This post comes to us from 2011 Mushroom Channel contributors Denise and Lenny – the brains and appetites behind Chez Us. We love that they took a classic and truly maximized the mushrooms by using a mix of types, blending some and leaving other in slices for additional texture. Really looking forward to trying it at home!

We are excited that this is our first recipe for the Mushroom Channel.  Just as exciting for us, is getting the chance to meet all of you.  We have at least one thing in common, and that is mushrooms.  We look forward to learning more about what the eaters of the Mushroom Channel like, and how we can develop recipes to make you hungry for more MUSHROOMS!

We have been playing around with this mushroom soup recipe for a couple months;  long before we knew we would become Mushroom Channel contributors.  The first few attempts at this recipe, were good, but not quite what we were hungry for.  We wanted something creamy, hearty, flavorful… and easy.  We finally got it right, and just in time to share it with all of you.

This cream of mushroom soup is definitely not what you would think of reaching for when that craving for cream of mushroom soup hits. Our version is light, earthy, full of texture, and a little bit spicy.  You will learn over the next few months, that we are all about texture and spice.

For this recipe, we used a mixture of cremini and portabella mushrooms which are readily available at most markets.  We did not want this soup to be pasty;  it had to have substance.  Instead of pureeing all of the mushroom mixture, we pureed, half of the mixture with the cream and starch, and then combined it with the remainder of the mushroom mixture.  This technique left us with a bowl of soup that had  a creamy broth, and thick, meaty mushroom pieces in every bite.

If you are a vegetarian or gluten free don’t shy away, this recipe is adaptable for you. We have made it with gluten free, rich vegetable stock, lemony-chicken stock, as well as a deep beefy stock;  all versions came out equally as delicious. We’ve also used potato starch and flour as thickeners;  both work perfectly.

To make a complete meal, we like to serve this soup with a leafy green salad and warm, crusty bread.

Recipe:  Cream of Mushroom Soup
*makes 4 hearty servings or 6 light servings

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 yellow onion
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 1 pound cremini  mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
• 1 medium portabella, cleaned and sliced
• 4 springs thyme, leaves only
• 1 teaspoon Basque paprika or other spicy paprika
• 4 cups stock, your choice
• 1 cup half and half
• 2 tablespoons potato starch or flour
• 1 tablespoon butter
• handful minced parsley
• kosher salt to taste
• black pepper to taste

In a large dutch oven or sauce pan, heat the olive oil, over medium heat. Add the onions, lower heat to a low medium, and cook until soft; about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, and cook for 5 minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms, and continue to cook over low heat, for 7 minutes. Sprinkle in the paprika, and stir. Add the beef stock, lower the heat to a low simmer; cook for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool for 10 minutes. Put half of the stock mixture, and about a fourth of the mushrooms, into a blender or food processor, add the half and half and the starch or flour. Give it a couple whirls until the mushrooms are broken up, and the mixture is fairly lump free. Put the mixture back into the stock pot, with the remaining stock and mushrooms. Gently reheat, over low heat. Stir in the butter. Season with salt and pepper. Serve. Eat.