The Coziest Mushroom Medley Soup Recipe for Chilly Days

Mushroom medley soup offers a rich, earthy symphony of flavors that dance across your palate with unexpected complexity.

Wild and cultivated fungi blend seamlessly in this comforting culinary creation, redefineing humble ingredients into a luxurious experience.

Hearty and warming, the soup captures woodland essence with its deep, umami-driven profile that speaks to primal hunger.

Seasonal mushrooms contribute unique textures and nuanced tastes that elevate this simple dish beyond ordinary expectations.

Professional chefs and home cooks alike appreciate the delicate balance between robust broth and delicate mushroom characteristics.

Each spoonful tells a story of careful selection, precise preparation, and respect for natural ingredients.

The soup represents more than sustenance; it embodies a sensory journey through forest landscapes and rustic traditions.

How to Make Mushroom Medley Soup

Step 1: Create Flavorful Broth

• Water
• Sherry
• Mushroom stems
• Red onion
• Carrots
• Celery
• Bay leaves
• Peppercorns

Simmer the mixture until liquid reduces by 1/3, around 20 minutes. Strain and keep the golden broth ready.

Step 2: Slice Mushroom Caps

Cut reserved mushroom caps into 1/4 inch thin slices with a sharp knife.

Step 3: Sauté Onions and Mushrooms

Melt butter in the same pot and gently cook red onions for 2 minutes. Add mushroom slices and cook 2-3 minutes until they’re tender and slightly golden.

Step 4: Deglaze with Brandy

Pour brandy into the pot, stir thoroughly, and let it sizzle for 1 minute to burn off alcohol.

Step 5: Build Soup Base

• Reserved broth
• Mushroom base
• Worcestershire sauce
• Sea salt
• Pepper

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

Step 6: Thicken Soup

Slowly whisk arrowroot slurry into simmering soup to create a rich, creamy texture.

Step 7: Add Creamy Finish

In a separate bowl, mix half and half with hot soup to prevent curdling. Slowly blend this mixture back into the pot, simmering gently.

Step 8: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle freshly chopped chives or parsley on top. Serve piping hot and enjoy your comforting mushroom soup!

Tips for Mushroom Medley Soup

• Enhance Mushroom Flavor: Toast mushroom slices briefly before adding to the pot to intensify their earthy, rich taste and develop deeper umami notes.
• Perfect Broth Clarity: Strain the initial broth through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth to ensure a crystal-clear, sediment-free base.
• Prevent Dairy Curdling: Always temper cream by slowly mixing hot soup into it, then adding the mixture back to the pot at a low, gentle simmer to maintain smooth texture.
• Boost Depth of Flavor: Use a mix of mushroom varieties like shiitake, cremini, and oyster to create a complex, layered taste profile in your soup.
• Achieve Ideal Consistency: Adjust thickness gradually with arrowroot slurry, whisking constantly to prevent lumps and ensure a silky, uniform texture.

Storing and Reheating Mushroom Medley Soup

• Refrigeration: Store leftover Mushroom Medley Soup in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Properly sealed, the soup will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Freezing: Pour cooled soup into freezer-safe containers, leaving 1-inch space at the top for expansion. Freeze for up to 2 months. Label containers with the date to track freshness.
• Reheating: Thaw frozen soup overnight in the refrigerator. Warm gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Add a splash of broth or water if the soup seems too thick. Never boil, as this can separate the creamy texture and curdle the half and half.

Pairing Mushroom Medley Soup with Fresh Bread

• Pair with Rustic Red Wine: Select a medium-bodied Pinot Noir or Beaujolais to complement the earthy mushroom flavors, enhancing the soup's rich umami profile and providing a smooth, balanced drinking experience.
• Match with Crusty Artisan Bread: Serve alongside a warm, crusty sourdough or herb-infused focaccia to soak up the creamy broth, adding textural contrast and providing a delightful carbohydrate companion to the luxurious soup.
• Elevate with Herbal Side Salad: Create a light, crisp mixed green salad with fresh herbs like tarragon and chervil, dressed in a light vinaigrette to cut through the soup's richness and provide a refreshing palate cleanser between spoonfuls.
• Complement with Goat Cheese Crostini: Prepare small toasted bread rounds topped with creamy goat cheese and a sprinkle of fresh thyme, offering a tangy and herbaceous counterpoint to the deep, earthy mushroom flavors.

Mushroom Medley Soup Variations

• Rustic Wild Mushroom Fusion: Replace some mushroom varieties with foraged wild mushrooms like chanterelles or porcini for an earthy, woodland-inspired flavor profile.
• Creamy Truffle Mushroom Solution: Incorporate a small amount of truffle oil or truffle salt at the end to elevate the soup's luxurious essence, creating a sophisticated gourmet experience.
• Vegan Mushroom Velvet: Substitute half and half with coconut cream, use vegetable broth instead of traditional broth, and replace butter with olive oil for a plant-based version that maintains rich, deep flavors.
• Asian-Inspired Umami Blend: Add minced ginger, a splash of soy sauce, and garnish with crispy fried shallots to transform the soup with a nuanced Asian-inspired complexity.

Why Mushroom Medley Soup is Perfect for Cozy Nights

• Unleash Multilayered Mushroom Magic: This soup celebrates the rich, earthy depths of multiple mushroom varieties, creating a complex flavor profile that dances across your palate with each spoonful.
• Master Sophisticated Techniques: The recipe introduces elegant culinary methods like deglazing with brandy, tempering cream, and creating a homemade broth that elevates home cooking from ordinary to extraordinary.
• Craft a Comfort Classic with Gourmet Twist: By combining traditional soup-making techniques with luxurious ingredients like sherry, brandy, and half-and-half, this mushroom medley transforms a simple comfort food into a restaurant-worthy experience that feels both familiar and exciting.

Ingredients for Mushroom Medley Soup

• Water, Sherry: Fundamental base for creating a rich, flavorful broth with depth from the wine.
• Half and Half: Provides creamy texture and luxurious mouthfeel to the soup.

• Mushroom Caps, Mushroom Stems: Star ingredients offering earthy flavor and meaty texture, choose fresh and firm mushrooms.
• Red Onion: Adds sweet and sharp undertones, provides aromatic foundation for the soup.
• Carrots, Celery: Classic aromatic vegetables that enhance the broth's complexity and nutrition.

• Brandy: Adds sophisticated flavor and helps deglaze the pot, creating deeper taste profile.
• Butter: Provides rich, smooth base for sautéing vegetables and creating depth.
• Bay Leaves, Peppercorns: Contribute subtle background spices and complexity to the broth.
• Mushroom Base: Intensifies mushroom flavor and adds umami character.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Brings tangy, savory notes to balance the soup.
• Sea Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings for enhancing overall flavor.
• Arrowroot: Natural thickening agent that provides smooth consistency without cloudiness.
• Chives, Parsley: Fresh herbs for bright garnish and additional flavor layer.

Mushroom Medley Soup Recipe

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4.7 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Rich French-inspired mushroom medley soup celebrates woodland earthy flavors with cremini, shiitake, and porcini mushrooms dancing in a velvety cream-based broth. Warmth and depth infuse each spoonful, inviting you to savor this comforting culinary journey through rustic French countryside cuisine.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound (454 grams) button mushrooms, stems reserved
• 2 pounds (907 grams) combination of shiitake and oyster mushrooms, stems reserved
• 2 red onions

Vegetable Ingredients:

• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 3 stalks celery, chopped

Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 2 cups (473 milliliters) sherry
• 1 cup (237 milliliters) brandy
• 8 cups (1.9 liters) water
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) butter
• 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) mushroom base
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons (10 grams) sea salt
• ¾ teaspoon (3.75 grams) pepper
• 5 teaspoons (25 milliliters) cold water mixed with arrowroot for thickening
• 1 cup (237 milliliters) fat free half and half
• ½ cup (30 grams) chopped chives or parsley, for garnish
• 3 bay leaves
• 10 peppercorns

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Instructions

1. Craft a flavorful foundation by combining water, sherry, discarded mushroom stems, chopped red onion, carrots, celery, bay leaves, and peppercorns in a robust stockpot, allowing the liquid to gently reduce by one-third over approximately 20 minutes.
2. Meticulously strain the aromatic broth, preserving its clear, rich essence for later use.
3. Slice the reserved mushroom caps into uniform quarter-inch thick pieces, ensuring consistent cooking and texture.
4. In the same stockpot, melt butter and delicately sauté thinly sliced red onion for 2 minutes, then introduce the sliced mushroom caps, cooking until they become tender and develop a golden-brown complexity.
5. Deglaze the pot with brandy, stirring thoroughly and allowing the alcohol to evaporate for 1 minute, releasing deep, nuanced flavors.
6. Incorporate the reserved broth, mushroom base, Worcestershire sauce, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer.
7. Create an arrowroot slurry and gradually whisk it into the simmering soup, allowing the liquid to thicken and develop a smooth, velvety consistency.
8. Temper half and half by gradually mixing of hot soup, then carefully reintroduce the mixture back into the pot, simmering gently to prevent curdling and maintain a luxurious texture.
9. Finish the soup by garnishing each serving with finely chopped chives or parsley, adding a fresh, vibrant touch before presenting the hot, aromatic dish.

Notes

• Versatile Broth Creation: Develop a rich, flavorful base by simmering mushroom stems, vegetables, and aromatics to extract maximum depth and complexity.
• Mushroom Preparation Technique: Slice caps uniformly to ensure consistent cooking and texture throughout the soup.
• Strategic Deglazing Method: Use brandy to enhance flavor profiles and eliminate harsh alcohol notes while creating a sophisticated taste foundation.
• Thickening Wisdom: Incorporate arrowroot slurry gradually to achieve smooth, velvety consistency without lumps or uneven texture.
• Cream Tempering Trick: Carefully blend hot soup with half and half to prevent curdling and maintain a silky, luxurious mouthfeel.
• Elegant Finishing Touch: Sprinkle fresh herbs like chives or parsley to add bright color, fresh flavor, and professional presentation.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 150 kcal
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 400 mg
• Fat: 4 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 15 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg