3tablespoonsunsalted butterplus 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1cupyellow onions or sliced leekswhite parts only, well rinsed
½teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonfreshly ground white pepper
Pinchnutmeg
½teaspoonminced garlic
1carrot - finely minced
1stalk celery - finely minced
½teaspoonchopped fresh thyme leaves
3tablespoonsall-purpose flour
3cupschicken stock or cannedlow-sodium chicken broth
16-ouncesfrozen broccolithawed and separated
½cupheavy cream
1 ¼cupsshredded medium Cheddar
½cupVelveeta
Croutonsfor garnish
Instructions
In a medium pot, melt the 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat.
Add the onions, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and cook, stirring, until soft, 3 minutes.
Add The Carrot and celery, cook 2-3 minutes.
Add the garlic and thyme cook, stirring, until fragrant, for 20 seconds.
Add the flour and cook, stirring until the mixture is well blended and smells fragrant, 2 minutes.
Slowly add the chicken stock, whisking constantly, and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.
Add the broccoli and cook, stirring, until tender, for 10 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and puree with a hand-held immersion blender. (Alternatively, in batches, puree in a blender or food processor and return to the pot.)
Add the cream and bring barely to a simmer to heat through.
Add the cheese and cook over low heat, stirring, until melted.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons cold butter, stirring to blend.
Remove from the heat and ladle the soup into bowls.
Sprinkle croutons over the top of the soup and serve immediately.