Wild Mushroom Soup With Vegetable Confetti Recipes

WILD MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a small Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 12 minutes. Increase the heat to medium high, add the mushrooms, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms release their liquid but do not brown, about 8 minutes. Add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Simmer, partially covered, for 30 minutes.
• Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth (be careful when blending hot liquids). Add the Marsala if using and season with salt and pepper.
• Pour the soup into 4 bowls. Dollop with the creme fraiche and sprinkle with the chives. Drizzle a tiny bit of olive oil over top.

CREAM OF WILD MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• Clean the mushrooms by wiping them with a dry paper towel. Don't wash them! Separate the stems, trim off any bad parts, and coarsely chop the stems. Slice the mushroom caps 1/4-inch thick and, if they are big, cut them into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
• To make the stock, heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large pot. Add the chopped mushroom stems, the onion, carrot, the sprig of thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until the vegetables are soft. Add 6 cups water, bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Strain, reserving the liquid. You should have about 4 1/2 cups of stock. If not, add some water.
• Meanwhile, in another large pot, heat the remaining 1/4 pound of butter and add the leeks. Cook over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until the leeks begin to brown. Add the sliced mushroom caps and cook for 10 minutes, or until they are browned and tender. Add the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the white wine and stir for another minute, scraping the bottom of the pot. Add the mushroom stock, minced thyme leaves, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the half-and-half, cream, and parsley, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and heat through but do not boil. Serve hot.

WILD MUSHROOM SOUP WITH VEGETABLE CONFETTI

Steps:

• Cut off dark green tops from leeks and reserve for soup. Cut white and pale green sections lengthwise in half. Rinse any dirt from leeks with cold water. Cut halves into 1-inch pieces. Place in 8- to 10-quart pot. Add chicken wings.
• Add water, carrots, onion, thyme, peppercorns and bay leaves to pot. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer 2 hours 15 minutes, occasionally skimming foam from surface. Strain stock through fine sieve into large bowl.
• Chill stock until fat hardens on surface, about 2 hours. Spoon off fat and discard. Measure stock. If necessary, simmer in large saucepan until reduced to 8 cups. (Can be made ahead. Cover and refrigerate up to 2 days or freeze up to 2 weeks.)
• To make wild mushroom soup:
• Bring 1/2 cup stock to simmer in saucepan. Add saffron; set aside to steep.
• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add shallots and garlic; stir 1 minute. Add 1/3 of wild mushrooms and all of white mushrooms. Sauté until mushrooms release liquid, about 8 minutes. Add curry powder; sauté until mushrooms are tender, about 4 minutes. Add saffron mixture and 6 cups stock. Simmer until mushrooms are tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Puree cooked mushrooms and 1 cup mushroom broth in processor until almost smooth. Return mushroom puree to saucepan with broth. Simmer soup 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover soup loosely with foil and refrigerate.)
• Finely dice enough of green leek tops reserved from stock to measure 1/3 cup. Cook leek, carrot and turnip in saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, about 1 minute. Drain. Refresh under cold water; drain. (Vegetable confetti can be made up to 2 hours ahead. Pat dry; cover and let stand at room temperature.)
• Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add remaining wild mushrooms; sauté until tender, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Rewarm soup. Ladle into 4 shallow bowls. Top with sautéed mushrooms and vegetable confetti and serve.