Creamy Vegetable and Whey Soup

Creamy vegetable and whey soup is an easy and delicious way to use up extra whey. Warm and comforting, it is as perfect as a cup of soup for lunch, or served with bread and a salad for dinner.

Don’t waste the whey

It is a huge waste to pour whey down the drain. Sweet whey is healthy and delicious, which is why I have so many recipes that use up whey. Whey soup is definitely one that I enjoy every time I make cheese.

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Notes:

• Acidic whey (from an acid curded cheese) will be quite sour. Even the 2 cups of sweet whey (from cultured cheese) can be quite strong in this soup. Sweet whey becomes more acidic as it ages, so start with just 1 cup of whey, and taste it before adding a second cup.
• I like soups that have protein, so they become part of a complete meal. To add protein to this soup, replace the potatoes with 2 cups of white beans or 1 cup of almond flour.
• I use an immersion blender, however, you could use a regular blender or just leave the vegetables whole.

Types of vegetable soups

This is a basic cream of vegetable soup recipe that has the added richness and tang of a few cups of whey. It is perfect for all different types of creamy vegetable soups. Here are a few of my favourites:

1. Irish Vegetable Soup: Finely dice the onion, garlic and potatoes. Add in 2 diced carrots and 2 cups of shredded cabbage. Follow the recipe, sauteing all the vegetables before adding the broth. Leave the vegetables chunky and serve with buttered brown bread.

2. Cream of Broccoli Soup: Use 2 cups of chopped broccoli for the vegetables. You can even use the stems, just peel off the woody bits. Remove a few whole florets before pureeing, then stir the florets back in and top with grated Parmesan cheese.

3. Cream of Mushroom Soup: Slice 3 cups of mixed mushrooms. Saute until they release their juices, then add in the onion, garlic and potatoes. Fry for 5 more minutes and finish the soup according to the recipe.

4. Lemon and Asparagus Soup: This is ideal for using up acid whey. Trim and chop 1 bunch of asparagus. Add it to the soup when you add the broth. Finish the soup with the zest of 1 lemon. The acidity of the whey will replace the lemon juice. Top each bowl with grated Parmesan cheese.

5. Baked Potato Soup: Instead of adding 2 cups of vegetables, use a total of 4 potatoes. Otherwise, follow the recipe as directed, then top each bowl of soup with a spoonful of sour cream, crumbled bacon, finely chopped chives and grated cheddar cheese.

6. Vichyssoise: Whey really adds a bit of zest to this classic soup. Don’t use any garlic, and use 6 medium leeks for the vegetables. Wash the leeks carefully, then chop and saute with the potatoes. Follow the rest of the recipe as directed, and serve hot or cold.