Description
Comforting creamy mushroom soup combines earthy woodland fungi with silky cream and aromatic herbs. Rustic French techniques elevate this classic dish, offering rich flavors you’ll savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (0.45 kg) fresh mushrooms (cremini or button), sliced
- 4 cups (950 ml) low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 large onion, diced
- 4 tbsps (60 ml) unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- ¼ cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Butter Infusion: Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat, creating a golden, silky base for the soup’s foundation.
- Aromatic Vegetables: Sauté onions until translucent, then introduce minced garlic, allowing their fragrances to intertwine and develop a rich, layered flavor profile.
- Mushroom Transformation: Add sliced mushrooms, cooking until they release moisture and caramelize, deepening the soup’s earthy essence for approximately 10 minutes.
- Herbal Enhancement: Sprinkle dried thyme and rosemary, gently integrating these herbs to elevate the mushrooms’ natural complexity.
- Thickening Process: Dust flour over the vegetable mixture, stirring to eliminate raw flour taste and create a smooth, cohesive base.
- Liquid Integration: Gradually pour broth while whisking, preventing lumps and creating a harmonious liquid foundation.
- Flavor Development: Simmer the mixture for 15 minutes, allowing ingredients to meld and intensify their collective flavor profile.
- Texture Refinement: Purée the soup using an immersion blender or carefully transfer to a traditional blender, ensuring a velvety smooth consistency.
- Creamy Completion: Gently stir in heavy cream, transforming the soup into a luxurious, silken preparation.
- Final Seasoning: Adjust flavors with salt and freshly ground black pepper, balancing the soup’s intricate taste elements.
- Serving Finale: Warm the soup delicately, then ladle into bowls, garnishing with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant, verdant finish.
Notes
- Manage Mushroom Moisture: Pat mushrooms dry before slicing to prevent excess water, ensuring they caramelize perfectly and develop rich, concentrated flavors instead of steaming.
- Prevent Cream Curdling: Add cream off direct heat and avoid boiling, gently warming to maintain smooth texture and prevent separation or grainy consistency.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Toast dried herbs briefly in butter before adding other ingredients to unlock their essential oils and intensify their aromatic profile.
- Dietary Adaptation: Swap heavy cream with coconut milk for dairy-free version, or use cashew cream to create a vegan-friendly alternative that preserves the soup’s luxurious, creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg