks.
It is pouring here and this soup looks amazing on this rainy day!!! I need to make asap!!
sounds like a delicious winter meal! also very healthy especially for the season!
Fall is the perfect season for a warm soup. Love that it's healthy and delicious!
Soup season is my favorite! Always great to warm up with a bowl of soup, especially one packed with superfoods and a little kick!
I love broccoli soup, but I've never tried a spicy version before. Sounds like a great winter soup!
This was so delicious and healthy!
I gotta try broccoli soup with a little spice! Such a great idea to mix things up!
I super love spicy dishes, especially when it's healthy,like these one. I bet it would be one of my favorite.
I love broccoli soup so much. I'm definitely gonna cook this.
Mmmm, this looks so good! I love that you included parsnip in it too -adds great flavor!
I've never tried a spicy broccoli soup. I've had a cream of broccoli soup before but this sounds amazing.
I am not a fan of eating spicy food but I love eating brocolli a lot and I think I need to try this recipe, sounds really a delicious!
I would love to try out your recipe one of these days. Hopefully I can get to it sometime this week!
This soup is right up my alley! Great idea to add parsnips. I can't wait to try it
I've always loved broccoli soup and think this would be sooooo good!
Well, I never make brocolli soup like this. This is looks yummy. Definitely, I will try this recipe on weekend. I think brocolli soup with bread as a partner 😉 sound delicious.
This broccoli soup sounds amazing. It sounds even better with a little bit of a kick to it.
I love broccoli! I bet it tastes amazing in this soup!
I love broccoli and I love anything spicy! This soup is just perfect!
This is a neat twist on broccoli soup! I've never had spicy broccoli soup but I am willing to bet that I will just love it. Going to give your recipe a try asap.
I love the touch of cinnamon in this recipe. This is a great idea to add a little kick to a classic favorite soup.
This soup looks amazing. I've never had a spicy broccoli soup before. I can't wait to try it. I love spicy foods.
I have to say, I don't think I've ever had broccoli soup spicy before. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever had one this smooth before either. Absolutely to die for!
It's the perfect time of year for this soup. It will warm me right up. Looks so good.
I hav e never had broccoli soup but it sounds pretty interesting! I do love broccoli and anything spicy
I will attempt to make this soup in my kitchen. I a huge fan of soups, and this recipe is totally unique and delish-looking.
I love broccoli soup and I'm always looking for a way to use turmeric. Thanks for sharing!
I've never had broccoli soup before. It sounds so delicious! I wonder if I could make it more mild?
I have to admit broccoli is one of my favourite vegetables but I have never had it in soup form - I definitely need to change that with this recipe.
Sounds like an amazing soup dish. I love soup and Iove broccoli, I can't wait to try this.
That looks delicious! I love the flavors you incorporated into this classic dish. I have to make it.
A great soup like that in 20 minutes how amazing. I love broccoli soup and with all those healthy spices it is souch a great soup I will try and make.
I was thinking of making soup for dinner tonight. I am going to try this recipe! It sounds delicious and I actually have all the ingredients. (potato instead of parsnip). I love soups, looking forward to having this!
This looks and sounds incredible. I love soups when it's cold out. And I love spicy ones!
Broccoli soup has always been one of my favorite soups. I love the flavor. This spicy twist on one of my favorites is going to be so good!
I love all the veggie goodness and warm spices in this dish. It's the perfect thing for a cold winter day.
Sounds so delicious! My daughter loves broccoli, can't wait to make this for her!
I love your broccoli soup, it is delicious and different from all the other recipes I have found. I especially like that you are using ginger. Thank you so much for sharing it, it has become a regular easy meal for us.
Yummy! Such a warm and comforting soup. Perfect autumn family dinner. My teens especially loved the zippy spice!
Oh! I love broccoli and making it into a creamy, spicy soup sounds like the perfect idea. I would add some cheese! I doing this for dinner today!
I'm so excited for soup season, this sounds so yummy! I love broccoli
I don't have any experience in eating a broccoli. But maybe because of this I can try to taste it. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
This is amazing! I've been making a similar soup with leeks. Love soup weather.
I love the flavors you've added it to the common broccoli soup. I've seen parsnips in the stores but never bought it. I'm going to give it a try this week with your soup.
Love this broccoli soup with a twist! I can't wait to try it!
I've only ever seen cheese and broccoli soup -- this one is so bright and healthy. Love it! Especially the ginger - what a pop of flavor!
Easy, healthy, and delicious...all my favorite things about soup. Love the spice...thanks!
We had broccoli soup for dinner last night. It's a favorite at our house. Looking forward to trying your recipe.
I love the warming spices and ginger in this! Such a great twist.
Hi, can I please have the nutritional information of this recipe?
Here you go. :)
I really like the taste of broccoli and celery so this soup recipe is one I would like to try to make. I also like the fact that it has also been kept simple with only a few wholesome ingredients.
Very nice. I also topped it off on top with raw ginger. The combination of brocoli and celery is good :)
Glad you like it. :) Thanks for lovely feedback!
As a foodie person, I always like to eat different recipe.This recipe is amazing one...
Thank you Julianne! :)
So good.
Your broccoli soup is perfect choice for slimming diet!!!!
Yes it is :) It's very light and super healthy.
Nice making tips ! waiting for next soup related blog article .
Thank you ;)
I'd make this for the inclusion of celeriac alone. Sounds wonderful
Thank you Tania ;)
I LOVE broccoli and especially love broccoli soup this time of year! Yours looks fabulous, Natalie!! LOVE that it's got some heat and the spices you used in here sound divine! I'll take at least 3 bowls! Cheers, friend!
3 bowls, coming right up! Cheers friend ;)
I absolutely love broccoli, and this soup sounds and looks so delicious! I bet it tastes so good with the added spices!
Thank you Marsha :) :*
I love a good soup and this sounds fantastic Natalie - hope you don't mind me sharing it everywhere
Thank you sooo soo much Amber. It means a world to me :*
My biggest problem with broccoli is the texture of the florets, so I've found out that soup is the only way I can consume these suckers! But your soup has so much more flavour than mine - and I have a feeling I may just begin to love them soon!
I love broccoli soup, and I'm always looking for new ways to make a soup. So I will definitely visit your blog for recipe ;) Thanks!
I love broccoli so this is right up my alley and the fact that it is spicy makes it a winner. I've also been trying to incorporate more turmeric into my recipes so thanks for sharing this one.
Thank you Stephanie :)
Lovely color and exotic flavors.
Thank you so much :)
Love the flavor of ginger with broccoli! Looks wonderful and the the vibrant green is just so attractive.
Thank you Sandhya :)
I love the different spices you've included here! Definitely want to try this one!
Thank you Lisa :)
Obožavam juhu od brokule i obično ju začinim đumbirom i kurkumom, ali nikad nisam probala koristiti cimet! Baš me zanima ova verzija! Ali bez celera, celer baš ne volim! ;) Hvala za recept!
Probaj pa mi obavezno javi. Jedva čekam da čujem kako ti se svidjela. Cimet malo zasladi juhicu i predivno je zamiriši. Onako baš pravo jesenski ;)
Hehe, true :D Fixed. Thanks for letting me know.