We love soup and we also try to eat healthy meals as often as possible. Any opportunity to lighten up a favorite meal and still feel like we’re having a “cheat” meal is appreciated. This potato soup is bulked up with some flavorful vegetables and lightened up by using mostly broth instead of cream. Use good quality cheese to get the most flavor. Mild and sharp cheddar both have roughly the same calories but because sharp has a stronger flavor, you can use less and get maximum flavor for fewer calories. The same goes for using pecorino instead of parmesan. Also, I prefer to NOT use low-fat cheese in recipes. It doesn’t melt well, and the little bit of fat that is lost in reduced fat cheeses means that the cheese has less mouth feel which not only affects the overall taste, but will make the food less satisfying. You might be more likely to eat more food, meaning more calories! That said, for all the tricks that this soup uses, everyone will love it and no one will feel like they’re missing out.
Begin by dicing four ounces of Canadian bacon and cook in a large pot with one tablespoon of oil until the meat begins to get crispy.
Meanwhile finely dice a large red onion, three pealed carrots, and 3 stalks of celery.
Add the vegetables to the pot and cook until soft and lightly browned. Add one teaspoon each of dry mustard (Colman brand, of course) and garlic powder and half a teaspoon of smoked paprika. Cook for an additional minute.
Add three cups of chicken broth, one and a half pounds of diced Yukon gold potatoes (about 3 medium-sized), half a teaspoon of salt, and Cayenne pepper to taste (maybe a 1/4 teaspoon or so). Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes until the potatoes are soft.
Remove the pot from heat. Using a spoon or wooden spatula mash about half of the vegetables and potatoes against the side of the pot to smash them and thicken the soup. Stir in 1 cup of half and half, 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and a quarter cup of pecorino Romano cheese. Pecorino is a sheep’s milk cheese that has a sharper flavor than parmesan. Stir until well combined and the cheeses are melted. Top the soup with some diced scallion as a garnish and enjoy! If this soup sounds good, click like and we’ll post more of our favorite soup recipes and don’t forget to sign up to get email notifications of all of our new posts.
Creamy Cheese Soup
- 1 T olive oil
- 4 oz Canadian bacon, diced
- 1 large red onion, diced
- 3 carrots, peeled and diced
- 3 stalks of celery, diced
- 1 t dry mustard powder
- 1 t garlic powder
- 1/2 t smoked paprika
- 3 c chicken broth
- 1 1/2 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, diced
- 1/2 t salt
- 1/4 t Cayenne pepper, more or less to taste
- 1 c half and half
- 1 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 c pecorino Romano cheese
- 1/2 c scallion, diced
Heat oil in a large soup pot and cook bacon until the edges start to get crispy. Add onion, carrot, and celery and cook until the vegetables are soft and begin to brown.
Add spices and cook 1 additional minute.
Add broth, potatoes, salt, and Cayenne to pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
Remove the pot from the heat. Smash about half of the vegetables and potatoes against the side of the pot with a fork or spatula to slightly thicken the soup. Add half and half and cheeses. Stir until combined and cheese is melted. Divide into bowls and garnish with diced scallion.
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