Description
Hearty mushroom medley soup celebrates earthy forest flavors with rich, creamy texture. Comforting ingredients blend seamlessly, offering warm nourishment you’ll savor with each delightful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) shiitake and oyster mushrooms, stems reserved
- 1 lb (454 g) button mushrooms, stems reserved
- 2 red onions
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 cups (473 ml) sherry
- 1 cup (237 ml) brandy
- 8 cups (1.9 l) water
- 1 cup (237 ml) fat free half and half
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) butter
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) tomato paste
- 2 tsps (10 ml) mushroom base
- 1 tsp (5 ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsps (10 g) sea salt
- 3 bay leaves
- 10 peppercorns
- ¾ tsp (3.75 g) pepper
- 5 tsps (25 ml) cold water mixed with arrowroot for thickening
- ½ cup (30 g) chopped chives or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Broth Preparation: Combine water, sherry, mushroom stems, red onion, carrots, celery, bay leaves, and peppercorns in a stockpot. Simmer and reduce liquid by one-third, creating a deeply flavored base.
- Strain and Refine: Filter the aromatic broth through a fine-mesh strainer, preserving its clear, concentrated essence.
- Mushroom Transformation: Slice mushroom caps into uniform quarter-inch pieces, preparing them for optimal cooking and texture development.
- Flavor Layering: Melt butter in the stockpot and sauté red onion and mushroom caps until they achieve a golden-brown caramelization, releasing rich, complex flavors.
- Aromatic Deglazation: Pour brandy into the pot, stirring to incorporate and allowing alcohol to evaporate, intensifying the soup’s depth.
- Liquid Integration: Merge the reserved broth, sautéed mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, sea salt, and black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer, blending all flavor profiles.
- Texture Enhancement: Whisk arrowroot slurry into the simmering soup, creating a smooth, velvety consistency that coats the palate.
- Cream Infusion: Temper half and half by gradually mixing with hot soup, then reincorporate into the pot. Simmer carefully to prevent curdling and maintain a luxurious mouthfeel.
- Elegant Presentation: Garnish with finely chopped chives or parsley, adding a fresh, vibrant finishing touch to the hot, aromatic mushroom medley soup.
Notes
- Stem Selection: Reserve mushroom stems for an intensely flavored homemade broth, maximizing ingredient utilization and depth of taste.
- Broth Technique: Reduce liquid slowly to concentrate flavors, creating a robust base that elevates the entire soup’s complexity.
- Deglazing Magic: Use brandy to release caramelized bits from the pot, unlocking rich, hidden flavor dimensions that transform the soup’s taste profile.
- Slurry Secret: Whisk arrowroot carefully to prevent lumps, ensuring a silky-smooth texture without compromising the soup’s delicate consistency.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg