To warm up on a fall chilly evening, you’ll love the light yet earthy taste of this wild mushroom soup! I love to use a mix of mushrooms depending on what’s available along with some dried porcini or chanterelle’s, a staple in my pantry. This is a soup you can prepare quickly. The earthy mushroom taste is brightened with some lemon zest and juice and there is a hint of heat from the red chili flakes. This dish is very versatile, whether you make it for a quick weeknight dinner or serve as a first course for a special dinner party. Enjoy!

From by the bay, wishing you earthy food memories!

Maryann

Wild Mushroom Soup

Ingredients

2 ounces dried porcini and/or chanterelles
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 ounces mixed fresh wild mushrooms , clean and sliced
1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
2  shallots , peeled and finely chopped about 1/2 cup
1 handful fresh thyme , leaves picked
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
32 ounces organic low sodium chicken or vegetable stock
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley , leaves picked and roughly chopped
1 cup half and half
1 lemon (1/2 teaspoon zest and 1 teaspoon of juice)
Directions

Place the dried mushrooms in a small dish, add boiling water just to cover, and leave to soak. Heat a large stock pot pan, then add olive oil and your fresh mushrooms. Stir around very quickly for a minute, then add chili flakes, shallots and thyme and a small amount of seasoning. Saute a minute add half of your porcini/chanterelles chopped up, and the rest left whole. Strain the soaking liquid to remove any grit, and add it to the pan. Cook for about 20 minutes until most of the moisture disappears. Season to taste, and add your stock. Bring to the boil and simmer for around 20 minutes. Remove half the soup from the pan and purée  in a food processor then pour it back in stock pot. Add  the parsley, cream, lemon zest and juice. Adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve warm.