Really Wild Mushroom Soup
This is a fabulous, elegant soup made with a variety of
mushrooms. Try it with an assortment of cheeses and
crackers. This recipe is adapted from one by Chef
Charles Dale, and serves six. Remember, when washing
the mushrooms, make it quick. Soaking the mushrooms
in water will diminish their flavor.
Ingredients:
1/2 pound domestic fresh mushrooms, rinsed and sliced
1/2 pound fresh Shiitake mushrooms, cleaned, washed, and sliced
1/2 pound Trumpet Royale mushrooms, cleaned, washed, and sliced
1/2 pound fresh Chanterelle mushrooms, cleaned, washed, and sliced
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 shallots, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup dry vermouth
1 quart skim milk
1 branch fresh thyme
4 whole garlic cloves
Pinch nutmeg
Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 pound fresh
Black Trumpet mushrooms, rinsed and torn into strips
1/4 pound White
Clamshell Mushrooms
Small bunch of chives, cut into one-inch sticks
Preparation:
Keeping the domestic mushrooms separate from the
other varieties, wash the mushrooms quickly in
lukewarm water in a deep bowl. Mix the mushrooms
well to loosen the dirt. Remove them gently by
hand, leaving the dirt in the bottom of the bowl.
Remove the stems from the trumpet royale and shiitake
mushrooms, then slice all mushrooms except the black
trumpets and the white clamshells.
Heat a 2-gallon soup pot over moderate heat. Add
the olive oil, the chopped domestic mushrooms,
and the minced shallots. Cook until the mushrooms
are wilted and soft, then add the remaining
mushrooms. Continue to cook for about five
minutes, then add the vermouth. Reduce for about
five minutes.
Add the skim milk, the thyme sprig, garlic, and
nutmeg. Bring the mixture to a boil, then
immediately lower it to a simmer. Cook for about
a half hour, then remove the thyme sprig.
Season
with salt, then cool slightly. When sufficiently
cool, pour the mixture into a blender and puree.
Blanche the strips of black trumpet mushrooms and white clamshells in
boiling water, then cool and add to the
chives.
To serve, divide the tossed white clamshells and black trumpet
mushrooms into six equal portions and place them
in the bottom of soup bowls. Pour the piping hot
soup over the mushrooms and enjoy!
Directions:
This is a fabulous, elegant soup made with a variety of mushrooms. Try it with an assortment of cheeses and crackers. This recipe is adapted from one by Chef Charles Dale, and serves six. Remember, when washing the mushrooms, make it quick. Soaking the mushrooms in water will diminish their flavor.
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