Cheesy Broccoli Bisque

First make “Chipotle Butternut Cheese Sauce”; makes about 2 cups

  • 1 small butternut squash (I use canned squash and/or sweet potato - either one works great)

  • ½ cup raw cashews (to make this JS compliant, you can sub one peeled small russet potato, cubed and boiled until soft OR some pureed white beans)

  • ½ cup nutritional yeast

  • ¾ cup unsweetened nondairy milk

  • 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon

  • 1 tbsp low sodium tamari

  • ½- ¾ tsp ground chipotle powder


  1. Add all ingredients to a high powered blender and blend until smooth, about 60 seconds. Enjoy immediately, or store in refrigerator in airtight container for up to 1 week.

  2. This sauce can be poured over steamed or roasted vegetables, used as a soup base or pasta sauce, or served as a topping for baked potatoes.


Broccoli Bisque

  • 2 cups low sodium vegetable stock

  • 2 cups bite-sized broccoli florets (I use frozen)

  • 1 ½ cups Chipotle Butternut Cheesy Sauce

  • 1 (10z) can Original no salt added RO-TEL Diced tomatoes and Green Chilies (or you could use no salt diced tomatoes)

  • 2 tsp arrowroot powder

  • chopped chives for garnish


  1. In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable broth to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the broccoli florets, and cover. Allow to steam for 5 minutes.

  2. Remove 1 ½ cups broccoli florets and set aside, leaving about ½ cup broccoli behind in the pan. Using an immersion blender, blend the remaining broccoli and stock. (It doesn’t need to be fully blended, as it just adds flavor and smaller bits of broccoli to the soup.)

  3. Add the Chipotle Butternut Cheesy Sauce and RO-TEL to the pan. Stir for an even consistency. Heat over medium heat until simmering, but not to a full boil.

  4. In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix the arrowroot powder wiht 1 tbsp cold water to form a slurry. Slowly pour the slurry into the simmering soup, stirring constantly. Stir for 2-3 minutes until it thickens.

  5. Fold in the reserved 1 ½ cups broccoli florets. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until fully heated, but don’t boil. Garnish with chives and serve immediately.


It sounds really involved, but comes together quickly - and it’s delicious!

*Adapted from The Healthspan Solution: How And What to Eat to Add Life to Your Years, by Julieanna Hever and Ray Cronise