Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, sliced
- 1/4 cup dried porcini mushrooms
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Soak Porcini: Soak the dried porcini mushrooms in 1 cup of hot water for 10 minutes to rehydrate. After soaking, strain the mushrooms, reserving the soaking liquid but avoiding any sediment. Chop the rehydrated porcini mushrooms finely.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat the butter or olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until it becomes soft and translucent, releasing its sweetness.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds to release its aroma without burning.
- Cook Mushrooms: Add the fresh cremini and shiitake mushrooms to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they release their moisture and become nicely browned, approximately 8 minutes.
- Add Porcini and Liquids: Incorporate the chopped porcini mushrooms along with the reserved soaking liquid (taking care to avoid any sediment), vegetable or chicken broth, fresh thyme, and soy sauce into the pot. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Simmer Soup: Allow the soup to simmer gently for 15 minutes to fully develop the flavors and meld the umami elements.
- Blend Soup: Using a blender or immersion blender, blend the soup partially or fully according to your preferred texture, whether chunky or smooth.
- Finish and Season: Stir in the heavy cream if using to add richness. Taste and season with salt and black pepper as desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- Omit the heavy cream to make the soup dairy-free and lighter.
- A splash of sherry or dry white wine added before simmering enhances the depth of flavor.
- For a vegan version, use olive oil and vegetable broth and skip the cream or use a plant-based alternative.
- Be careful to avoid sediment when adding porcini soaking liquid to keep the soup clear.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: International
- Diet: Vegetarian
