Gordon Ramsay’s 1-ingredient Recipe Is So Brilliant, I’ll Be Making It All Winter Long

When we have the time and energy, many Allrecipes team members adore diving into a "project" recipe. There's not much more satisfying than carving out time on a quiet Sunday afternoon to create (and savor) something like beef Wellington, tamales, or cannoli from scratch.

But we rarely have hours, dozens of ingredients on hand, or the motivation after a busy day to invest in something that extensive. So, more often than not, we turn to little tweaks to transform the everyday into something that tastes gourmet. 

We’ve heard you adore easy upgrades, too, so we’re on a constant quest to discover—then share—single-ingredient boosts to help you level up your quick-cooking game. To date, we've dished up the one-ingredient upgrade for the ultimate grilled cheese, better roast chicken, more flavorful pasta salad, blue ribbon-worthy banana pudding, and more. All it takes is one bonus item to elevate the entire dish!

But what if the recipe itself was just one ingredient? Chef and TV host Gordon Ramsay is making waves on Reddit for sharing a cozy, single-ingredient soup that’s delicious as-is. It's also a brilliant foundation for a wide variety of toppings and mix-ins.

Gordon Ramsay’s Brilliant 1-Ingredient Broccoli Soup

Culinary superstar Gordon Ramsay has created a genius recipe with just one ingredient: broccoli. After learning about it on Reddit and finding fans who shared raves like “ridiculously simple” and “I love that it's SUPER fast,” we knew we had to learn more about this simple soup. We followed the breadcrumbs to discover that this recipe originally appeared on an episode of the chef's British cooking show more than a decade ago.

Luckily, we were able to dig up the segment on YouTube, which kicks off with Ramsay telling us this dish is “easy beyond belief.” Sign us up!

It doesn’t have 20 ingredients, Ramsay confirms. It doesn’t involve sweating shallots in oil for 20 minutes. It doesn’t even call for chicken stock or white wine. “It’s got broccoli and water, and that’s the magic behind this soup. It’s just so easy and delicious.”

The secret lies in blending the boiled broccoli with a portion of the cooking water, which helps the soup taste concentrated, bright, and fresh.

If you’re feeling tempted to give it a try, seek out a head of broccoli around 5 pounds that has dark green, tight florets. Grab a large pot, salt, and black pepper, and you’re all set.

How to Make Gordon Ramsay’s Easy Broccoli Soup

Bring a large pot of water to boil and add a large pinch of salt. Using a chef’s knife, chop your clean broccoli head into florets. Drop these into the pot, add another large pinch of salt, then top the pot with its lid. Boiling the broccoli quickly and with the lid on intensifies its color and preserves its flavor, Ramsay explains.

Boil the broccoli until the florets are easily pierced with a knife, about 4 minutes. Drain the veggies, collecting the cooking water in a bowl. This liquid is essentially broccoli stock, Ramsay says, “and that, to me, is the secret ingredient in the dish.”

Transfer the still-warm broccoli to a blender, then add the "stock" until the pitcher is about half full. Secure the lid (covering with a kitchen towel for extra safety, if desired) and pulse a few times to reduce the chance of the blender lid blowing off, Ramsay suggests. Switch the speed to high and blend until the mixture is thickened. Finally, season with salt and black pepper (you’ll likely want to add what feels like an aggressive amount of salt, Redditors confirm).

This one-ingredient broccoli soup is fashion's equivalent of the little black dress: It's a cinch to accessorize. Some of Ramsay's favorite ways to serve it include topping with toasted walnuts, sliced goat cheese rounds, and a drizzle of olive oil. And don't forget the crusty bread, he reminds us.

Bonus Ingredients to Add to Your Bowl of Broccoli Soup

At the start of our latest polar vortex here in Iowa, I couldn’t resist giving this veggie-based soup a try, and I was blown away by how flavorful and garden-fresh it tasted. Reddit users suggested caramelizing half a leek or adding a scoop of frozen peas for a subtle layer of sweetness, which I can’t wait to try next.

As far as the garnishes go, options abound. For some creaminess, try a sprinkling of crumbled feta or blue cheese, or a spoonful of Greek yogurt or tzatziki. Add some flavored oyster crackers, popcorn, Parmesan crisps, bacon bits, or homemade mushroom chips for a little crunch. Or, top with a poached or soft-boiled egg for extra protein.

Sure, a rich and decadent broccoli-cheese soup is a treat. But just wait until you try this 10-minute, one-ingredient broccoli soup recipe with your favorite garnish—chances are, you’ll feel like quite the “Masterchef!”

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