Got broccoli and leeks in the fridge, an Instant Pot on the counter, and curry powder in the pantry? Then make this super-easy Whole30-friendly Instant Pot Curried Cream of Broccoli Soup tonight!
I love making soup in my pressure cooker. Without too much fuss, I can get a comforting meal on the table—and better yet, clean-up is a breeze. This cold-weather recipe for a spiced broccoli soup is a riff on a classic stovetop version on my site and in our first cookbook, but made even easier in an electric pressure cooker.
Weeknight “garbage soup” is on regular rotation at Nom Nom Paleo World Headquarters: I pull out whatever vegetables are left in my crisper and toss them in a pot with some prepared broth. This formula works with just about anything, but if you happen to scrounge up some broccoli florets and leeks in the fridge, you must make this blitzed cream of broccoli soup tonight.
Time to make Instant Pot Curried Cream of Broccoli Soup
Serves 6
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons ghee, coconut oil, olive oil, or fat of choice
- 3 medium leeks, white parts only, cleaned and trimmed and roughly chopped
- 2 medium shallots, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon Indian curry powder
- Kosher salt
- 1½ pounds broccoli, chopped into uniform florets
- ¼ cup peeled and diced apple (I like Fuji)
- 4 cups bone broth or chicken stock
- Freshly-ground black pepper
- 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
- Leftover Kalua Pork, crisped in a pan (optional)
- Chives (optional garnish)
Equipment
- Chef’s knife
- Cutting board
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker (or stovetop pressure cooker)
- Dry measuring cups
- Liquid measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Silicone spatula
- Immersion blender
Method
Start by prepping your ingredients! A note about choppin’ broccoli: don’t waste the stems. Go ahead and trim off the hard, woody exterior of the stems, but cut up and use the soft flesh underneath.
As for the leeks, they make look pristine, but there’s still plenty of dirt hidden in the folds. Keeping the root end intact, cut the rest of the leek in half lengthwise. Give the leek a quarter-turn, and then slice it lengthwise again (at a right angle from the initial cut)—again, keeping the root end intact. Then, fan the leaves under running water to release the sand and mud. Finally, flick off the excess water and slice away.
No leeks? Dice up two large onions (approximately 1½ pounds total), and you’re good to go.
Turn on the sauté function on the Instant Pot, and add your fat of choice once the stainless steel insert is hot. Add the chopped leeks, shallots…
…curry powder, and a sprinkle of salt.
Cook, stirring often, until the alliums are softened (about 5 minutes) and the curry is fragrant.
Throw in the chopped broccoli…
…and apple. (A long time ago, my chef sister Fiona shared with me that diced apple is her secret ingredient in puréed soups!)
Stir to mix well.
Add the broth. If the vegetables aren’t mostly submerged, add more water, but make sure that the pressure cooker isn’t more than about ⅔ full.
Press the “Cancel/Keep Warm” button on the Instant Pot, and position the electric pressure cooker under the stovetop vent. You don’t have to move the pressure cooker under the vent, but you’ll protect your fancy kitchen cabinets from the steam when you release the pressure manually. (It goes without saying that you shouldn’t turn on the burner if your Instant Pot is on the stove. C’mon, people.)
Program the cooker for 5 minutes under high pressure. (You can hit the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” button and press the “—” or “+” button until number changes to 5.) Place the lid on the pressure cooker and go goof off (or, if you’re a more responsible parent than I am, go help your kids with their homework).
When the soup is finished cooking, turn off the pressure cooker and release the pressure manually under the stovetop vent. If you overfill the Instant Pot, some liquid might spurt out the top, so be careful!
Then, use an immersion blender to blitz the soup. The result should be a smooth, aromatic green purée.
Add the coconut milk…
…season to taste with salt and pepper…
…and blend to incorporate it into the soup. Taste the soup for seasoning (again) and add salt and pepper if necessary.
Ladle into bowls and serve immediately.
To make this a one pot meal, mix in some leftover meat. I like to add crisped-up leftover Kalua Pork—and if I’m feeling fancy, I add a pretty herb garnish at the end (e.g. some chives). No one will be the wiser that you’re serving them the dregs from your fridge.
You can save the leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for several months!
Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2021).
PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD
Instant Pot Curried Cream of Broccoli Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons ghee coconut oil, olive oil, or fat of choice
- 3 medium leeks white parts only, cleaned and trimmed and roughly chopped
- 2 medium shallots roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon Indian curry powder
- Kosher salt
- 1½ pounds broccoli chopped into uniform florets
- ¼ cup peeled and diced apple I like Fuji
- 4 cups bone broth or chicken stock
- Freshly-ground black pepper
- 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
- Leftover Kalua Pork crisped in a pan (optional)
- Chives optional garnish
Instructions
- Turn on the sauté function on the Instant Pot, and add your fat of choice once the stainless steel insert is hot.
- Add the chopped leeks, shallots, curry powder, and a sprinkle of salt. Cook, stirring often, until the alliums are softened (about 5 minutes) and the curry is fragrant.
- Throw in the chopped broccoli and apple. Stir to mix well.
- Add the broth. If the vegetables aren’t mostly submerged, add more water, but make sure that the pressure cooker isn’t more than about ⅔ full.
- Press the “Cancel/Keep Warm” button on the Instant Pot, and position the electric pressure cooker under the stovetop vent. (That way, you’ll protect your fancy kitchen cabinets from the steam when you release the pressure manually.)
- Program the cooker for 5 minutes under high pressure. (You can hit the “Manual” or "Pressure Cook" button and press the “—”or “+” button until the number changes to 5.) Place the lid on the pressure cooker and go goof off .
- When the soup is finished cooking, turn off the pressure cooker and release the pressure manually under the stovetop vent. If you overfill the Instant Pot, some liquid might spurt out the top, so be careful!
- Use an immersion blender to blitz the soup. The result should be a smooth, aromatic green purée.
- Add the coconut milk, season to taste with salt and pepper, and blend to incorporate it into the soup. Taste the soup for seasoning (again) and add salt and pepper if necessary.
- Ladle into bowls and serve immediately.
Shayla says
How do I adjust the recipe for a slow cooker?
Michelle Tam says
You can cook on low for 3-4 hours or until everything is tender.
Gina says
Great soup and easy to make. I cooked mine in a heavy pot on top of the stove.
Blue says
It was love at first spoonful! I adore this recipe so much that I make a full batch just for myself at least twice a month (sometimes once a week). I cannot get enough! I’m allergic to coconut, so I leave it out, but all blended up it’s really luscious and smooth that the soup doesn’t feel lacking in anyway! Thank you so much for this recipe!
Nissa says
I’ve been making this recipe once a month for years now. I modify it a bit as i add onions/garlic and more broccoli but it’s my favorite. Thanks for your creations