by waborat » Tue Jan 05, 2010 7:58 pm
Don't know if you've ever had Panera's famous stuff, but this tastes just like it:
6 tbs unsalted butter
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups half-n-half
3 cups low-sodium chicken stock, warmed
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp grated nutmeg
Kosher salt & ground pepper
4 7" sourdough bread, round loaves
4 cups brocoli florets (about 1 head)
1 large carrot, diced
2.5 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until tender. Whisk in flour cook until golden (about 4 minutes). Slowly pour and whisk in half-n-half until smooth. Add the warm chicken stock, bay leaves, nutmeg, salt & pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook uncovered until it thickens (about 20 minutes).
Cut a circle in the top of each bread bowl, leaving a 1" border all around the top. Remove the bread top and hollow out the middle with a fork, leaving a thick bread shell.
Add the broccoli and carrot to the soup and simmer until tender (about 20 minutes). Remove bay leaves and puree the soup in small batches in a blender. Be careful!!! Hot liquids can explode, so don't put in to much at a time or use an immersion blender right in the pot. Return the pureed soup back into a pot.
Add the cheese to the soup and whisk over medium heat until melted. If the soup is too thick then just add a little water. Ladle into the bread bowls and garnish with some more cheese.
You'll love it!!!