Creamy Wild Mushroom Soup with Fresh Thyme & Parmesan

 

Ingredients

4 T butter
4 T good olive oil
1 large onion
salt and pepper
1 lb regular domestic mushrooms, cleaned, long stems removed
½ lb mixed wild mushrooms (morel, shiitake, chanterelle) cleaned and trimmed
3 large cloves garlic, pressed
1 c dry full-bodied red wine
1 t dried thyme
1 t dried sage
pinch ground nutmeg
¼ c dried porcini mushrooms
3 cans (approx. 16 oz.) beef stock/broth
½ c heavy cream
1 Tfresh thyme, finely chopped, for garnish
¼ c fresh parsley, finely chopped, for garnish
¼ c shaved Parmesan cheese, as garnish, if desired

 

Directions

1. Use a cup or so of the beef stock to steep the dried porcinis: Heat the stock to a boil in a small sauce pot. Turn off flame and add the dried mushrooms, stirring around a bit. Let mushrooms steep, stirring occasionally, until the rest of the broth is added to the soup. Then pour the broth off the dried mushrooms, leaving any grit behind, and add it to the rest of the soup when needed.
2. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large stock pot over medium high heat.
3. Add the chopped onions and a couple tablespoons of salt. Stir and cook the onions until they are beginning to brown.
4. Add the mushrooms and cook them until their liquid has evaporated and they are nicely browned on all sides.
5. Add the pressed garlic to the pot and stir and cook until it is just cooked and not brown.
6. Add the red wine and let reduce by about half.
7. Add the dried herbs, about 2 teaspoons of pepper, the porcini stock, and the beef stock and bring the soup to a boil.
8. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover the pot. Simmer slowly for approximately half an hour or until all the ingredients are completely soft.
9. Puree the soup with a blender until completely smooth, then return to soup pot and add the cream. For a thinner soup, add a little extra broth or milk.
10. Correct for salt and pepper.
11. Serve hot with suggested garnishes. This recipe makes about 10 servings (2 quarts).