Mushroom Bisque Recipe - Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup (2024)

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4.92 from 12 votes

By Hank Shaw

November 28, 2016 | Updated June 17, 2020

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Mushroom Bisque Recipe - Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup (2)

Birch bolete bisque. These words have been rolling around in my head a long, long time, and when I finally made the dish that I’d been thinking of, it did not disappoint.

Don’t get me wrong, you can make a mushroom bisque with any mushroom — indeed, the garnish on mine were simple cremini mushrooms from the supermarket. But birch boletes just kinda lend themselves to soup. And I’ll admit I like the alliteration.

What is a bisque? Technically it’s a creamy seafood soup from France, but the term has morphed to mean any creamy soup. Think of this recipe as one for real-deal, homemade cream of mushroom soup.

What is a birch bolete? Well, it is a cousin ofthe King of All Mushrooms, the porcino, a/k/a cepe, penny bun or steinpilz. These ‘shrooms tend to be smaller, however, and, as you might expect, like to live around birches.

Mushroom Bisque Recipe - Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup (3)

We have no real birch forests here in NorCal, but they are often used as landscaping plants. Look for them here in late November and December. Technically they are a leccinum, L. scabrum to be exact… ish. You see, there are lots of different kinds of these. Most have red or orange tops. Birch boletes don’t. They’re pretty gray-brown all over. And so far as I can tell, have never made anyone sick — the same can’t be said for the orange-topped aspen bolete in Colorado.

Mushroom Bisque Recipe - Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup (4)

Anyway, don’t get all hung up on birch boletes. Like I said, any mushroom will do.

The secret to this recipe is to use both dried and fresh mushrooms, and to use the soaking water as the broth. Sure, you can use chicken broth, but it won’t be quite so mushroomy then.

Another key is to blend only part of the soup, so it will be smooth and creamy, but still with some texture. I find that if I blend the whole thing, everyone thinks I am serving them a bowl of gravy… not that there’s anything wrong with eating a bowl of gravy.

Note that unlike many mushroom bisque recipes, I use no flour to thicken the soup — the mushrooms themselves do that — and I only use a little cream. Feel free to use more if you’d like, but I find that too much cream makes the soup impossibly rich.

Again, not that there’s anything wrong with impossibly rich…

4.92 from 12 votes

Wild Mushroom Bisque

While I relied on wild birch boletes and store-bought cremini mushrooms here, you can really use any mushroom you'd like. Each one will make the bisque a bit different, and you will ultimately come up with your own blend that suits your taste, your time, and your place. Whatever green garnish you choose, please use something. I find that the bisque gets disturbingly like gravy if you don't have something bright and green in it. And while yes, this is vegetarian, feel free to use chicken or beer or wild game broths in its place.

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Course: Soup

Cuisine: French

Servings: 6 people

Author: Hank Shaw

Prep Time: 1 hour hour

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces of dried mushrooms
  • 5 cups hot water
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus one more tablespoon
  • 1 pound fresh mushrooms, minced (save aside a few nice mushrooms for garnish)
  • 1 large yellow or white onion, minced
  • 1/3 cup sherry or brandy
  • Salt (smoked salt if you have it)
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream
  • Chives, parsley or some other green herb to garnish
  • Lots of black pepper

Instructions

  • Break the dried mushrooms up and soak them in the hot water for 45 minutes to an hour. Chop fine once they're soft. Save the soaking water and strain it through a paper towel to remove debris and dirt.

  • Heat 3 tablespoons of butter in a soup pot and cook the onions and mushrooms over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until they start to brown, about 10 minutes.

  • Add the reconstituted mushrooms to the pot, stir well and cook another minute or three. Add the sherry, a healthy dash of salt and the thyme. Stir well and scrape off any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.

  • Add 4 cups of the soaking water and bring to a simmer. Cook gently for 20 t0 30 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, slice the garnish mushrooms and saute in the remaining tablespoon of butter until nicely browned. Set aside.

  • Ladle about 1/3 to 1/2 of the soup into a blender and puree. Chances are it will seize up and be too thick, so add the remaining soaking water to loosen things up. Return this to the pot, stir well and add some water if you think it's too thick. Return to a simmer.

  • To serve, stir in some heavy cream and lots of black pepper. Ladle into bowls and garnish with the sauteed mushrooms and herbs.

Notes

Once made, this bisque will keep in the fridge a week. It doesn't freeze very well once it has the cream in it, so if you make a big batch to freeze, skip the cream until you plan to eat it.

Nutrition

Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 567mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @huntgathercook or tag #hankshaw!

Categorized as:
Featured, Foraging, French, Mushrooms, Recipe

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About Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet’s largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

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Mushroom Bisque Recipe - Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup (2024)

FAQs

Is mushroom bisque the same as cream of mushroom? ›

Mushroom Bisque is a stepped up version of cream of mushroom soup. It is smooth and rich with an earthy flavor. There is a small amount of cream but not enough to obscure the flavor of the mushrooms. Instead of using thickeners like corn starch or all purpose flour, the soup is pureed so it is thick without them.

How to make cream of mushroom soup better? ›

Herbs: The best herbs we have found over the years to compliment those incredible flavours is a combination of thyme and parsley. Of course, if you don't like those, you can also use rosemary, oregano, tarragon, chives or cilantro. Use what you love!

What is a substitute for heavy cream in cream of mushroom soup? ›

Cream of chicken, celery, broccoli, or potato soup all work well as side dishes for any meal. On the other hand, you can use heavy cream, sour cream, or cream cheese combinations to substitute cream of mushroom soup as an ingredient in a recipe.

What is a good thickener for mushroom soup? ›

Add cream or yogurt

Adding extra cream can thicken a creamy or blended soup like this wild mushroom-soup, but stirring in a spoonful of thick yogurt can be more effective. Be careful not to boil the soup once you've added the cream or yogurt or it may split.

What makes a cream soup a bisque? ›

A bisque is a smooth, creamy French style of soup, traditionally made from crustaceans like lobster, crab or crayfish. It should include a stock made from the shells, a large amount of cream, and a thickening agent made from either finely-ground shells or rice.

What is mushroom bisque made of? ›

This luscious mushroom bisque recipe features a variety of freshly foraged mushrooms including cauliflower, morel and porcini. Each mushroom is prepared mushroom separately, then composed in the bottom of each bowl before surrounding the fungi with the velvety mushroom soup.

How long is homemade cream of mushroom soup good for? ›

Recipe tips and variations

Or, add 2 cups water to this full recipe to make 2 servings of soup, 2 cups each (stir over medium heat until heated through). Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

How can I make my soup more creamy? ›

Method 3: Add dairy

Dairy works well if it has a high-fat content, says Broussard. The best options for thickening soup are cream or half and half. Plain yogurt or even freshly grated cheese works well and adds an extra layer of tangy, salty flavor.

Why does my mushroom soup taste bland? ›

If the soup tastes a little bland to you, add a splash of rice vinegar or cider vinegar. If you don't have tarragon, try thyme, oregano, or rosemary.

How do you thicken cream of mushroom soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

Why does cream of mushroom soup get watery? ›

Watery cream soups can come from a couple of different reasons. One of them is that the thickener that was utilized (be it a fat and flour roux or a liquid and flour or corn starch slurry) was inadequate.

Is cream of mushroom soup good for you? ›

Mushrooms exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and, acting as a prebiotic, can improve gut health. They're also a good source of potassium and B vitamins. Most notably, mushrooms are the only plant-based source of vitamin D, a vitamin that we get primarily from being exposed to sunlight.

How do you level up mushroom soup? ›

That is easily remedied by slicing and sautéing fresh mushrooms and adding them to the soup along with their cooking juices. If you're feeling adventurous, try using other varieties of mushrooms rather than white buttons. Also, add some finely diced shallots to the sautée and season them well with salt and pepper.

How do you thicken cream of mushroom soup without cornstarch? ›

The easiest, and best way to thicken a home-made cream of mushroom soup, is to use an immersion blender. You puree half the mushrooms, that not only thickens the soup wonderfully, but intensifies the mushroom taste as well !

What is the difference between a bisque and a cream soup? ›

Key Differences

Ingredients: Bisque is often made with seafood and enriched with heavy cream, whereas soup can be made with a wide range of ingredients, offering more versatility. Consistency: Bisque is consistently smooth and velvety, while soup can have a diverse range of consistencies, depending on the recipe.

What makes a bisque different from soup? ›

In essence, while both soup and bisque share the comforting effect of a warm, liquid embrace, bisque takes the concept to a higher level, weaving an intricate tapestry of flavors and textures that make it a true indulgence.

What is the difference between bisque chowder and cream soup? ›

Although a bisque and a chowder are both cream-based soups and most often feature seafood, it is their consistency that defines them and makes them quite different from each other. Whereas a bisque is smooth, a chowder is chunky, chock full of hearty pieces of ingredients such as potato and clams or corn.

Does bisque mean cream? ›

The term "bisque" is also used to refer to cream-based soups that do not contain seafood, in which the pre-cooked ingredients are pureed or processed in a food processor or a food mill. Common varieties include squash, tomato, mushroom, and red pepper.

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