Creamy Mushroom Soup Recipe on Food52 (2024)

One-Pot Wonders

by: MrsWheelbarrow

October2,2009

4

10 Ratings

  • Serves 6

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

I often find amazing mushrooms, both wild and cultivated, at our local farmers market. I've made this soup with cremini, sh*take, button, hen of the woods, oyster, chanterelle, and many other local wild types. This soup is velvety and satisfying. —MrsWheelbarrow

Test Kitchen Notes

With this recipe, MrsWheelbarrow takes a classic home cook recipe and elevates it to elegant dinner party fare. First, she has you make a reinforced stock by simmering the mushroom stems in chicken broth. Then, in a move that evokes the fastidiousness of culinary school, she instructs you to "beautifully and precisely chop" 1 1/2 pounds of mushroom caps into a 1/2-inch dice. Halfway through, you will likely be cursing both her and us, but trust us: It's worth it. And that's really the bulk of the work. The chopped mushrooms slowly cook down with shallots, thyme and rosemary, and then you deglaze them with a generous swig of Cognac, combine the mushrooms with the reinforced stock and finish with a swirl of cream and a heap of freshly chopped chives. The resulting soup is a lovely balance of delicately creamy and intensely mushroomy, with layered undertones of herbs and Cognac. - A&M —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved
  • Your Best Mushroom Soup Contest Winner

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 1 poundmixed mushrooms, cleaned, stems separated from caps
  • 1 poundcremini mushrooms, cleaned, stems separated from caps
  • 1/2 cupminced shallot
  • 3 tablespoonsolive oil
  • 6 sprigs thyme
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 cupCognac
  • 4 cupsrich homemade chicken stock
  • 1/4 cupwhipping cream
  • 1/4 cupchopped chives
Directions
  1. Roughly chop the mushroom stems and simmer them, covered, in the chicken broth for about an hour.
  2. In the meantime, heat the oil in a large skillet, and sauté the shallots until transparent. Add the herbs and salt and pepper liberally.
  3. Beautifully and precisely chop the mushroom caps into a 1/2-inch dice. Add them to the shallots as they are chopped. Keep the heat very low and cook gently until the mushroom liquid is released and reabsorbed. Shake the pan so they don't stick. Remove the thyme and rosemary.
  4. Turn up the heat and add the Cognac. Flame it if you're feeling really chef-y. Cook the mushroom cap/shallot mixture down (after Cognac) until well-reduced and starting to turn a little golden on the edges.
  5. Strain the mushroom stems from the chicken broth.
  6. Add the beautiful mushroom cap and shallot mixture to the strained broth and heat gently.
  7. Swirl in the cream and chives and serve. Or serve in small sipping cups topped with chives and lightly whipped cream, if you want to get fancy.

Tags:

  • Soup
  • French
  • Vegetable
  • Chive
  • Cognac
  • Milk/Cream
  • Mushroom
  • Shallot
  • Thyme
  • One-Pot Wonders
  • Fall
  • Winter
Contest Entries
  • Your Best Mushroom Soup

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • LizTerry

  • Theresa Power

  • Jasser Abu-Giemi

  • Carla Octigan

  • Cosmic Jane

Popular on Food52

91 Reviews

Fitmom777 October 20, 2023

I made this with 2 lbs of miatake because I didn't have any creminis to use. It needed a full quart more of chicken stock, but oh man, does this taste and smell delicious! Thank you, Mrs. W!

LizTerry January 19, 2021

I have used this recipe over and over. It is versatile and can be done dressed up or simplified.

MrsWheelbarrow January 20, 2021

Thank you so much for this nice message.

LizTerry January 19, 2021

I have used this recipe over and over. It is versatile and can be done dressed up or simplified.

Debra V. December 11, 2020

Absolutely delicious.

Anne M. November 9, 2018

If you're craving a rich, creamy, satisfying mushroom soup...this ain't it. Also way too much work separating stems from caps. I used homemade stock, followed recipe exactly and was underwhelmed at best. Much prefer Moosewood's Hungarian Mushroom soup for creaminess, "mushroomy-ness".

Theresa P. December 9, 2017

A very tasty soup, that is easy to vegan-ize or make vegetarian. Some adjustments I made: I didn't find that the broth to cooked mushroom ratio was very good, so I ended up adding about 2 additional cups of vegetable broth to the mushroom stem liquid, once strained. In terms of browning the mushrooms, I wasn't too vigilant, and I am glad because any browning tended to go away when the mushrooms were added to the broth. In lieu of cream, I used a soy based product called Belsoy, that comes in a tetra pack. I know it from Germany, but found that my local health food store in Toronto, Canada started to sell it. I used all of the 250ml. It has the consistency of conventional sour cream, is a great substitute for these kinds of dishes, and is exceptionally good for making cream sauces.

Amanda November 6, 2017

This was excellent. I used store bought chicken broth (jazzed up w/ fish sauce and white wine) and blended the soup (prior to adding the cream) with an immersion blender just a bit. Next time I may add a bit more cream, more mushrooms and thicken it up just a bit. Thank you for sharing!

Jasser A. October 28, 2017

This was absolutely incredible. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. The next time I make it I'll slice the mushrooms a bit thinner though. I added a drizzle of truffle oil at the end and it went well. On the side cheddar and sage buttermilk biscuits.

draya3 February 18, 2017

I'm 1/3 of the way through "beautifully and precisely" chopping mushrooms. Husband is watching The Clash on YouTube. Current song: Straight to Hell. 'Nuf said.

MrsWheelbarrow February 20, 2017

Hope it was worth it! I love this soup and your comment has reminded me to make it again. This week!

marija June 21, 2016

Made it tonight and loved it, it is truly delicious. A few notes - I didn't bother with " beautiful and precise" chopping, I did not discard hers or mushroom stems, it all went in and instead of cream I added almond milk. This only serves 4 at best, definitely not 6. As for the flavor it's truly delicious! I will be making it again very soon.

Carla O. February 27, 2016

Made this tonight, it was delicious.

Cosmic J. February 27, 2016

I think would be a lovely soup but I would lighten it by using half/half or perhaps whole milk. I would also like to consider some vegan options! If anyone has any please share!

Andi D. June 1, 2016

Replace whipping cream with soy (or any plant-based) cream and chicken stock with veg stock. Pretty much done. The workhorse of this dish is vegan anyways.

catdaddysammy February 12, 2016

I didn't really like this recipe :( too rich for me.

Melissa P. February 8, 2016

I tried this recipe tonight, with a few changes/substitutions. I used dried mushrooms because i couldn't find any fresh cremini mushrooms, and I chopped up the herbs and left them in. The soup didn't look like the picture, but It was a delightful treat on a snowy day.

Erica C. September 19, 2015

one additional comment: I would only add the cream to what you plan on serving immediately. Otherwise, it breaks as the soup cools.

Erica C. September 19, 2015

Made this today. It was really delicious, but pretty expensive considering it definitely would NOT serve 6. Not bowls of soup. MAYBE tiny cups of soup. I wish I had doubled it. I bought the most gorgeous assortment of mushrooms from the Farmer's Market this morning for this recipe, and it's killing me to "waste" the stems. Does anyone have any ideas about what I can do with them?

Karen February 17, 2015

This is sooooo good. The broth with the stems is super rich and adds so much flavor. I used Ste Germaine instead of cognac and it was lovely as well.

Natalie December 24, 2014

Doubled the cognac and cream. Amazing!

ReeceAmy October 23, 2014

Holy cats MrsWheelbarrow! This soup is amazing! Served first half as traditional soup. Second half a couple of days later, I strained off the liquid and reduced it with a splash of cream, warmed the mushrooms, combined both with some pasta - heavenly. PS Loved the tip about feeling chef-y!

caseymsy September 14, 2014

Sounds lovely ,am going to try tonight.

Creamy Mushroom Soup Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What makes cream of mushroom soup taste better? ›

Herbs: The best herbs we have found over the years to compliment those incredible flavours is a combination of thyme and parsley. Of course, if you don't like those, you can also use rosemary, oregano, tarragon, chives or cilantro. Use what you love!

How to thicken up cream of mushroom soup? ›

How do you thicken the cream of mushroom soup? If you feel the soup is too thin, then just before adding the cream, take 1 tbsp of corn starch and 1 tbsp of cold water and mix together, then pour into the soup. Stir until thickened. This will take a couple minutes to thicken.

How can I make my soup more creamy? ›

Add Stale Bread: A few slices of bread also help make a soup creamy. Tear them into pieces and let them soak in a cup or two of the hot soup before pureeing and stirring back into the main pot. 4. Add Yogurt: Plain yogurt works much like cream when added to soups like our avocado soup, but with a lighter result.

Is there a difference between condensed cream of mushroom soup and cream of mushroom soup? ›

These two products aren't identical, but they are very similar. Condensed cream of mushroom soup is a concentrated form of cream of mushroom soup. When you add a cup or two of liquid such as water, broth, or stock to condensed mushroom soup, it becomes cream of mushroom soup!

How to level up cream of mushroom soup? ›

If you want to make your mushroom soup richer and creamier, you can add dairy-based ingredients like heavy cream, half-and-half, or sour cream. Adding a splash of any of these ingredients will enhance the creaminess and give the soup a luxurious texture.

Do you add milk or water to Campbell's cream of mushroom soup? ›

In a 4 quart pot, combine one can of soup and one can of water. Simmer over low heat, stirring often. For extra creamy, in a 4 quart pot combine one can of soup with 1/2 can of water and 1/2 can of milk.

What is the secret ingredient in soup? ›

It may sound a bit strange and unusual for some, but vinegar is a common ingredient in some soup recipes, and there is a good reason for it. If you think about it, vinegar is really a flavor-enhancer (umami). That's why it is so often used in cooking, sauces, and salad dressings. The same is true with soups.

What thickens cream soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

What kind of cream to use in soup? ›

As long as it's cooling and won't be brought back up to heat, a less rich cream can be stirred in to finish the dish. Note, however, that if you've added a cream other than whipping cream, reheating may cause the milk to split into curds and whey. If it's any consolation, a little bit of whipping cream goes a long way.

What is golden cream of mushroom soup? ›

Campbell's® Condensed Golden Mushroom Soup is a flavorful combination of beef stock, tender mushrooms and savory tomato puree. Versatile and easy to use, keep it stocked in pantry to use as an ingredient for your next-best recipes. For cooking inspiration, visit Campbells.com's Recipe Page.

Do people eat cream of mushroom soup as a soup? ›

Serving Ideas

A bowl of our Cream of Mushroom Soup served with fresh baked bread is hearty enough to serve on its own, or you can beef it up with whatever's fresh in your kitchen. Condensed soups are also the perfect base for casseroles and starters for sauces, so your imagination is the limit.

What is a substitute for heavy cream in mushroom soup? ›

Milk – We usually have 2% on hand, so that's what we use. Any variety should be fine, though the soup will be creamier with higher fat milks. Almond, oat, and coconut milk will also work though the flavor will change a bit. It won't be noticeable in a casserole, though.

How can I spice up canned cream of mushroom soup? ›

Thyme, crushed red pepper flakes, and bay leaves work well with mushroom soup.

What enhances mushroom Flavour? ›

The study demonstrated that cooking methods have an effect on the flavor profile of white mushrooms. Sear mushrooms for a more intense roasted, charred and smoky flavor and overall aroma. Roast mushrooms to get more sweet, salty and umami tastes with caramelized, nutty and buttery flavors.

How do you add flavor to cream soup? ›

Use aromatic vegetables, like carrots, celery and onions. Adding some egg noodles or pasta can make the soup more thicker and turn it into a complete meal as well. Add some fresh herbs of your choice to add another layer of flavour to your dish.

Why does my mushroom soup taste bland? ›

If your mushroom soup tastes bland, it could be due to several reasons: Quality of Mushrooms: Fresh, high-quality mushrooms, especially wild varieties, tend to have a more pronounced flavor. Older mushrooms or ones that aren't as fresh might lack flavor.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Melvina Ondricka

Last Updated:

Views: 5621

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Melvina Ondricka

Birthday: 2000-12-23

Address: Suite 382 139 Shaniqua Locks, Paulaborough, UT 90498

Phone: +636383657021

Job: Dynamic Government Specialist

Hobby: Kite flying, Watching movies, Knitting, Model building, Reading, Wood carving, Paintball

Introduction: My name is Melvina Ondricka, I am a helpful, fancy, friendly, innocent, outstanding, courageous, thoughtful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.