Swiss Soup and Broccoli Ham

Today was the dependable day for soup.

Sometimes I luck out and plan to shoot a recipe that only so happens to fit the mood for the day perfectly. And on a dim, rainy and chilly day, soup and grilled cheese is always the reliable thing.

I’ve had this dish written in one of my many spiral-bound notebooks for years. Inspired by one of my regular sandwiches and soups. Basically what you have here is a hot ham and cheese sandwich that collides with a creamy broccoli cheese soup.

The result? Savory.

I made us grilled cheese sandwiches using white American cheese on sourdough with some thinly sliced onion inside. Completely dependable for dunking in this soup.

For this Broccoli Ham and Swiss Soup Gather:

• unsalted butter
• hello onion
• celery
• onion
• garlic
• broccoli
• kosher salt
• unbleached all-purpose flour
• low-sodium chicken broth
• half & half
• nutmeg
• diced ham
• gruyere cheese

Start by melting 4 tablespoons butter into a soup pot or dutch oven.

Once melted, add 1/2 cup diced carrot, 1/2 cup diced celery and 1 diced medium yellow onion with a pinch of kosher salt.

Meanwhile, cut up the broccoli into small florets, you need 8 ounces.

Stir and sauté the vegetables for 5 minutes.

Add in the broccoli florets, stir and cover, cooking for 5 minutes.

Next, add in 2 cloves minced fresh garlic. Stir cook 1 to 2 minutes.

Sprinkle the softened vegetables with 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour.

Stir and cook 2 minutes.

Pour in 1 quart (4 cups) low-sodium chicken broth.

Along with the broth, pour in 2 cups half & half. If you can’t find half & half, you can substitute with 1 cup heavy cream and 1 cup whole milk.

Grate in roughly 1/8 teaspoon fresh nutmeg.

Stir and simmer on medium to medium-low until thickened, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Once the soup has thickened, add in 8 ounces diced ham and 4 ounces grated gruyere.

Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Stir and heat through until the ham is warmed and cheese is melted.

Ladle hot soup into bowls.

Top with more cheese and serve with crackers, crusty bread or a grilled cheese for dunking.

Life doesn’t get much better.

Enjoy! And if you give this Broccoli Ham and Swiss Soup recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!