This comforting and creamy slow-cooker soup is loaded with earthy, umami flavor from the mushrooms and soy sauce. Puréeing only some of the slow-cooker mushroom soup gives the dish complex texture and eye appeal. Garnish with additional black pepper and chopped fresh thyme, if desired.
Ingredients
- 4 cups boiling water
- 2 cups dried porcini mushrooms (about 1 1/2 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lower-sodium soy sauce
- ⅝ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups sliced shallots (about 8 ounces)
- 1 garlic clove, minced (about 1 teaspoon)
- 1 cup dry sherry
- 3 pounds assorted fresh mushrooms (such as cremini, portobello, shiitake, and button), sliced
- 1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
Directions
- Step 1
Pour 2 cups of the boiling water over the porcini mushrooms. Let stand 20 minutes. Drain the porcini mushrooms in a colander over a bowl, reserving the mushroom broth; set the mushrooms aside. Strain the mushroom broth through a cheesecloth-lined colander into a bowl; discard the solids. Stir in the cornstarch, soy sauce, salt, pepper, and remaining 2 cups boiling water into the mushroom broth; set aside.
Step 2
Heat the oil in a medium-sized nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add the shallots and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the sherry; bring to a boil, and cook 30 seconds. Remove from the heat.
Step 3
Stir together the porcini mushrooms, broth mixture, shallot mixture, fresh mushrooms, and thyme in a 5-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH until the vegetables are very tender and the flavors blend, about 4 hours. Uncover and cook until slightly thickened, about 20 minutes. Transfer 2 cups of the soup to a blender. Remove the center piece of the blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure the lid on the blender. Place a clean towel over the opening in the blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth, about 10 seconds. Return the puréed soup to the slow cooker; gently stir in the cream. Ladle the soup into bowls, and serve hot.
Tips
Multicooker Directions: Complete Step 1. In Step 2, add the oil to the inner pot of a 6-quart multicooker. With the lid off, press SAUTÉ [Normal]. When the oil is hot, add the shallots and garlic; cook uncovered, stirring often, until the shallots are soft. Carefully stir in the sherry; turn off the cooker. In Step 3, stir in the porcini mushrooms, broth mixture, fresh mushrooms, and thyme. Lock the lid; turn Pressure Valve to “Venting.” Cook on SLOW COOK [More] until the vegetables are very tender and the flavors blend, about 4 hours. Turn off the cooker. Remove the lid; press SAUTÉ [Normal], and cook uncovered, stirring often, until slightly thickened. Turn off the cooker. Transfer 2 cups of the soup to a blender, and blend until smooth as in Step 3. Return the puréed soup to the pot; gently stir in the cream. Finish Step 3.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: about 3/4 cup Per Serving: 101 calories; protein 5g; carbohydrates 11g; dietary fiber 2g; sugars 4g; fat 5g; saturated fat 2g; sodium 173mg.
