Broccoli and Cheese Soup

Cooking spray
1 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (16-ounce) package broccoli florets
2 1/2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
8 ounces light processed cheese, cubed (such as Velveeta Light)


Heat a large nonstick saucepan coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; saute 3 minutes or until tender. Add broth and broccoli. Bring broccoli mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; cook 10 minutes.

Combine milk and flour, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Add milk mixture to broccoli mixture. Cook 5 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring constantly. Stir in pepper. Remove from heat; add cheese, stirring until cheese melts.

Place one-third of the soup in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Return pureed soup mixture to pan.



Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 1/3 cups)

CALORIES 203 (28% from fat); FAT 6.3g (sat 4g,mono 1.8g,poly 0.4g); IRON 1.2mg; CHOLESTEROL 24mg; CALCIUM 385mg; CARBOHYDRATE 21.7g; SODIUM 897mg; PROTEIN 15.6g; FIBER 2.9g

Cooking Light, JANUARY 2002