Description
A rich and velvety mushroom soup enhanced by the natural sweetness of chestnuts, fresh thyme, and a splash of cream. Half blended for creaminess and half left chunky for texture, this comforting soup makes an elegant starter or a light main course.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoons butter or oil
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 1 large clove garlic, minced
- 1 pound cremini mushrooms, cut into ½-inch pieces
- 5 ounces prepared chestnuts, quartered
- 3–4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 48 ounces (6 cups) vegetable broth
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground white pepper
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- Thyme leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, melt the butter or warm the oil. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add garlic, mushrooms, and chestnuts. Sauté for 2 minutes until softened.
- Add thyme sprigs, broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes until chestnuts are tender. Remove thyme sprigs.
- Let soup cool 5 minutes. Blend half of the soup until smooth, then return it to the pot.
- Stir in cream. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed.
- Ladle into bowls, garnish with thyme leaves, and serve warm.
Notes
- For a fuller meal, add cooked chicken or sautéed tofu before serving.
- Blend the whole batch for an ultra-smooth soup (optional sieve for silkiness).
- Use button or wild mushrooms if cremini aren’t available.
- Swap thyme with rosemary or sage for a different flavor profile.
- Try roasted garlic for a deeper, caramelized taste.
- Make dairy-free by omitting cream or using coconut/cashew cream.
- Store in the fridge up to 4 days or freeze for 3 months; reheat gently on the stove.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
