Dede’s Cream of Broccoli Soup

6 to 7 pounds broccoli

3 onions, peeled & chopped

6 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped

¼ cup butter

¼ cup canola oil

6 quarts chicken broth

1 tsp. white pepper

½ tsp. ground celery seed

¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

1 1/3 cup Clearjel

1 1/3 cup chicken broth or water

Cut the florets from the stalks, then peel the stalks and chop them into small pieces.  Sauté the broccoli, onions, and garlic in the butter and oil in a large heavy stockpot for a few minutes.

Add the 6 quarts broth.  Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer gently until the vegetables are very soft.  Puree the soup in the pot with an immersion blender.  Add the white pepper, ground celery seed, and nutmeg.  Mix well. Bring to a simmer.

Mix the Clearjel and broth or water (cool) in a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake until well blended.  Add Clearjel mixture slowly to the pot, stirring constantly.  Bring back to a simmer, stirring well before ladling into hot jars.

Fill jars, leaving 1” headspace.  Wipe tops, cap.  Process 40 minutes at 10 lbs. pressure for weighted gauge, 40 minutes at 11 lbs. pressure for dial gauge (adjust for your altitude).

Yield:  16 pints

NOTE:  You could also lift some of the broccoli from the pot with a slotted spoon before pureeing the soup, and add those back to the soup before canning.

CindyP said:

clearjel…………there was a conversation earlier somewhere of how to can creamed things……..tada!

Clearjel is GREAT stuff! I must note here that Clearjel is only approved by the USDA/NCHFP for canning fruit pie fillings – which is the only use for which they have tested it. The beauty of Clearjel is that it doesn't fully thicken until it cools – unlike flour or cornstarch, each of which only thickens fully upon boiling. SO the theory in my canning world/group is that it's the perfect thickener for canning – holds up well, the contents stay fluid enough for excellent heat penetration during the canning process – thickens a bit more upon cooling. I now have my own home canned 'cream of' soups – way less salt and I know what's in that jar.

dede