Broccoli And Leek Puree Recipes

BROCCOLI PUREE

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with enough water to come 2 inches up the sides of the pot. Set a steamer rack in the pot, cover, and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the potato chunks and cook until they are very tender, about 18 minutes. Transfer the potatoes to a medium bowl and mash until smooth.
• Place broccoli into steamer rack and steam over medium heat until the broccoli is very tender, about 12 minutes. Transfer the broccoli to the bowl of a food processor. Add the broth, cream cheese, and Parmesan. Process until the broccoli is pureed and almost smooth.
• Stir the broccoli puree into the mashed potato and blend well. Season the puree to taste with salt and pepper, and serve.

LEEK & BROCCOLI SOUP WITH CHEESY SCONES

Steps:

• Tip the leeks, potatoes and garlic into a large pan with the bouillon. Pour over 800ml boiling water, stir well, cover and simmer for 15 mins.
• Add the broccoli to the pan, then cover and cook for 5 mins more until just tender. Blitz with a hand blender until smooth, then pour in the milk and blitz again. Add a little stock if the soup looks too thick.
• To make the scones, heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Put the flour and baking powder in a bowl with the all but 1 tbsp of the parmesan and all the mustard powder. Gradually add the milk and oil, stirring with a cutlery knife until the mixture comes together. Shape into a log, about 16cm long and 6cm wide, and press the remaining parmesan on top. Cut in half along the length, then halve each of those pieces again to create four wedge-like scones. Arrange the scones on the tray and bake for 10-12 mins until golden.
• If you're following the Healthy Diet Plan, reserve two of the scones for another day. Will keep covered for up to three days. Halve the remaining two and top with half the goat's cheese and half the tomato. Ladle half the soup into two bowls and serve with the scones. The remaining soup will keep chilled for up to three days.

CREAMY BROCCOLI-AND-SPINACH SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add leeks and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 2 minutes. Stir in mustard, then flour; cook until mixture has a slightly nutty aroma, about 1 minute.
• Gradually whisk in broth until combined. Add broccoli stems and season with salt and pepper; increase heat to high and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Add broccoli florets; reduce heat to low and simmer partially covered until broccoli is tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in spinach and cook 1 minute more; remove from heat.
• Working in batches, purée soup in a blender. Return to pot and reheat over medium-low. Whisk crème fraîche with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Serve soup, drizzled with crème-fraîche mixture and garnished with pretzels.

PUREE DE POIREAUX (LEEKS PUREE)

Steps:

• Trim off the stem end of each leek. Cut off enough of the green part to leave a main section of about seven inches. Split the leeks lengthwise in half. Cut the split leeks crosswise into one-and-one half-inch lengths. There should be about eight cups loosely packed. Rinse thoroughly in cold water. Drain.
• Put the leeks in a saucepan or kettle and add enough water to cover. Bring to the boil and simmer, uncovered, about 15 minutes or until tender. Drain thoroughly.
• Put the leeks into the container of a food processor or blender and puree until fine. Scrape the mixture into a saucepan and start beating. Add the salt and pepper to taste, butter and nutmeg. Stir until piping hot. Serve.

BROCCOLI PUREE

Steps:

• Trim and cut the broccoli into florets. If the stems are large, trim and cut them into large bite-size pieces. There should be about 6 cups.
• Put the broccoli pieces in a saucepan with water to cover and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer about 10 minutes or until tender but not mushy. Drain.
• Put the broccoli in a food processor and puree it. Or, preferably, put it in a conical food mill and press it through into a saucepan.
• Heat the puree gently while stirring in the butter, garlic, salt, pepper, nutmeg and cheese. When piping hot serve immediately.