Creamy Broccoli Soup with Cheese Sticks in Air Fryer
A smooth broccoli soup served with crispy cheese bread sticks cooked in the air fryer.
Steps
- 1
Cut broccoli into florets, finely chop onion and garlic.
- 2
In a pot, sauté onion and garlic in butter until softened.
- 3
Add broccoli and vegetable broth, boil for 10-15 minutes until broccoli is tender.
- 4
Blend the soup with an immersion blender until creamy, then stir in cream. Season with salt and pepper.
- 5
For the sticks, cut bread slices into sticks. Butter them and sprinkle with grated Cheddar cheese.
- 6
Preheat air fryer to 180°C (350°F) and bake sticks for 5-7 minutes until golden and crispy.
- 7
Serve the hot soup with the cheese sticks on the side.
Shopping list
400g broccoli, 1 onion, 1 garlic clove, 500ml vegetable stock, 100ml cream, 100g cheddar cheese, 4 bread slices, 2 tbsp butter, salt, black pepper
Recipe story
Broccoli was first cultivated in ancient Italy and was prized by the Romans. In the 16th century, it reached France, where it became popular in royal cuisine. Creamy broccoli soup is a modern reinterpretation of traditional French recipes, combined with the crunchy texture of cheese sticks.
Ingredient Secrets
Black pepper
Known as 'black gold' in antiquity, pepper was so valuable that it served as currency and tribute. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the pepper trade, and individual peppercorns were often counted. Legend has it that when Alaric, king of the Visigoths, demanded tribute from Rome, he included 3,000 pounds of pepper.
Sea salt
Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.
Garlic
Native to Central Asia, garlic was already known in ancient Egypt, where it was given to slaves to boost their strength. In ancient Greece, athletes consumed it before competitions, and in Rome, legionaries considered it essential for courage. During the Middle Ages, it was used to ward off vampires and the plague.
Onion
Probably originating in Central or West Asia, onions were cultivated in ancient Egypt, where they were considered a symbol of eternity and placed in tombs. In ancient Greece, athletes ate them to balance their blood, and in Rome, they were a staple food for soldiers. During the Middle Ages, onions were believed to protect against arrows and the plague.
Cloves
Cloves, the dried buds of the exotic Syzygium aromaticum tree, were one of the most prized spices of the ancient world, often called 'aromatic gold'. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the clove trade, bringing them from the Maluku Islands, the only place they grew, and selling them at exorbitant prices in Europe.
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