This delicious, wholesome soup contains broccoli, a highly nutritional vegetable. It is a very simple recipe, using only a handful of ingredients, but tastes delicious and provides an array of healthful benefits. Along with a rich supply of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C, folate, Beta-carotene, and potassium, it contains the phytochemical sulforaphane, which is associated with reducing the risk of cancer.

Ingredients

• 400g broccoli
• 25g butter
• 1 small onion
• 500ml hot vegetable stock
• 300ml milk
• pinch of cumin seeds
• soft cheese to serve (e.g. goats cheese or feta cheese)

Preparation

• Chop the broccoli stalks and florets, but keep them separate. Melt the butter in a pan, then add the onion, broccoli stalks and cumin and fry for 5 minutes until soft.

• Add the broccoli florets and stock, then the milk. Cover and simmer gently for 8 minutes until the broccoli is tender.

• Blend the mixture in a food processor or with a hand blender roughly, leaving the soup slightly lumpy for texture. If you prefer, blend it to a smooth mixture.

• Season the soup, reheat and serve with soft cheese and toasted bread.