Cambridge Cooks: Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup Cambridge Cooks: Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup

Photos: Debra Pearlman

As we approach the holidays, I thought it would be nice to offer up some family favorite recipes. If you have a tradition in your family, be it a variation on cranberry sauce or other aspect of Thanksgiving, Christmas or Chanukah dinner, send a email to me, Debra Pearlman. That way the entire Cambridgebuzz family can enjoy your holiday tradition.

At Thanksgiving, my bother always has soup and homemade bread available for those who come early or are helping cook dinner. Here is our favorite pre-Thanksgiving dinner soup - Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup - serve it with a hearty bread and Irish butter.

Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup

2 tablespoons butter
2 shallots, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
4 ounces (125 grams) shitake mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
4 ounces (125 grams) oyster mushrooms, chopped
4 ounces (125 grams) crimini or field mushrooms, chopped
1/4 cup (1/3 oz or 10 grams) minced fresh parsley
4 bread sclices, crusts removed, torn into pieces
3 cups (24 oz/750 ml) chicken stock
1 bay leaf
Pinch ground nutmeg
1 cup (8 oz) heavy whipping cream
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and saute the shallots until tender (about 4 minutes)
2. Sitr in the garlic, mushrooms, and half the parsley.
3. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 3 minutes
4. Stir in the bread, stock, salt, pepper, bay leaf, and nutmeg.
5. Raise heat to high and bring to a boil
6. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes
7. Remove the bay leaf

8. Transfer mixture to a blender or food processor and puree, or use a hand held blender in the saucepan.
9. Return the soup to the saucepan and place over medium-low heat
10. Stir in the cream, remaining parsley, salt and pepper to taste
11. Heat for 2 minutes
Serve

Makes 4-6 servings

You can keep the soup warm in a crockpot set to low. Feel free to substitute veggie stock for the chicken to keep this as a vegetarian dish - Vegans can substitute soy-based products for the butter and cream.

This is also great to have on hand while watching the game.

Enjoy Cambridge!