Melissa Clark's Seared Broccoli & Potato Soup

Name: Melissa Clark's Seared Broccoli & Potato Soup
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup olive oil, plus more as needed; 2 pound (2 heads) broccoli, separated into small florets, stems peeled and diced; 2 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste; 2 tablespoon unsalted butter; 1 large Spanish onion, diced; 5 cloves garlic, chopped; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, more for finishing; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1/2 pound potatoes, peeled, and thinly sliced; 1/4 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest; 1 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, more to taste; Grated or shaved Parmesan, to finish (optional); Flaky sea salt, to finish

Instructions

"This is not your average broccoli soup," Melissa Clark writes. "Instead of merely boiling the broccoli to cook it, here, the florets are seared until deeply browned on one side while remaining bright green on the other. This gives the soup a layer of caramelized flavor while also preserving the fresh green taste of the broccoli itself. It’s a technique inspired by Andrew Feinberg of Franny’s restaurant in Brooklyn, who also uses it for zucchini soup." Adapted slightly from the New York Times (November, 2014).

Updated at: Thu, 21 Aug 2025 18:52:50 GMT