Description
Ethereally light and smooth, full of earthy mushroom flavor from porcini and cremini mushrooms with a bit of spice at the end. Flavored with shallots, garlic and tons of herbs, plus cream and sherry to finish. This soup is a vegetarian delight for dinner parties or holiday entertaining!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
- 1–1/4 cups hot water
- Olive oil, as needed
- 2 shallots, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 24 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 5 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 to 4 tablespoons dry sherry, to taste
- Cayenne pepper, to taste
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
TO FINISH:
- 3 tablespoons crème fraiche
- Splash of heavy cream, to thin
Instructions
- In a small bowl, cover the dried porcini mushrooms in the hot water and allow to sit while you prepare the rest of the recipe.
- Preheat a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium heat. Once hot, add about 1 tablespoon of olive oil with the shallots and a pinch of salt. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften and turn translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the mushrooms. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to soften and give off some of their liquid. Continue cooking, undisturbed, until the mushrooms are beginning to brown. The whole process should take about 8 to 9 minutes.
- In the meantime, drain the mushrooms and liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a measuring cup. Reserve the mushrooms. If desired, you can pass the mushroom liquid through a coffee filter to ensure any dirt is removed. Add the mushroom liquid, vegetable stock and rehydrated porcinis to the sautéed mushrooms and onions. Tie the thyme and rosemary together with kitchen twine and add to the pot along with the bay leaf. Stir to combine everything. Cover the pot and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the herbs and transfer the soup in batches to a blender. Puree until completely smooth; continue until all of the soup has been pureed. Return the mixture to the pot and heat over medium-low heat.
- Add the cream and sherry to the soup and stir together. Season to taste with cayenne, salt and pepper.
- Combine the crème fraiche with a little cream to thin to a drizzleable consistency. Ladle the soup into bowls and drizzle with the crème fraiche mixture. Sprinkle the minced chives on top.
- Category: Soups/Stews, Vegetarian