Dried Mushroom Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Place the dried mushrooms in a medium bowl and cover with the boiling water. Let soak until well hydrated and softened, about 15 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, reserving the liquid. Roughly chop the porcini and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, onion, cremini mushrooms if using, 1/4 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until all vegetables are tender and mushrooms are golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add the garlic, 1 tablespoon of the vinegar and the tomato paste to the pot, then continue to cook, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Sprinkle the flour and thyme evenly over the vegetables and cook, stirring, until flour is dissolved and no longer raw, about 1 minute. Stir in the barley, broth, reserved mushroom liquid and porcini, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover slightly and cook until the barley is tender and the soup has thickened and reduced slightly, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar and ladle into 4 bowls. Dollop with sour cream, sprinkle with parsley and serve with a slice of bread, for dipping.

Steps:

• Place the dried mushrooms in a large bowl. Bring the broth to a boil and pour over the dried mushrooms. Set aside to rehydrate for about 20 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove the mushrooms and reserve the broth. Roughly chop the mushrooms.
• Heat the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the button and rehydrated mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and somewhat dry, about 6 minutes. Add the leek and shallot and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes more.
• Pour in the reserved mushroom broth, taking care not to add any grit or dirt that may have fallen to the bottom of the boil, and bring to a boil while whisking constantly. Tie the parsley sprigs, fresh thyme, and bay leaf together with a piece of kitchen twine and add to the soup. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• Remove and discard the herb bundle. Working in batches, transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Using a sieve over a large bowl, strain the mushroom puree. Return the puree to the pot and reheat over medium heat.
• Whisk the heavy cream, Madeira, and salt into the soup and season with pepper to taste. Divide among warm soup bowls and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Soak the dried mushrooms in 5 cups very hot water until soft, anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. When they are tender, remove mushrooms from the soaking liquid with a slotted spoon, reserving the liquid; slice or chop if the pieces are large.
• Meanwhile, put the butter in a large pot that can later be covered over medium heat. When it melts, add the herb, onions and garlic and sauté, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Turn the heat to medium high, and add the fresh mushrooms; add the soaked mushrooms when they're ready. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook until the mushrooms have given off their liquid and begun to brown, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the sherry or Madeira to the pot and cook, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom as the liquor starts to bubble. Add the stock or soaking liquid and bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a steady simmer and cook, covered, until flavors have melded, about 15 minutes.
• Discard the herb. Reduce the heat to low, and purée the liquid with a hand-held mixer to desired consistency. (I like it half-puréed.) Add the cream if you're using it; stir to combine and let simmer for a few minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning; garnish with parsley and serve.

Steps:

• Saute onion and celery in butter until tender.
• Crush morels or other mushrooms with rolling pin, set aside.
• Stir the flour into the onion-celery mixture, add the water and crushed mushrooms. Simmer until the mushrooms are tender, (about 5 minutes).
• Add bouillon, milk and seasonings. Heat, but do not boil, and serve.