Rich Mushroom Soup Food

CHEF JOHN'S CREAMY MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium-high heat; cook mushrooms in butter with 1 pinch salt until the mushrooms give off their juices; reduce heat to low. Continue to cook, stirring often, until juices evaporate and the mushrooms are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Set aside a few attractive mushroom slices for garnish later, if desired. Mix onion into mushrooms and cook until onion is soft and translucent, about 5 more minutes.
• Stir flour into mushroom mixture and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes to remove raw flour taste. Tie thyme sprigs into a small bundle with kitchen twine and add to mushroom mixture; add garlic cloves. Pour chicken stock and water into mushroom mixture. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 hour. Remove thyme bundle.
• Transfer soup to a blender in small batches and puree on high speed until smooth and thick.
• Return soup to pot and stir in cream. Season with salt and black pepper and serve in bowls, garnished with reserved mushroom slices and a few thyme leaves.

RICH BARLEY MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• In a soup pot on med heat, melt 1 stick of butter and add celery and onions to sweat until translucent. (I use the food processor for my onions because I don't actually want the onion pieces -- I pulse it until it's a rough puree (just past finely chopped).
• Add in the barley (I didn't use quick barley, but I'm sure you could). Stir a few minutes.
• Add in all of your mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms have gotten dark and given up a lot of their liquid.
• Add in the chicken broth.
• Add the soy sauce and taste. If it's not salty enough, add soy sauce 1 tsp at a time until you like it. (A little goes a long way. Taste soup before and after adding the soy -- you won't believe the difference!).
• Simmer on stove until barley has totally expanded. I think the soup may even be better the next day, but it's certainly a quick soup that could be made and served within 45 minutes. Probably less if you use Quick Barley.
• Add black pepper to taste and tweak with more soy, as needed.
• Sour cream and dill are a great garnish, but not necessary.
• Prep and cooking time are estimates, but it shouldn't take longer than that.
• Soup can thicken a lot overnight to almost a stew like consistency. I usually add more broth (or water) and check soy and pepper before serving.

CREAM-LESS MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, garlic and onion and season with pepper. Cook until the vegetables are softened and lightly caramelized, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken stock, bread, vermouth and thyme. Bring to a simmer and simmer for another 20 minutes.
• Transfer the soup to a blender, add 2 to 3 teaspoons sherry vinegar and, with the motor running, drizzle in the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil for a creamy texture. Season with salt and pepper and more sherry vinegar as needed to balance the richness. Divide the hot soup among bowls and garnish with Tahini Herb Drizzle, fried shallots and chopped dill.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley and honey. Season with salt and pepper. If necessary, thin with a few teaspoons of water to achieve the desired consistency.

BLACK MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• Place dried mushrooms in a bowl; pour boiling water over. Let stand until mushrooms are softened, about 15 minutes.
• Drain, reserving liquid. Slice mushrooms, discarding tough stems from the shiitakes.
• Spray a large saucepan with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot. Saute onions until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add sliced dried mushrooms, reserved liquid and broth; heat to boiling.
• Reduce heat and simmer, covered for 20 minutes, adding cremini mushrooms in the last 10 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.

CREAMY MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• Bring a kettle to the boil, then pour the water over the dried porcini just to cover. Heat half the butter in a saucepan, then gently sizzle the onion, garlic and thyme for 5 mins until softened and starting to brown. Drain the porcini, reserving the juice, then add to the onion with the mixed wild mushrooms. Leave to cook for 5 mins until they go limp.
• Pour over the stock and the reserved juices, bring to the boil, then simmer for 20 mins. Stir in crème fraîche, then simmer for a few mins more. Blitz the soup with a hand blender or liquidiser, pass through a fine sieve, then set aside.
• Heat the remaining butter in a frying pan, fry the bread cubes until golden, then drain on kitchen paper. To serve, heat the soup and froth up with a hand blender, if you like. Ladle the soup into bowls, scatter over the croûtons and chives and drizzle with truffle oil.