Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Get out a large Dutch oven and heat the olive oil in it over medium high heat. Let garlic, onion and celery soften and get fragrant for a minute. Then stir in broccoli and let it soften with the aromatics for another minute or two. Season it all while it cooks with a big pinch of salt and big pinch of pepper. Remove those veggies from the pan and transfer them to a plate for later.

Then add butter and flour to the pot. Whisk them together until it is a thick paste with golden color. Slowly pour in milk while you keep whisking start the béchamel sauce. Let mixture come to a gentle boil, then reduce it to a simmer. Allow it to thicken and cook for 15 minutes, whisking occasionally. Then pour in heavy cream, chicken stock and return veggies to the pan.

Season soup again generously with salt and pepper, then let it come back to a gentle boil. Reduce it a simmer and let the soup cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. When it is done, use an immersion blender to puree the soup to a thick, creamy texture. Take the pot off of the heat and stir in the cheddar cheese to let it melt right in. Ladle the soup into pretty bowls or crocks and serve hot immediately with extra cheddar on top! Enjoy!