Creamy Pureed Mushroom Soup + 6 Things to Know About Mushrooms

Learn all about mushrooms and then satisfy your cravings for an umami-rich meal with this thick and creamy pureed mushroom soup – no cream added!

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Originally posted March 2016 following the sponsored Mushroom Council farm tour. Updated September 2019 as part of a sponsored campaign for Mushroom Month. As always, all opinions are my own. 

September is a busy month in my world. The kids go back to school, my family celebrates Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) and a whole bunch of other fall Jewish holidays, and in my professional work I’m reminding you all to celebrate National Family Meals Month, Better Breakfast Month, and the subject of this post – mushrooms.

Give Mushrooms Some Love

That’s right. In addition to everything else, September is National Mushroom Month. And seeing how I am a mushroom lover (have you seen all the mushroom recipes I’ve posted?), I can’t let this month go by without giving this veggie (er, fungi) some extra love. Plus, I wanted to remind you of the delicious Creamy Pureed Mushroom Soup recipe at the end of this post – soup season is almost here!

Back in 2015 I had an amazing experience learning all about mushrooms when the The Mushroom Council invited me on a farm tour, where I learned all about the variety of mushrooms available, how they are grown, the latest mushroom research, and how “The Blend” is being used in restaurants, schools, and at the supermarket (more about that below). Plus, I got to enjoy a delicious mushroom-filled lunch with about ten of my registered dietitian nutritionist colleagues (including Kara, Deanna, and Toby). Needless to say, I was thrilled and humbled to be included in this select group of dietitians. 

To help spread the word about Mushroom Month, and help you all achieve The Council’s goal of increasing mushroom intake (this year’s Mushroom Month theme is “A Mushroom a Day”), I’ve partnered with The Mushroom Council once again to remind you of some of the reasons you should include mushrooms in your meals any time of day – breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

Mushroom Facts

1. Mushrooms are grown indoors all year round (and it’s a stinky process).

The growing process is quite complex and involves highly controlled environments and a lot of TLC. Each growing and harvesting period takes 3 months and then the process starts all over again. If you’re interested in the step-by-step growing process, the Mushroom Council does a great job taking consumers through it.

2. Mushrooms are fungi, not vegetables.

Because they don’t have leaves, roots, or seeds and they don’t need light to grow, mushrooms are not a true vegetable. However, because they provide many of the same nutritional attributes of vegetables they are classified as such by the USDA.

3. Mushrooms are full of nutrients.

People often put down brown and white vegetables thinking they can’t possibly be as nutritious as the more colorful produce available. However, mushrooms are good to excellent sources of potassium, B vitamins (including riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid), and antioxidants including selenium. Mushrooms are also one of the only non-fortified food sources of vitamin D, and UV-exposed mushrooms are an excellent source of this nutrient of concern.

4. Mushrooms come in many varieties.

The most common mushrooms you’ll find in the supermarket are white button mushrooms and brown button mushrooms, also known as baby bella or crimini. Portobellos are also pretty popular and are a more mature version of the brown crimini mushrooms. Specialty mushrooms include maitake (aka hen of the woods), shiitake, enoki, oyster, beech, royal trumpet, pom poms, and wild mushrooms. Some of the coolest mushrooms I saw on the tour were the specialty mushrooms!

5. Mushrooms are showing some amazing health benefits.

The research on mushrooms is expanding and so far results are showing the benefits of mushrooms on immunity, cancer, and gut health, as well as a focus on the flavor-enhancing properties of mushrooms. You can learn more about mushroom research and access studies here.

6. Mushrooms make it easier to eat a plant-based diet.

“The Blend” is the technique by which mushrooms are finely chopped and mixed in with ground meat to make your meat go further. Using “The Blend” increases saves you money at the supermarket (meat is more expensive than mushrooms), and increases the nutritional value of meals. Research shows that using “The Blend” increased vitamin D, potassium, B vitamin, and antioxidant intake, and reduced calorie, fat, and sodium intake while maintaining flavor thanks to the umami properties of mushrooms.

I always add mushrooms to my tomato sauce, which I use for meatballs and meat bolognese sauce, and I add them to my vegetarian lentil bolognese too (making for a double dose of umami from the mushrooms and lentils!).

About this Creamy Pureed Mushroom Soup

Now for the recipe you’ve been waiting for! This mushroom soup is thick and creamy without any cream, and it’s full of that savory, umami flavor you know and expect from mushrooms. Plus it’s gluten free and 100% vegetarian. Swap the evaporated milk for a non-dairy milk to make it vegan – I bet light coconut milk would be delicious here!

I love serving this Creamy Pureed Mushroom Soup in shot glasses or tea cups at cocktail parties, but it’s also a filling meal on it’s own. Top it with some crème fraiche and chives or drizzle with truffle oil for an even deeper umami experience.

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Creamy Pureed Mushroom Soup

Yield: 10

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Satisfy your cravings for an umami-rich meal with this gluten-free and vegetarian thick and creamy pureed mushroom soup - no cream added! Substitute non-dairy milk to make it vegan.

Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan-Friendly, Nut-Free

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dried mushrooms
• 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 pounds sliced baby bella (crimini) mushrooms
• 2 Portobello mushroom caps, chopped
• 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 3 cups water
• 1/2 cup evaporated skim milk
• 6 ounces Yukon Gold or russet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• Truffle oil or crème fraiche (optional for garnish)
• Minced chives (optional for garnish)

Instructions

1. Soak dried mushrooms in water for 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large soup pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until tender, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds.
3. Add the baby bella and Portobello mushrooms to the pot and sauté until the mushrooms are mostly cooked down, about 8 minutes.
4. Add the drained dried mushrooms, vegetable broth, water, evaporated skim milk, and potatoes to the pot. Bring to a boil; cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
5. Working in batches, transfer soup to a blender and puree until smooth. Alternatively, use an immersion blender to blend the soup directly in the pot. Return the pureed soup to the pot and season with salt and pepper.
6. Serve hot, garnished with a drizzle of truffle oil or a dollop of crème fraiche and a sprinkling of minced chives.

Notes

• Hold the blender cover with a towel to prevent soup from splattering.
• Number of servings is based on 1-cup bowls of soup. If serving in shot glasses or tea cups, you will have more than 8 to 10 servings.

Recommended Products

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• 
  8 Quart Stainless Steel Stockpot with Lid
• 
  KitchenAid KHB1231CU Hand Blender, 2-Speed, Contour Silver

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 100Total Fat: 1.5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 400mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 10g

Nutrition information was calculated by Nutritionix. It may not be 100% accurate.

Do you cook with mushrooms?

What’s your favorite mushroom recipe?

Share with me in the comments below!